This was an okay story that turned super bizarre. I didn’t love any aspects of it, but I was intrigued the whole time. It turned very unbelievable at one point and I lost my interest in it.

Manny and his sister, Elena, are foster kids who got brought into a religious cult, led by the charismatic Deacon Thompson. Deacon preaches about Reconciliation as the only true way to bond with God, and Elena really embraces this dogma. Despite being (potentially) Afro-Latinx, they were both adopted by the Sullivans within days of traveling to the cult’s compound. Elena was immediately embraced by this community of white people who have quite a habit for adopting children of color lost in the foster system.

Eli can’t quite understand the pathway to Reconciliation and struggles with gaps in his memories, especially how he came to be in the isolated mountain camp where the cult attempts to be a self-sustaining community called Idyllwild. Deacon hosts a YouTube channel, where he solicits new members and donations to continue “God’s Work” of Reconciliation. When Manny’s not able to perform in the dog-and-pony show, he finds himself literally left for dead, separated from Elena and with no reasonable chance of finding her.

It’s now been a year of searching, combing through Deacon’s videos for evidence Elena’s okay. For a pathway back to the only family he’s known. In his searching, Manny discovers a body was found outside the Idyllwild encampment, and he’s afraid it’s Elena. Manny feels compelled to discover if his sister has been discarded from the community, like he was, and hitchhikes his way back to Idyllwild to find out the truth.

This is a YA coming of age mystery story that contains on-page recollections of physical and emotional abuse, abandonment, possible trafficking, and attempted sexual coercion of a minor. I’ll be honest, I struggled with this story’s flow and plot line, as Manny and Eli report their experiences through inconsistent narration. There are no actual chapters in this book, and the transitions between POV changes and the timeline of the story happen…whenever. Manny’s not sure about his next meal, his next ride, his next opportunity. Eli’s not able to figure out the path to Reconciliation, and this is an issue as he’s not able to facilitate other children choosing Deacon’s bizarre path toward enlightenment. Are those moments all flashback? Whose body has been found?

The book has some autobiographical elements, per the author, which added some gravitas to the prose. The religious cult experiences resonated for me, based on my own personal history. I liked Manny and his mission to find not only the truth about Elena, but also to bring Idyllwild and the cult into the light. To share the traumas he suffered there with people in the world who could love him for who he is: a queer kid caught in the guardianship of people who’ve never cared for him. Manny does find good people in his crusade, and he’s certainly better off in the end than he was in the cult.

I think this was an interesting book, but it didn’t actually read like a thriller, to me. The format was an impediment for me, though not because I’m all that concerned about a linear plot line. The lack of transitions just had me constantly questioning who was talking and when/where I was in the story. Enormous gaps in time, location, and experience caused me to go back to re-read a lot, and made it hard to keep that “thriller” pace, as a result. It’s also really, really long. I’m a fan of thick books, but my trouble with the pace and content made it boggy instead of anticipatory. The twist fell flat for me, mostly because it just simply didn’t mesh with the highly realistic prose to that point. The jarring discordance had me underwhelmed and feeling slightly betrayed.

While I’d like to hope these stories of abuse of kids–through religious or foster outlets–are not commonplace anymore, it seems like I read about them with abhorrent frequency in real life. I think that readers who’ve experienced trauma in their youth will find touchstones in this story.

This book ruined me. Raw and emotional, with Oshiro's signature beautiful prose and deep characters. I was introduced to Oshiro by his co-written book with Rick Riordan, but I'm devouring my way through his backlist now.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this e-ARC. I am anticipating reading this soon and reviewing on my socials.

I tried reading this twice before coming to a conclusion that i dont care about the story, at all🥲 nothing personal and I wish Manny well and successfully find what he’s been searching for

This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it! I am giving this book three stars, as I don't want to give it a good or bad rating, since I did not get to it and we have to leave a star rating.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

i only made it to page 2. but i already have something to say. and it is this: can we just fucking stop with the phrase "empty calories" already? are we trying to give people eating disorders? seriously. not off to a good start, my dude. this is a ya book. the teens do not need this. it doesn't serve a purpose and also i stupid.

not getting a star rating because i don't want to read beyond this and as such won't.

I spent almost all of this book with my hand over my mouth, deeply invested in every twist and turn this took as my brain tried to furiously figure out what was going on.

So much of this book is dependent on not knowing where the story is going so I will not spoil any of that in my review here. But Mark Oshiro dives into deep and difficult ideas, cults, and conversion therapy disguised as something else and much more sinister. Oshiro handles their work with such precision and care. It’s clear from the very beginning that this is a story close to them and comes from a personal place.

Do not go into this book lightly, but trust that you’re in the safest hands.

4 stars

I don’t know why I kept putting off this book but I really should have read it right away. It was so good. I cried (literally while driving and listening to the audio) so hard. It was one of those books I think will stay with me for a while.

Into the Light tells the story of a lost young man trying to find his way back to a home he's not sure still exists. Mark Oshiro leads a beautifully painful exploration of what 'family' means when the only one you've ever had turns it back on you. The main character Manny is relatable on so many levels, least of all in that all he really wants, even when he thinks he doesn't deserve it, is love and understanding. An incredibly poignant story that I'm sure we can all wish wasn't as necessary as it so clearly is. Especially in light of the Shiny Happy People documentary.

What a great story by an amazing author ! I This book was amazind and i'm sure you will love it too !

Wow. I don’t know what I was expecting for this book, but this book really surprised me, in a majorly good way. I tried to start this book back in April, and I really couldn’t get into it. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was in a reading slump, or I was just in the wrong mindset, but I had to wait, and I tried it again two months later, and this time I really got into the story. And I needed to be in the right mindset, because it is not an easy read. It touches on some heavier subjects, and if you’re not in the mindset for it, you won’t be able to get hooked. It is a story that builds over time, as we get to learn more and more about Manny’s story and past, and it just keeps you reading.

The story follows multiples timeline, as we get to see the past intertwined with the current events. While I do find that it can sometimes be a little confusing, it does work nicely as it helps build the story and show us the events that lead Manny where he is.

The one thing that I didn’t like was part of the ending, as it felt unnecessary, and it took away something away from the story for me.

Overall, I still think it is a really great read, though it is not an easy read and it can be worth looking at the trigger warnings that are included in the book, as it might be too much for some people. It was my first time reading anything from Mark Oshiro, but I do find myself wanting to check out his other books, so if anyone has any recommendations for which of his novels to read next, let me know.

This book is a work of art. It is so beautifully written and structured. It keeps you guessing until the very end, and takes the reader in directions they never could have seen coming. It was so clear and heartbreaking that the book was based on personal experiences, it was crafted with so much care for the reader and the characters. I felt every single possible emotion while reading it. This book is important. There is no other way to describe it,

Mark Oshiro's Into the Light is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of grief, healing, and the power of community. This moving novel delves deep into the human experience, taking readers on an emotional journey that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.

The story follows the life of Rey, a young man burdened by the weight of immense loss. After the tragic death of his best friend, Rey is left shattered and consumed by guilt. As he navigates his grief, Rey discovers a mysterious artifact that allows him to revisit the memories of his past and confront the demons that haunt him.

Oshiro's prose is stunning, capturing the rawness and vulnerability of his characters' emotions with remarkable precision. Through Rey's introspective narrative, readers are drawn into his tumultuous world, feeling the weight of his pain as if it were their own. The author's ability to convey complex emotions and inner turmoil is truly remarkable, and it serves as the beating heart of the novel.

This was such an enthralling read! I loved following Manny, who was such an endearing character. The world was very fleshed out and vivid. I cannot wait to read more by Mark Oshiro!

At first I was pretty on board with this book. Oshiro is playing with the difference between a church and a cult, ignorance and dangerous manipulation. He's also pointing out real problems with the foster care and adoption systems. Interesting ideas but I have some problems with the book. At first the plot is a bit meandering and directionless. It was character driven and the deep exploration of the protagonist keeps us engaged. But when we got to the big reveal of the camp and his ejection from it I as thrown and confused. That part was very hard to parse

This book was rough. I appreciate the diversity and representation seen in this book, but for me the messy narrative, the wild and unexplainable twist, and excessive length were pretty significant barriers towards overall enjoyment.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group and Tor books, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Manny was cast out of his family one year ago and driven into the wilderness of the America Southwest. Since then, he had to learn how to live by himself, keep moving and be alive. Now, he thinks traveling with the Varela family could be an option, with their attractive son, Carlos.
Eli is living with his family in a secluded community, raised to believe his obedience will be rewarded, but since he can't remembering his past, his faith in Reconciliation is threatened. When an unidentified body is found in California, the destinies of these young men are interwoven, forcing them to face their fears, identities and questions about themselves.

I loved this book! It's a tough and complex coming of age, following Manny, a young queer Latinx main character, who was kicked out of his house and now he has to learn how to live and understand himself and the secrets in his past. It's a book a bit difficult to read, because it deals with racism, homophobia, homelessness and being alone. When Manny is taken by the Varela's family everything is changed, but it's understandable his skepticism around them, after being alone for so long and being betrayed by his own family. Adding a cult and his secrets, an unidentified body found in California, mix everything and you'll have this book filled with twists, emotions and intriguing characters. It's a story about looking for someone, secrets, longing for a connections, pain and love and it's the kind of book, like all Mark Oshiro's ones, let's be honest, that will hurt and heal you at the same time. It's a moving and heartfelt story, a thrilling thriller with twists and
filled with hope, trauma, grief and family.

In a shocking twist of events, I adored this book even more than all the other ones I've read by this author so far. This was such an intricate, heartfelt exploration into what it means to want to connect to others when you're a teen but feeling incredibly lonely and isolated despite your best efforts.
Manny has one of the toughest journeys in front of him but he nevertheless perseveres even when he feels like there's no reason to go on. The emotions and angst were so visceral that I often had to put down the book just so I could take a breather - but it's worth it to make it through all the fear and the pain to get to where Manny is going and finding a home away from the cult that...isn't all that it seems.
I can't recommend this queer, diverse, haunting read enough.