In the Wild Light

YA fiction 

"The human eye can discern more shades of green than any other.  My friend Delaney told me that.  She said it's an adaptation from when ancient humans lived in forests.  Our eyes evolved that way as a survival mechanism to spot predators hiding in the vegetation.

     There are as many tinges of understanding as there are hues of green in a forest."

     In In the Wild Light narrator Cash and his best friend Delaney have to discover many tinges of understanding and feeling.  They're growing up in a small town in Tennessee surrounded by great natural beauty and unnatural tragedy.  Both have, in one way or another, lost their mothers to drugs.  Cash's mom died of an overdose in the bathroom of their trailer.  Delaney's mom lives to score drugs and boyfriends, totally lacking the bandwidth to parent.

     Delaney is brilliant in science despite the sad condition of their school's lab equipment.  In a nearby cave she discovers a kind of mold with amazing antibiotic properties.  It can kill bacteria totally resistant to other medicines.  

     Not surprisingly Delaney is offered a full ride scholarship at a prestigious New England private school.  When she says she won't go unless they give Cash the same offer they do.  So he's confronted with an opportunity extremely rare for poor small teens.  When he tells his grandparents who are his family:

     "I thought he'd [Papaw] laugh with me. Who knows what goes on in Tess's head? Tell her that that's mighty kind of her but you're needed at home."

     Only both grandparents want him to accept the school's offer.  His Mamaw sees it as something they never could give him despite their best efforts.  When he tells her he doesn't deserve the opportunity she replies:

     "No, you didn't deserve to lose your mama.  Plenty's fallen in your lap you didn't deserve.  This isn't one of those things.  Let the Lord bless you with one good thing to make up for all the rest."

     Cash has worries beyond not fitting in at the new school, flunking out, and disappointing his beloved grandparents.  His grandfather has emphysema.  Papaw has had to give up most of his favorite activities, is tethered to oxygen tanks, and is rapidly going downhill.  So Cash has to decide between keeping his brilliant best friend from achieving her potential by not being there for her and not being able to support his beloved Papaw in what could be his final days by not being there period.  It's a decision many adults would struggle with.

     In the Wild Light is one of the most authentic, poignant, and powerful coming of age narratives I've ever read.  I highly recommend it to readers in its target demographics and way beyond.

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday I was really aware of how short we are at Hilltop on student workers (not unexpectedly since the school year is just starting).  I was the only student in dish room which made it a two person operation.  I felt so in awe of the classified employee who had to do everything else while I grabbed garbage off the accumulator.  I'm also aware of how close we are to Wednesday afternoon.  Lisa Morin has said she'll help me restore my laptop to zoom access if I come in early.  Then it will be on to the next crisis.  (Jules)

Thank God for Lisa Morin!  She is a treasured friend to this family. (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to the student workers who have signed on and those who hopefully will soon join the Hilltop family.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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