In the Wild Light

A parent would reach for In the Wild Light when their teenager is wrestling with the complex emotions of leaving home, particularly when that home is colored by both deep love and the shadows of generational addiction. This moving story follows Cash, a boy from rural Tennessee who is offered a life-changing scholarship to a prestigious boarding school alongside his brilliant best friend, Delaney. It addresses the guilt of moving forward when family members are stuck in cycles of substance abuse and the fear that one's identity is permanently tied to their past trauma. While the book contains heavy themes including grief, the opioid crisis, and terminal illness, it is ultimately a luminous celebration of found family and the power of poetry. It is best suited for older teens (14 and up) due to its mature subject matter, providing a safe space to discuss how we can honor our roots while still choosing a different path for ourselves.