A review by smalltownbookmom
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

4.0

I absolutely loved this YA coming of age story about a young small-town Appalachian boy, Cash, and his best friend Delaney. Raised by his grandparents, Cash is devoted to looking out for them especially for his grandfather who is dying from emphysema. When genius level smart Delaney secures a scholarship to an elite Connecticut boarding school for both of them, Cash agrees to go but feels a bit lost once there. An English teacher and her poetry class help Cash find a love of words he never knew he had and it was a beautiful journey to go on with him. Highly recommended for poetry lovers and fans of YA books about teens who love words and writing like Happily ever afters, The library of lost things or Fat chance Charlie Vega.

Favorite quotes:
"In my life I've never known anything else that ever felt so full of infinite possibility. Words make me feel strong. They make me feel purposeful and alive. They make me feel like I can open doors."

"Reading poetry satisfied the hunger."

"Poetry lets us turn pain into fire by which to warm ourselves."

"Poetry is observing and speaking truth."