Member Reviews
This compelling novel brings to light some of the horrendous threats that young people are subjected to. Racism, homophobia, homelessness, abuse, and exploitive religion/adoption/foster care (I appreciate that the author provided some content warnings for triggering topics). Even with all of the dark themes, Manny, and those who showed him support, offered some redemption in this gripping story. Oshiro's writing made me feel the emotion and struggle that Manny experienced, something that no one should have to try to survive. Like some of the other readers, I was thrown a bit by the twist later in the novel, but that detract from the overall importance of this novel. As a parent through intercountry adoption, I am fully aware that overzealous and selfish adoptive parents adopting in the name of religion are all too real. Any adult who does not do everything in their power to help their child thrive - as they are - is dangerous.
Thank you to TorTeen and NetGalley for this ARC! I finished this book and was genuinely speechless. Totally stunned. Please check trigger warnings before diving in, because it is definitely a heavy one!
This is a devastatingly beautiful queer coming of age story. A mystery/thriller that sheds light on the horrors of christian nationalism and the white savior complex.
Manny is a 17 year old boy who has been separated from his sister Elena, and thrown out of his family. He wanders, hitchhikes, moving from place to place with no plans or thoughts of a future. Until The Varelas come into his life, and they embark on a journey together to search for his sister. Manny is terrified of what he might find once he starts searching, but he is no stranger to the horrors that lurk in the world he left behind.
Eli resides in an isolated community, and does everything he can to please his family. He doesn't want to be a disappointment. They call him a miracle, and that terrifies him. Not to mention, he cant seem to recall any part of his past prior to this community. But he has a job to do, and he will do anything to live up to those expectations.
This story, was all encompassing, and I simply could not put it down. The writing was unlike anything I have read so far; so impactful and raw, and kept me on the edge of my seat at all times. There were parts of this book that hurt so much to read, and parts that had me gasping out loud. The plot was not only extremely suspenseful and horrifying, but also touching and beautiful and vulnerable. The character development was so natural and organic, it felt realistic and unforced. I would have followed Manny and The Varelas anywhere, and I will think about these characters for such a long time. Cannot recommend this book enough !!
Thank you to NetGalley & Tor Publishing for an early ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Into the Light by Mark Oshiro is gut-wrenching and heart-breaking in all the best ways. I started this book around midnight and couldn't stop reading until I finished. I was so drawn in to learning more about Manny, a queer Latinx teen adoptee, and his story that I kept reading, page after page, until the sun came up. The story begins with Manny on the road, surviving and living off of gas station kindness and his own street smarts. As the story unfolds, we learn more about why Manny is living on his own on the road and how he was kicked out of a religious cult that changed his relationship with his sister, Elena. Manny tries to find his way back to his sister, who stayed by his side through many foster families, but the journey -- realistic, frustrating, and emotional -- is so much more than one could imagine.
Please, please check content warnings for this book. There's much to dwell on in this book: racism, the foster system, neglect, adoption, homophobia. Into the Light will draw all feelings out of you. It can be incredibly heavy at times, but the book itself is impactful and ultimately, beautiful, as Oshiro shows us that although a path towards the light often seems impossible, through self and found family, we can find hope.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
A tough, but powerful read. Manny is a teen that had been in the foster system his entire life along with his sister. When she joins a cult, he goes with her, until something tragic happens and he is cast out. Now, he is on the search for answers with a family that took him in.
This book is a journey. It's tough to read emotionally at some points, but it is wonderfully written.
An utterly spectacular and gripping story. Masterful storytelling and craft on display. Absolutely loved it.
I really enjoyed this book! Eager for more from Mark Oshiro, well written and constructed plot. Ripped from the headlines inspired plot propels the reader. The intensity of the emotion and prose is unique to YA!
Oh my word, this blew my mind. We learn bits and pieces about Manny's life in a series of flash backs. So many parts don't feel like they are going to connect, but just trust Mark Oshiro to guide you through it. Partly about the horrors of conversion camps, partly a mystery, and partly the story of found family, and definitely a story of trust the whole way through. This will keep you flipping pages.
Very compelling story tackling topics like religious trauma and homelessness.
Even though I know this book is a reflection of the author's bad experience in a toxic Christian community, I am glad that that's addressed for how it is: toxic. Not saying that every Christian and Christian community and church is evil. That there are people (in any religion or community otherwise) even that are evil and toxic and can impact teens' lives for the worse.
I'm glad about how that all was addressed, because I am a Christian, and I've seen many books handle these topics poorly, portraying all Christians in an evil light. I think this book used this topic very respectfully, even including Christian characters in this evil community who had no part in the messed-up cult, but still holding to their own morals and religious values.
This book also handled anxiety, homelessness, and PTSD very well. This was a tough read because of the topics, but I am glad to have read it. It was very good.
Now, I wasn't expecting that bit of supernatural mystery stuff, but it was very interesting nonetheless!
This book was amazing I am at loss for words.
I read the author's middle grade book The Insiders, which I loved for its genuine story about being a queer poc kid, with both serious topics and a lighthearted feeling. This was definitely a whole other genre. I think I'd call it a psychological horror thriller?
Mark shiro has a way with words that made the little things absolutely chilling. Manny's thoughts are filled with anxiety, confusion anger and fear and the reader gets to feel all those emotions with him.
The book alternated between Manny in the present day, and flashbacks. A big part of the suspense was the way information was slowly revealed to paint a picture of Manny's life, and they did a great job of giving the right amount of information at the right time.
The truly terrifying part is that this is not fiction, these things happen, and I greatly admire Mark for writing about these things after suffering similar experiences themselves.
This book was one of those books that I could not be put down once I picked it up. It grabbed me from the beginning and it didn't stop. There are two types of characters in this story; the ones you love with all your heart and wish the absolute best for and the ones you absolutely hate and cannot wait for their downfall. Both types of characters are compelling, interesting, and have so much depth to them. This story can be dark and a little hard to read at times, it's important to check your content warnings to make sure it is something you feel safe reading. I loved this book so much and I look forward to reading more of Mark Oshiro's work.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
(TW mentions of parental abuse, homelessness, religious trauma)
I have never felt more seen by a book. As someone that has personally experienced some of the topics dealt with in this novel, it was painful to read at times but it was also validating, touching and inspiring. Oshiro has written what I, and so many others, have felt so many times in a way that speaks to your very soul, it feels like a piece of us right there on the page. It’s so important to get these stories out there, to give these stories a platform and a voice.
The truth is, this novel *is* reality for those of us that have struggled with our queer identity, have experienced trauma at the hand of our care givers, suffered the overwhelming reality of homelessness, religious trauma or grappled with the idea that there could be decent people out there in the world that want to help.
The writing is wonderful, enthralling and so entertaining. I couldn’t put this down because I needed answers, I needed the last piece of the puzzle. The supernatural twist was a welcome surprise and added a level of mystery and further depth to the already fleshed out story. The ending couldn’t have been better, the joy and elation I felt for manny was unparalleled. He deserved the light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m glad he got it.
A profoundly heartbreaking—and ultimately hopeful—book. It's so poignantly true to its title, and this book will indeed bring the darker parts of the adoption industry, and churches that misuse religion for power, into the light. I'll read anything that Mark Oshiro writes!
Absolutely incredible! This book was complex and gripping and kept me reading long into the night just wanting to figure out what would happen next. This book went to some pretty dark places, but it handled even the roughest parts of Manny's story with empathy, grace, and beautiful prose. The mystery was complicated and satisfying. As an avid fantasy reader, I loved the twist, although I can see how readers who aren't into fantasy might find it a little jarring. Personally, I don't have any complaints. I have a feeling this book will stick with me for a long time, and am eagerly awaiting whatever else Mark Oshiro writes.
Into the Light by Mark Oshiro was a gutting read. Oshiro mentions that this book is meant to be like a "light at the end of the tunnel" and it truly felt that way but my goodness was the tunnel dark.
The story was not one that I expected and I've read some reviews that have said the same and I believe it's because the synopsis is vague. But given that majority of this book is a mystery, I think having a vague synopsis is okay. I'm slightly worried that some people might find the contents of the book triggering so I hope the trigger warnings are listed publicly and I will certainly mention it when recommending this book.
The story is told in 3 different timelines. It's not described but the writing is excellent in letting the reader know by like the 3rd of 4th paragraph, where we are in time. What I loved was how each chapter and time changed flowed so well and were cleverly connected. The different povs add to the mystery and it was fun (it feels wrong to say that though given the topic) to try to put everything together. When everything converged it did so with a bang; it was climactic and shocking.
The start was a bit hard to get through. The writing style at the beginning had short sentences and it felt almost detached and curt which gives you insight to how detached and alone Manny is but it feels awkward for the reader. Disturbs any flow but when we are in the past, the sentences become longer and they flow better. But as you read along, you start getting used to it and it's not noticeable anymore. Either that or what I believe is that the writing is this way on purpose. The beginning is curt and detached to match Manny and the way he is in order to survive. As the story moves forward we see more of Manny and with each reveal he starts growing into more of a character and less like an empty shell and so the writing changes and gets more "present" and more full. When he starts reverting back in moments of high stress and when he's triggered, the writing reflects it by going back to being distant.
The foster system sucks and it truly did show it well here. Especially it showed how much a lot of adults will not listen to the children they're supposed to care for and the betrayal of being hurt by the ppl who are supposed to care for you and about you. That was heartbreaking to read and as the novel progressed and Manny started opening up more and we saw more of his past, we started to feel his hurt a lot more. The fear and betrayal and the feeling of helplessness when he got stuck somewhere was felt so strongly.
The flashbacks were the most gripping to read. The tension and horror was potent and it felt like watching a train wreck. You knew something horrible would happen but you couldn't look away from how it happened and as it was happening.
There are a good few characters and I loved Manny and Rakeem the best. The development was harsh and hard-won; to me the end was bittersweet to be honest.
The last thing I wanna mention is the addition of that twist ending. It was absolutely wild but I can't help but wonder if the themes and messages being tackled would have worked just as well without it and if it would have worked better if the entire thing was realistic/realism. It did feel kind of random and shocking though a review did mention it so I knew something was coming. It didn't take away from the story for me to be spoiled but I do think that without having that prior knowledge, it would have felt like it came out of left field.
Regardless I did love the novel. It felt a bit slow and made me wonder if it needed to be so long but to be honest I think we needed that length for the development to be slow and realistic. The writing matching the character and his devolpement, the themes, the darkness and sadness and the light at the end, it all was done incredibly well. And honestly I read this during a time of my life where I feel lost, feel separated from my religion and can't connect to it even if I do believe in some aspects of it and overall feel distant and locked away so Manny's character and his emotions hit me hard. I would have loved the book even if I wasn't in a place where Manny felt like he got in my head and spoke everything outloud.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and TorTeen for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I really, really loved this book! The prose really surprised me, I think this is Mark Oshiro's best work. I think I really needed a good, sort of unsettling thriller and this definitely checked that box for me. My only complaint is that the book was split into multiple different POVs and there was no way to tell the difference between them. I wish there was some sort of indicator like "Before", "During", "After", etc. But I also understand this is an eARC and maybe they just haven't added those in yet. Overall, this is a really good book!!
3.75/5 stars! This book was so creepy crawly and had me shivering with anxiety. This is not a book you can skim or rush through. It demands your attention and that you travel through Eli and Manny's journeys with them. I go back and forth between if I like the twist or not. On the one hand, it kind of took away from some of the feelings that had been building in me since the beginning; but on the other hand, I didn't see it coming which fits with the mystery genre. Interested in seeing what is next for this author.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I was impressed with this book. I’d heard Mark Oshiro was a great author and I did find this to be true. The story follows Manny, who is alone, homeless, and struggling after a serious trauma that we don’t find out about completely until close to the end of the book. I liked the build up as the story goes on and I felt like there were very few, if any, boring moments in the entire story. A definite page turner and one I greatly enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Wow. This book was just amazing. A good choice for my first 5 star book of 2023. I can’t get over how beautiful and powerful this was.
Lie lie lie. That’s all Manny has ever known to do. Manny is a teenager who has been abandoned his whole life. All he’s ever known is his older sister Elena who was bounced around with him from foster home to foster home. She is the only family he’s ever known and the only person he’s ever loved. Now Manny has been homeless for a year and he’s looking for a way to get back to his sister after he was kicked out of the religious community he had been forcefully adopted to.
Eli is confused on who he is. Elena is his older sister who he loves and who tells him his purpose is the church and to help the other children find God. That he is a miracle. But who is he?
I felt so much anxiety and rage as Manny was describing his year of being homeless. All he knew to do was lie and try to get a way to get another meal and place to sleep. Never rely on anyone but yourself. When a kind family of two parents and a son decide to pick Manny up, he’s skeptical. He’s never stayed with anyone for longer than a few days before and the Varelas family is so kind to him he doesn’t want to believe it’s genuine. He doesn’t think anyone could possibly want to help him for nothing.
I loved the Varelas family so much. I wanted them to be the main focus as soon as they were introduced. They show that people are human and we have flaws. They are trying to do right after the pain they caused. They love their son Carlos and are determined to help Manny find his sister no matter what.
I don’t want to give too much away but y’all. That twist! My jaw literally fell to the ground. The summary was not wrong about you having to read it to believe it. I was screaming WHAT for about 3 minutes to myself. Nothing has ever made such perfect sense while also destroying my brain like that. I applaud Mark.
At the root of this, we touch on so many social issues. There’s homelessness and abandoned children in the foster care system. There’s racism, abuse, neglect, and homophobia. This is a found family story that packed a powerful punch.There were times I talked myself out of crying because I just felt so bad for Manny and his suffering. I wanted so badly for him to find his purpose and happiness. I can’t get over how much I loved this book and it comes out March 28th so check it out when it releases!
Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. The nonlinear narrative didn't build the suspense or attachment to the characters, and it was by far the biggest obstacle to my enjoyment of the book. In addition to the extremely short paragraphs, jumping between past and present made the story feel choppy. I absolutely despised the twist, and I don't think it was delicately foreshadowed. Beautiful cover, though.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Teen for providing me this arc in exchange of an honest review.*
This book was captivating even from the first chapter. It deals with a lot trigger warnings such as adoption, racism and religious cult. I was not very familiar with these issues and it took a toll on me from the first pages. This wonderful coming of age story was excellent. I feared, cried and got really sad for Manny. Will I reread this story? Probably no. Will I insist you read it? DEFINITELY YES!