This book was beautiful. Much like Cash, the protagonist, Zentner is a true poet. This book showed the beauty of friendship, family, and finding your passion.

I loved the dichotomy of the two main characters - one in love with art and words. The other in love with science and facts. Nature being Cash amd Delaney’s common ground.

I never quite knew where the plot was headed - was it a simple love story? What would be the climax? But the subtle build didn’t detract from the beauty of this story. I’ll be recommending this for years to come.

At face value, this is a pretty simple story. Perhaps even predicable. For me, this does not matter. There's something about Zentner's writing style that makes me forgiving of apparent simplicity. For one thing, the characters are complex. Much of the page space is devoted not to events but to reflections. To Cash contemplating his history and his future. It's relative poverty and limited opportunities come face to face with privilege. We meet characters dealing with different prejudices and limitations. All together we have a plot that feels fairly inevitable and because the characters are realistic and nuanced we go along with them to that inevitable conclusion.

I 100% cried at the end. I loved all the relationships/banter/love between every single person in this book. The writing is beautiful and I couldn't put it down. I'm going to need a follow up book on everyone's life. I can not articulate exactly how much I absolutely enjoyed my time with this book. The poetry included and every word used to write this book is so lyrical, I wanted more in the best way possible.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Crown Books for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful. Just beautiful. I always love Jeff Zentner's writing and I think this is one of his best yet. The poetry intertwined into this character driven story makes it pure magic. I had some trouble getting into the story and while I didn't entirely care for Delaney, she was an overall rich character as well as all the side characters. Somewhat predictable but you don't really care because the poetry and the characters are so well don. 4.5/5

I enjoyed this book so much! I took longer than usual to read it, a few pages at a time, because I did not want it to end. The characters were so real and likable I wanted to know them, and in fact I feel like I know them and want to keep on knowing them!
This is a YA book and I hope that does not stop adults from
picking it up. There are important life lessons for us all in the well-written prose and poetry.

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I loved Jeff Zentner's first book The Serpent King, but then his 2nd book Goodbye Days really didn't do it for me so I didn't pick up his 3rd book. But then I heard some raves about this one (his 4th) and saw it on NetGalley and decided to give it a chance and whew......the emotional devastation.....this book is so beautiful. I kept trying to read it on my lunch break at work and I'd get teary-eyed at every chapter--not even because it was explicitly sad always but it was just so poignant and moving.

Anyway I read the final 30% at home instead of work and I was just MESSY CRYING oh heck my emotions!!!

PS I was talking about this with a friend and she was like "I read that the one girl gets a scholarship to boarding school and asks for one for her best friend and they just give him one, is that a thing?" and I was like "ok.......in the specific context of the book it does seem plausible but I have no idea if it would ever happen like that in real life." So if you, too, are struggling with that premise I think that since Delaney is presented as such a genius student who's made this big discovery so schools are fighting over her, and she's making the case that if she's changing schools junior year and she won't know anyone there, and that Cash helped with her discovery and also has good grades, and also her specific scholarship is being funded by 1 specific donor who really wants her to go to that specific boarding school....like, sure, 2 scholarships, why not? Get over the logistics and get into your box of Kleenex.

God, I loved this book so much. Jeff Zentner knows how to write unique coming-of-age tales starring fascinating characters—some of my favorite male protagonists in YA. I haven’t cried that hard for a book since the beginning of the year.

This book is the definition of coming-of-age for our protagonist, Cash. He has gone through so much trauma in his short life and when your best friend is the smartest person you know, imposter syndrome and self doubt comes with it. After meeting at a support group for kids with addict parents, Cash and Delaney bond on a very intense level. Their connection goes beyond the traditional best friendship—it's absolutely beautiful. The only reason Cash gets to go away to this exceptional school on a free ride is because Delaney would only accept her own scholarship if Cash got to join her. He feels an immense amount of pressure to not only do well for her, but also for his grandparents that he left behind back home. That self doubt really comes into play when he starts to discover the world of poetry.

The relationship Cash has with his grandparents is absolutely beautiful. For the most part, they raised him—their home is the only place he has ever felt safe. The special connection he has with his grandfather displays an immense amount of vulnerability that is rare to see, not only from a teenage boy, but also from an older man. When you think about people from a small town—an Appalachian small town—you imagine a kind of stoicism or coldness when it comes to emotions and feelings. That is not the case with Cash and his Papaw. It's nice to see a father/son-type relationship with that much of affection.

I could honestly read hundreds of books about Cash and Delaney. This book is absolutely spectacular, and definitely one of my favorites of the year.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Zentner writes the best rural YA literature, in my opinion. His characters are raw and have been flayed open. While I did not love this to the extent of _The Serpent King_ (one of my favorite YA’s ever) this is no exception. I find his characters inspiring.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this delightful read.

THIS is how you write a YA book. Realistic, dealing with addiction, poverty, scholarships, friendships, and love - and all in a positive light. I didn't want to put the book down and as a teacher, it gave me hope for so many students.

Cash and Delany are BFFs in Sawyer, TN. Their commonality is having mothers who are addicts. Cash has the love of his grandparents while Delany is more on her own. One day she makes an exciting discovery that leads her and Cash to a boarding school in Connecticut.

The realism of the characters and situations make this book easily recommendable for many ages. I cannot thank Jeff Zenter enough for putting this art piece out into the universe. People's lives will be better for it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I read and enjoyed Zentner’s debut novel, The Serpent King, but hadn’t read any of his others. The description for In the Wild Light sounded good, so I requested this ARC. Cash lives with his grandparents in the same small Tennessee town as his best friend Delaney. Delaney’s academic genius lands her a scholarship to attend an exclusive boarding school in Connecticut; she agrees to go, but only if they offer Cash a scholarship as well.


The positives in this book far outweigh the negatives. Cash’s integrity and small town sensibilities stood out to me, even though he frequently underestimated himself. Delaney was more of an off-the-wall type that I didn’t find as appealing. The boarding school setting caused a lot of college flashbacks for me due to them meeting tons of new people, some good and some not so good. There was a scene that took place on the High Line in New York City that brought to mind a couple of similar events in my own life. Cash’s relationship with his grandparents was also extremely heartwarming. If there was one thing that bugged me about this book, it was that Cash seemed to have an overly developed sense of smell – he was constantly identifying and noting multiple conflicting smells at same time and the smells he identifies are beyond what most 16-17 year old boys are familiar with. Each time it happened, it pulled me out of the story. I think I recall encountering this same problem with The Serpent King.

Despite my doubts about Cash’s smelling skills, I gave In the Wild Light five stars on Goodreads. I’m always glad to read stories based in small towns, and nobody writes small towns and the characters who live there as well as Jeff Zentner. I recommend it to all readers of young adult novels.

This book was received as an ARC from Random House Children's - Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was interesting to say the least. I loved the sentiment behind this book, losing your family and taking care of those around you and then get faced with a life-changing opportunity that can take you away from those that need you. I also loved the friendship between Delaney and Cash through these times even when they were difficult and unbearable, they still stood by each other and that made them realize what exactly is important in life. This book also taught a very valuable life lesson in which in order to take care of others, you need to take care of yourself and in many times in life we forget to realize this until it's too late. This was a very memorable story always caring about those who love and care about you and realize you've been where you needed to be all along.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I have been a fan of Zentner's books since I first read Serpent King in 2016, and his latest book did not disappoint. Cash, Delaney, and the other characters are perfectly crafted, realistic to the point they walk off the page. The drama in Cash's life was the perfect blend of melodramatic, realistic, and relevant and helped make him more realistic. Cash's story perfectly illustrated the experience of the working poor and the impact of the opioid crisis on many small towns in America. Every aspect of this book was well written and perfectly plotted, making a book that I highly recommend.

IN THE WILD LIGHT by Jeff Zentner is the latest young adult novel from this award-winning author and I cannot say enough good things about the story-telling and writing that Zentner has done here. The narrator is named Cash Pruitt, a high school junior who lives in rural Sawyer, Tennessee with his grandparents, Papaw and Mamaw. That's because Cash's mom died from a drug overdose and his best friend, Delaney Doyle, is also coping with drug addiction in her family. Delaney has a photographic memory and is a treasure trove of "random factoids" (e.g., "Tears have the same salinity as seawater" or "Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes shook hands with John Quincy Adams and John F. Kennedy"). She is portrayed as a genius of sorts and her recent scientific discovery resulted in a scholarship - for her and Cash - to a private school, Middleford Academy, in New England. Leaving the only life they know, despite its many hardships and ghosts, is not an easy choice for Cash and Delaney. His great Aunt Betsy ultimately convinces Cash to take the risk, saying "You'll never regret a decision more than the one you make out of fear. Fear tells you to make your life small. Fear tells you to think small. Fear tells you to be small-hearted. Fear seeks to preserve itself, and the bigger you let your life and perspective and heart get, the less air you give fear to survive."

There is so much emotion in this book, including finding courage and self-acceptance, making new friends, dealing with homesickness and Papaw's terminal illness. There is a great deal of sadness, but also some remarkable resilience. Throughout, Cash shares his feelings and his love of nature as he exquisitely describes the sights, sounds and smells of new experiences. A gifted teacher encourages him to write poetry and observing his growth in finding his voice is amazing. She tells Cash, "Being a poet takes bravery, Yes, the courage to bleed on a page. But also to bleed for the world we write poetry about. You have it." Zentner, too, provides some foreshadowing when Cash muses early in the story: "I've always loved when the light finds the broken spots in the world and makes them beautiful." IN THE WILD LIGHT is not to be missed – it received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.

I just finished reading In The Wild Light and I loved it. This is one of my best and favorite reads this year. I will read anything by Jeff Zentner.
This book was gorgeously and lyrically written about grief, found family, and being brave. Adding poetry to it made it more special. I don’t know how to review this book properly but go read it!!!
Hopefully, Jeff Zentner releases a poetry collection in the future because I’ll definitely read that. I can’t wait to hold my signed and personalized copy soon!!

I’m pretty sure this man lives to kill us one word typed on his cell phone at a time. This is Jeff’s most poetic book yet, which says a lot if you’ve read his others. His books read like songs to my heart, and I hope he keeps playing bookish music for a long time.

What’s special about this book is the clear tribute to his Appalachian community. From the cover to the vernacular, In the Wild Light serves to share the rich people (and their beautiful natural environment) Jeff lives amongst. I could feel the vibrancy of the community, hear the sounds, smell the scents – this book is a visceral image of a people we often stigmatize. It was like floating on the river at sunrise.

Jeff writes dual POVs, and male and female POVs, with ease. I’ve come to enjoy that about his books. The multiple perspectives keep us flipping pages to see what each character is experiencing. You’ll also find some of the best dialogue and banter within these pages.

In the Wild Light is a love story, of community, family, friendship, and more. Bring tissues and be ready for Cash, Delaney, and Papaw to live in your heart long after you’ve closed the pages.

There's no way I wasn't going to love this book, since I've loved everything this author has written. I just didn't know how much I would love this. From the small town of Sawyer - so much like the small town I grew up in - to the characters; I loved it all. This is a book about grief and love and finding happiness in unexpected places. Zentner knows how to write characters that will absolutely pull you in and break your heart. He knows how to write teens with all their complex emotions and struggles. You will cry, but you will love this.

Cash and Delaney, best friends, live in a small town in Tennessee that is overrun with a drug problem. When Delaney finds a new mold that is a better antibiotic than the world has seen, she and Cash are offered a full scholarship to a prestigious high school in Connecticut. Cash leaves his grandparents behind knowing that his grandfather is on the verge of death. Delaney leaves behind a mother who is addicted to drugs. Together, they embark on a new journey and find out how strong their friendship is.
Opinion
Wow! This book definitely hits the feels. My husband came and checked on me because at one point I had tears coming down my face and I couldn't stop. This journey of discovery for these two friends is iconic of self discovery in teen years. This book could definitely become a modern day classic with how well written it is.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I've enjoyed Zentner's work in the past, but never quite like this; to be honest, it's been a long time since a book wrecked me so much.

In some ways, it's a story where not all that much happens, but it's also a story that's emotionally rich, with absolutely wonderfully rendered characters who settle themselves into your heart and a strongly loving sense of place alongside recognition of the less pretty parts. The writing is really beautiful, such that even the inserted poetry (almost always a red flag for me!) comes off well. I did sometimes find myself feeling that Vi wasn't given quite enough to make her feel like a true character rather than someone manic-pixie adjacent, and Delaney was sometimes let off the hook by both Cash and the narrative in ways that I wish would have been examined a bit more deeply. But overall it's a gem which those who have liked Zentner's other work, along with fans of Melina Marchetta, Patrick Ness, and A.S. King, will enjoy.

In the Wild Light follows the story of best friends, Delaney and Cash. When Delaney discovers a new type of fungus and is invited to attend a boarding school at one of the nation's best schools, she convinces Cash to come as well.

In all honesty, I'm really conflicted with this novel. On the one hand, I thought that the characters were mediocre and the plot was boring. Nothing really happens in this book and I don't think there's a true third act conflict that arises. However, the writing is so beautiful. There were so many lines that hit me right in the heartstrings.

This book is definitely character driven and the story focuses solely on character development. I don't really recommend this book if you're looking for something exciting. However, if you are in the mood for a slower paced book that emphasizes the beauty of the world around you, this one might be for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advance Kindle copy of this book. It is out this week - 8/10/21! All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Another amazing story from one of my favorite authors. Set against the backdrop of rural Tennessee, Cash has lived with his grandparents since his mother died from an overdose. Now his grandfather is dying. When his best friend, whose mother is addicted, secures a scholarship to a prestigious New England boarding school, she manages to get him admitted too. Faced with the decision of attending a school that he thinks is out of his league while the most important person in his life is dying, Cash learns to take risks amidst immense grief. Highly, highly recommend for grades 9+. I’ll be purchasing a copy for my personal collection.