Can the best thing happen at the worst time?
Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.
Author: Estelle Laure (Twitter)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Buy online: Amazon
**The ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
(Actual) Rating: 4 of 5 stars
This Raging Light narrates the story of the end and new beginnings in the life of Lucille and Wren Bennett. On the day their mother was supposed to be back from her two-week vacation, they settled in to the fact she'll be true to her words. Except it turns out that the relief of seeing their mother again quickly vanished as soon as it dawned on Lucille that she will never see her mother again. Their mother abandoned them completely on their own.
"Trust. What does it even mean? You hand somebody the knife to stab you with when you trust them."
To be honest, reading This Raging Light hurts me more than a paper cut. It's realistic as I've felt how it would be like if one day I suddenly found out my mother has probably given up on me. From such action, I'm certain Lucille may have been very confused and would want answers. Furthermore, how could a mother say that through such action she displays her tender love and kindness to her beloved daughters? It's like feeding them to the lions in the unfamiliar and risky dungeon. In my opinion, I would probably lose control and get mad at myself because I'll take all the blame for all the things that started the broken relationships in the family.
"I guess we all have to be grateful for the little things."
My perspective towards the protagonist's reaction to the whole situation was to leave an open mind because throughout I find Lucille to be very inspiring. Inspiring because her responsibility for the things that matters most, other than their mother missing, is her job as a role model to her sister, Wren. She composed herself well in front of Wren and has the maturity in her to explain and approach Wren calmly about the current situation they are in. She didn't leave Wren behind the family matters. I'm so glad for that.
I have to say that the support that Lucille gets from the people around her has influenced and encouraged her to do what it takes to move forward in life. Achieving the potential she has yet to discover and in the end, she has believed in herself far more than anyone else. I'm truly captivated by the rational thoughts that leads her to become independent in a particular way by taking care of her sister together without the complacency. She just do what she gotta do on the whole.
What has gotten me upset was the mother. I'm prepared to the point where she left her children unattended and all by themselves. However, what I couldn't accept is that - Why? Is it perhaps because they are growing up and it's time that she leave Lucille and Wren by themselves? Or is it because of a ruin family they have she couldn't handle it? I just wanted to know the reason why and then that would be all. She can have all the time to go around the world without goodbye, hugs and kisses.
This Raging Light is a hopeful, courageous book that illustrates a family scenario that sometimes we may have no clue as to why it leads to the way things are. It's a quick read that leaves you to your own thoughts and grasping to every thing you hold close, yet promising as you read to the very last page.
All thanks to HMH Books for Young Readers and the author for providing an advance review copy for me to read and review This Raging Light!
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