Each Night Was Illuminated by Jodi Lynn Anderson - HIGH

Each Night Was Illuminated by Jodi Lynn Anderson, 240 pages. Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins). 2022. $17. 

Language: R (26 swears, 5 F); Mature Content: PG (loss, self-questioning) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

When Cassie is 11yo, she and Elias see a train crash off a bridge into the water. When Cassie is 17yo, Elias returns and she has to face her fears. Elias wants to look for ghosts and Cassie has a deep need to feel safe. Things come to a head when Cassie questions her faith, and their secrets, and has to survive the world around her. 

 Skillfully written, I love that Cassie's questions of faith are addressed beautifully and carefully. She and Elias make the perfect foils for each other and their adventures are intriguing and enlightening. The beginning pulled me in and intriguing enough to get me quickly to the end. A great stand alone book with plenty of life metaphors. Cassie is a good Catholic girl with a warrior zipped tight inside and Elias is from Australia with a varied cultural background. 

Michelle in the Middle