Out of Darkness (novel)

Out of Darkness is a 2015 historical young adult novel by Ashley Hope Pérez. The novel chronicles a love affair between a teenage Mexican American girl and a teenage African-American boy in 1930s New London, Texas, occurring right up to the 1937 New London School explosion.[1]

Juan Castillo of NBC News wrote that Out of Darkness "stares unflinchingly at racism, classism, segregation and the people who live on the margins of society."[2]

The book was released on September 1, 2015.[2]

Plot

The novel begins with the school explosion and then recounts prior events,[1] beginning in September 1936. 17-year old Naomi Vargas,[3] a high school senior who originates from San Antonio, moves in with her oil field worker stepfather. She becomes friends and falls in love with Wash Fuller, an African-American boy. Naomi deals with overt racism in New London and her history with her father.[4] After the explosion occurs, the townspeople blame Wash for the disaster.[5]

Contents

The book includes various pages colored black and some black-and-white photographs. In the sections before the plot's climax the pages have increasing amounts of white space.[3]

Characters

The four primary characters are:[6]

  • Wash Fuller – An African American senior (final year of senior high school) student,[1] Wash is the son of the principal of New London Colored School. When he begins dating Naomi, he stops his previous womanizing ways. Pérez describes him as "funny, loyal and passionate".[6]
  • Naomi Vargas – She is a shy character, Mexican-American and new in town. The author characterizes her as being quieter than Wash.[6]
  • Roberto "Beto" and Caridad "Cari" – Twins who are Naomi's half-siblings.[6]
  • Henry – Naomi's stepfather who sexually abused Naomi as a child, he is a White American who became a born-again Christian; he wishes to atone for his past sins,[1] and reunite his family.[6] Previously he was not present in Naomi's life.[1]
  • The Gang – A group of white students who are racist sexual predators.[1]

Background

Pérez grew up in a community in proximity to New London. An alumna of the University of Texas at Austin,[6] she teaches literature at Ohio State University, and she previously taught at César Chávez High School in Houston. She chose to write historical fiction as it was something different from her previous work.[2]

Reception

Castillo wrote that "Early reviews have been flattering, suggesting Pérez is positioned to continue her run of success in the Young Adult genre."[2]

Megan Swarek of Booklist praised the "skillful use of multiple perspectives" and that "Elegant prose and gently escalating action will leave readers gasping for breath at the tragic climax and moving conclusion."[4]

Kirkus Reviews stated that the book is "A powerful, layered tale of forbidden love in times of unrelenting racism."[1]

Ruth Quiroa of National Louis University wrote in the School Library Journal that the book "gives voice to many long-omitted facets of U.S. history."[3]

Amanda MacGregor of the Teen Librarian Toolbox (TLT), a service of the School Library Journal, wrote "Go RIGHT NOW and order this book from your library or favorite bookstore. Whatever else you’re reading can wait a day or two for you to read this instead. It’s that good. IT’S THAT GOOD, PEOPLE."[5]

See also

Other novels by Pérez:

References
  1. "OUT OF DARKNESS" (Archive). Kirkus Reviews. June 1, 2015. Review posted online May 6, 2015. Retrieved on November 8, 2015.
  2. Castillo, Juan. "Ashley Hope Pérez's 'Out of Darkness': Young Love Amid Racism, Segregation" (Archive). NBC News. September 1, 2015. Retrieved on November 8, 2015.
  3. Quiroa, Ruth. "Perez, Ashley Hope. Out of Darkness."(Brief article)(Book review)(Young adult review) School Library Journal, 2015, Vol.61(6), p.128(1). Library Journals, LLC.
  4. Szwarek, Megan. "Out of Darkness."(Brief article)(Book review)(Young adult review). Booklist, Sept 1, 2015, Vol.112(1), p.108(1).
  5. MacGregor, Amanda. "Book Review: Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez" (Archive). School Library Journal. September 1, 2015. Retrieved on November 8, 2015.
  6. "A Q&A with English Alumna Ashley Hope Pérez, Author of ‘Out of Darkness’" (Archive). The University of Texas at Austin. August 10, 2015. Retrieved on November 8, 2015.
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