In the Wild Light
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-05-31 07:19:39
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Jeff Zentner
- ISBN：1524720275
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
From the award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a beautiful examination of grief， found family， and young love。
Life in a small Appalachian town is not easy。 Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and his Papaw is dying slowly from emphysema。 Dodging drug dealers and watching out for his best friend， Delaney， is second nature。 He’s been spending his summer mowing lawns while she works at Dairy Queen。
But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut， Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney， and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he would have to leave behind。
Life in a small Appalachian town is not easy。 Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and his Papaw is dying slowly from emphysema。 Dodging drug dealers and watching out for his best friend， Delaney， is second nature。 He’s been spending his summer mowing lawns while she works at Dairy Queen。
But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut， Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney， and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he would have to leave behind。
Reviews
Maryann
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4。5* YA kindle
Kaitlyn
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Very few books touch you on the pain and complexity of life。 Most create their own worlds， a means of escape from the one we all currently live in。 Jeff Zentner decides to face it head on， though。 This book was raw， real， and eloquently written。 In stories like these， I often don’t remember the characters， but the story and it’s theme。 His is one I know will stick with me for awhile in life。 I recommend this for anyone who needs guidance in their own story， or just a reminder that everything hap Very few books touch you on the pain and complexity of life。 Most create their own worlds， a means of escape from the one we all currently live in。 Jeff Zentner decides to face it head on， though。 This book was raw， real， and eloquently written。 In stories like these， I often don’t remember the characters， but the story and it’s theme。 His is one I know will stick with me for awhile in life。 I recommend this for anyone who needs guidance in their own story， or just a reminder that everything happens to put us on the path that we need to be on。 。。。more
♡*WithLove， Reesie*♡
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I would have never read this if it wasn't assigned to me to read。 And I would have missed out on an amazing story and incredible writing。 A book has not made me cry in a very long time。 This book had me in tears with a heavy but hopeful heart。 The writing is done so well， so lyrical， that so many lines are quote worthy。 The writing is so good it makes me want to be a better writer and makes me believe that I can。This is literary YA Fiction with such incredible storytelling it doesn't feel litera I would have never read this if it wasn't assigned to me to read。 And I would have missed out on an amazing story and incredible writing。 A book has not made me cry in a very long time。 This book had me in tears with a heavy but hopeful heart。 The writing is done so well， so lyrical， that so many lines are quote worthy。 The writing is so good it makes me want to be a better writer and makes me believe that I can。This is literary YA Fiction with such incredible storytelling it doesn't feel literary。 After I finished this book I kept saying out loud to myself: "dang。 That was good。"It was so very good！I don't know what to say about the book that won't be spoilers， but it is a great read for upper age young adults and adults （16+）。Small town to big time life。 Boarding school。 First love。 First heart break。 Death。 Grief。 Poetry。 Hope。 Friendship。 **Quotes**“Because for every way the world tries to kill us， it gives us a way to survive。 You just gotta find it。""Here we are， survivors of quiet wars。 Like trees that have weathered a brutal storm， but with broken branches and fallen blossoms littering the ground around us。""I guess uncertainty isn’t always something you can conquer。 Sometimes it’s a path you have to take。""I can’t imagine what will happen if I ever get to kiss her。 My heart will probably just dissolve and run down the walls of my chest。 But everyone has to die somehow。""I wish our love was enough to keep whole the people we love。"I will read again。 （And this author's other works） I highly highly recommend。 。。。more
Brooke
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Zentner does an excellent job of describing love and grief， and nature。 This book is for teens and I wouldn't hesitate to put it in the hands of one， with the caveat that he does use language。 Zentner does an excellent job of describing love and grief， and nature。 This book is for teens and I wouldn't hesitate to put it in the hands of one， with the caveat that he does use language。 。。。more
Brandi
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Another Zentner treasure！ Brilliantly written characters—Cash and Delaney， from small town， Tennessee—get the chance of a lifetime—to attend a prestigious school in Connecticut。 Perfect for middle grade readers。 Themes: addiction， death， poverty， friendship， beauty of nature， Appalachia， first love。
Jeanie
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Heartfelt novel full of the light of poetry。Delany is a genius。 Cash is her best and only friend。 Disfunctional chidhood have drawn these two into a small orbit 。 When Delany makes a scientific discovery， her notoriety brings forth colleges offering scholarships。 How will she and Cash move on？
Tuddi
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There is beauty and love in soul crushing heartbreak。 Sometimes we forget how hard it is to feel。
Jenna
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There’s something just so beautiful about the way some authors write。 This book was so vivid and descriptive， and every chapter had at least one sort of *wow* moment where you just marvel at the way something is articulated， and the way it resonates with you。 Even though some parts of it may not have been super realistic or were cliche， or other parts of the dialogue were slightly cringey （sorry， I feel like no one really gets “roasted” anymore）， I still feel like this book will stick with me be There’s something just so beautiful about the way some authors write。 This book was so vivid and descriptive， and every chapter had at least one sort of *wow* moment where you just marvel at the way something is articulated， and the way it resonates with you。 Even though some parts of it may not have been super realistic or were cliche， or other parts of the dialogue were slightly cringey （sorry， I feel like no one really gets “roasted” anymore）， I still feel like this book will stick with me because of the writing style。 This type of writing is something I aspire to attain because it just describes things in such an impressive and beautiful way。 The way words can be used so efficiently to tell a tale of growth and grief， longing and sorrow…it just blows my mind how some people have that gift to make words describe things with such ease yet power。 One instance that comes to mind off the top of my head was when a hug was depicted as an embrace that reached beyond muscle and bone to hug the person’s soul。 Like…？！？ I feel like hugs can be so meaningful between characters， but just that simple sentence brought so much more importance to the moment and described the feeling of a good hug perfectly。 I want a soul hug now🥲Anyway， this was kind of a lot and I could go on about other things， especially the way the natural world in particular was depicted， but just *words* man。 I love ‘em and I enjoyed seeing them put together this way。 。。。more
Rachel
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“I’ll tell you the truest thing I know: You are not a creature of grief。 You are not a congregation of wounds。 You are not the sum of your losses。 Your skin is not your scars。 Your life is yours， and it can be new and wonderful。” If this wasn’t a library copy， I’d have marked all over this book。 Excellent read。
Jenn
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In the Wild Light is a story about Cash and his best friend Delaney。 They became close when they met at a support group for the children of addicts。 Delaney is a genius and wants more than the small town they’re living in。 She gets the chance when offered a scholarship at a prestigious private school。 She only agrees if Cash gets one too。 They head off to school where Cash leaves his sick grandfather and the only home he’s ever known behind。 There he tries to find his place and figure out what h In the Wild Light is a story about Cash and his best friend Delaney。 They became close when they met at a support group for the children of addicts。 Delaney is a genius and wants more than the small town they’re living in。 She gets the chance when offered a scholarship at a prestigious private school。 She only agrees if Cash gets one too。 They head off to school where Cash leaves his sick grandfather and the only home he’s ever known behind。 There he tries to find his place and figure out what he wants for his future。 I loved the character of Cash and I loved Zenter’s writing。 I was so drawn into Cash’s story and the relationship with his grandparents。 He was such a great protagonist and felt so real。 Having said that， I had an issue with the relationship between Cash and Delaney。 I found Delaney very， very annoying。 I actually couldn’t stand her。 She was one of the most selfish characters over ever read。 Even if she was doing something kind， it was because it benefitted her。 She never apologized for anything and I just couldn’t stand that part of the book。 Overall this was an incredibly sweet and heartfelt book and I really enjoyed it。 A great YA read for those that love a story with heart。 。。。more
Nathalia Goodman
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Can I give a book 10 stars？ I loved it so much。 The characters， the story line， the descriptions， the message。 Fantastic book。
Kristina Acosta
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I read this book because of the setting。 I loved it because of the language。 One of those books that makes me wish I could create something beautiful with words like good authors do。
Tala
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that’s what i’m fuckin talkin about， baby。（to expound on that a bit: no other Zentner book has come close to upstaging THE SERPENT KING but。 this， uh。 this might be it）。
Wendy
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This is the first book I have read by this author and I loved it！
Ms。
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Oh man。 <3 This was beautifully written and I felt a LOT of emotion reading。。。wow。
Heidi
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Definitely a great book for anyone。 Lots of great themes and the writing is beautiful。
Bethany
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I really liked this one。 I enjoyed the main characters and the friendships， I loved the main guy's relationship with his family and he was someone I really rooted for。 I also loved the way it was written。。。 I noticed it was poetic in the writing even before I knew it was about poetry， and that subtle style that the author worked into his narration was very compelling。 I was very satisfied with how this one turned out。 I really liked this one。 I enjoyed the main characters and the friendships， I loved the main guy's relationship with his family and he was someone I really rooted for。 I also loved the way it was written。。。 I noticed it was poetic in the writing even before I knew it was about poetry， and that subtle style that the author worked into his narration was very compelling。 I was very satisfied with how this one turned out。 。。。more
Hallie Olivia
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One of the best books I’ve ever read。 Truly。 You’ll feel your heart thump out of your chest and ache inside of it for these characters。 I can’t wait for the next book this author dreams up :）
Amy
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I tell you this， Jeff Zentner can write beautiful， poetic words and create such rich imagery。 Oh， also the characters are superbly written and I may have cried。 Cash and Delaney are best friends from Tennessee， who get an opportunity to attend an elite school up north。 They have to leave family behind but also bring a lot of baggage from the past。 I loved the poetry aspect。 I love Mamaw and Papaw。 People looking for a book about the beauty of friendships need to pick this up。 Some swears， some k I tell you this， Jeff Zentner can write beautiful， poetic words and create such rich imagery。 Oh， also the characters are superbly written and I may have cried。 Cash and Delaney are best friends from Tennessee， who get an opportunity to attend an elite school up north。 They have to leave family behind but also bring a lot of baggage from the past。 I loved the poetry aspect。 I love Mamaw and Papaw。 People looking for a book about the beauty of friendships need to pick this up。 Some swears， some kissing， and one very brief scene of a piece of crap guy trying to take advantage of a passed out young woman。 9th grade and up。 。。。more
Debbie Tanner
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This book is in turns painfully beautifully and laugh out loud funny and poignantly brilliant。 It has amazing characters and witty dialogue and stunning poetry。 If you like well told stories， this one is for you。
Bee
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At this point， I think Jeff Zentner is incapable of disappointing me。 Once again， another gorgeous story with many， many， MANY beautiful quotes。 Highly recommended！
Betsy Wolf
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So this book is fantastic。
Alvey
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This may be my favorite book。 Through this book I learned， or re-learned that the right friends will lift you up and be there through tough times and bright times。 The use of poetry and the rhythmic tone keeps the reader engaged。 Be prepared to laugh and to cry。
Joyous Link
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Absolutely beautiful story written with some of the most beautiful quotes and descriptions I’ve ever read。
Emily
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This one quietly made its way into my heart。 What a wonderful， tender book about family， friendship， self-discovery， grief， home， addiction， poverty， and。。。wait for it。。。poetry。
Linda Timmermann
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I always love reading the stories of Mr。 Zentner。 The characters are well developed and usually struggling with personal issues of some kind。 Teens can relate to the issues and should enjoy the story。 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Laney
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I really like Jeff Zentner’s writing style and turn of phrase。 I really liked The Serpent King and I really liked this one too。 I could probably do without the predictable teenage angsty love story， but I think his books are young adult targeted， so maybe it’s necessary。 :） Lots of great language， characters， and settings。 Here’s some quotes I liked while reading: You’ll never regret a decision more than one you make out of fear。 Fear tells you to make your life small。 Fear tells you to think sm I really like Jeff Zentner’s writing style and turn of phrase。 I really liked The Serpent King and I really liked this one too。 I could probably do without the predictable teenage angsty love story， but I think his books are young adult targeted， so maybe it’s necessary。 :） Lots of great language， characters， and settings。 Here’s some quotes I liked while reading: You’ll never regret a decision more than 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。 ***Sometimes you agonize over something， you war inside yourself trying to defeat uncertainty， then you look around and the field of battle is deserted and you’ve been striking vainly at the air。 There’s nothing before you but a path marked uncertainty。 I guess uncertainty isn’t always something you can conquer。 I guess it’s a path you have to take。 ***You are not a creature of griefYou are not a congregation of woundsYou are not the sum of your lossesYour skin is not your scarsYour life is yoursIt can be new and wondrousRemember that 。。。more
Mary
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Oh my gosh I love this book。 I have to read more of Jeff Zentner’s work。 I hadn’t heard of him until he spoke at the Kentucky Public Library Association’s spring conference。 As he spoke， I grabbed my phone to put this title on hold。This book depicts two teens from rural East Tennessee who have both lost parents to addiction。 （Delaney’s mom is still alive but neglects her daughter。） Meanwhile， Cash is watching his Papaw slowly die of emphysema。 So this book could have been heavy and grim， but Zen Oh my gosh I love this book。 I have to read more of Jeff Zentner’s work。 I hadn’t heard of him until he spoke at the Kentucky Public Library Association’s spring conference。 As he spoke， I grabbed my phone to put this title on hold。This book depicts two teens from rural East Tennessee who have both lost parents to addiction。 （Delaney’s mom is still alive but neglects her daughter。） Meanwhile， Cash is watching his Papaw slowly die of emphysema。 So this book could have been heavy and grim， but Zentner shows us how light can break through the darkness。 Nature， friendship， love， and poetry shine their light on Cash and Delaney。I identified with some of Cash’s insecurities once he and Delaney arrive at the New England prep school that awarded them scholarships。 I was more like Delaney in that I wanted the hell out of my hometown， but I often felt self-conscious about my accent and humble origins。 As I have gotten older I have learned to love home like Cash does。 I’m from a much larger Southern town， but I’m familiar with the mountains Zentner describes。 I would recommend this book to high school kids， especially if they have family members suffering from addiction。 I hope they would feel less alone after reading it。 I’d also recommend it to teen boys who are trying to figure out how to become men。 I just read an interview where Zentner talks about trying to dismantle toxic masculinity in his work。 There are some wonderful male characters in this book， and boys could use their examples。 。。。more
Rose Mary Rinkevich
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I loved this book about the friendship of Cash and Delaney as the go off to a prestigious boarding school and the shared loss of their mother’s to opioids。
Chloé
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This book like all of Jeff’s’ other novels is perfection。 The moments are sweet and hopeful while also a nice sight for anyone close with their grandparents。 It was easily bittersweet for me to read as I lost my Nina （grandmother， welcome to the south they all have different titles） a couple years ago。 But love is such a pure thing between everyone in this novel。 Alex is lighthearted and funny， while Vi adds dimension to their group。 Ugh Delaney that girl is a star truly and so amazing to read h This book like all of Jeff’s’ other novels is perfection。 The moments are sweet and hopeful while also a nice sight for anyone close with their grandparents。 It was easily bittersweet for me to read as I lost my Nina （grandmother， welcome to the south they all have different titles） a couple years ago。 But love is such a pure thing between everyone in this novel。 Alex is lighthearted and funny， while Vi adds dimension to their group。 Ugh Delaney that girl is a star truly and so amazing to read how she thrived。 Though of course Cash was the lead and an amazing one at that。 I’m not much of a poetry person but the love this character has for it it beautiful。 Also this author continues to astonish me with his ability to write men like women do （lovable）。 And young adult male povs just kill me！ 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=In the Wild Light
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=In the Wild Light&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,In the Wild Light&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0