Oshiro, Mark. Into the Light. Macmillan/Tor Teen, 03/2023. 448pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-2508-1225-4. GRADES 7–12. OUTSTANDING.
Manny, a queer Latinx former foster kid/adoptee, is traveling the highways of the southwest living by his wits and handouts from other travelers. Eli is struggling to remember his past while navigating his current life at a rural religious compound that preaches “reconciliation” for kids of color adopted by white families. Told in multiple timelines and voices, this book pieces together the story of queer kids of color damaged by white religious saviorism. What begins as a mystery/thriller veers into horror while staying rooted in a contemporary society that is all too real for some, including the author, who offers a trigger warning and an author’s note with resources around transracial adoption and evangelical religious extremism.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K-8 / Oakland Unified School District