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A review by rgoodhart
Where the Light Goes by Sara Barnard
4.0
Where the Light Goes by Sara Barnard
This was a tough read – the trigger warnings at the beginning are there for a reason – but on the whole, with care in who this is issued to, I would be happy to have this in my school library.
The story focuses on Emmy, the younger sister of Beth/Lizzie deals with her sister’s suicide. In one sense it’s not a book about suicide, then, but about grief and loss and how that affects different people.
Beth/Lizzie, who takes her own life, was a young member of a girl group launched through a TV talent show. As such, matters relating to fame, social media, drugs etc. are present in the book and that should be considered too in recommending the book. There is sex and bad language but it’s not graphic and the emphasis throughout is on pain, grief and loss.
Emmy’s parents don’t come out of this well – and the book definitely gives the teen perspective on events – but it’s also made clear that the parents are also traumatised and are incapable rather than unwilling to give Emmy the care and support she so desperately needs. At the same time, Emmy treats many people badly as she struggles to process what has happened – to cope with her loss and her guilt and the lack of knowing what might have changed the outcome for her sister.
The theme of friendship is also explored – what does it look like to be a real friend to someone who is going through unimaginable suffering? Emmy’s friends try to help her but she pushes them away over and over again – treating them so badly – yet they ultimately remain faithful to her – unlike the boy in whose arms she tries so hard to find release from her feelings.
I think this could be a helpful book for young people today – it doesn’t shy away from the painful reality of death and loss, and it doesn’t glorify fame and social media notoriety – but in the end it shows that there can be hope beyond the pain and grief.
This was a tough read – the trigger warnings at the beginning are there for a reason – but on the whole, with care in who this is issued to, I would be happy to have this in my school library.
The story focuses on Emmy, the younger sister of Beth/Lizzie deals with her sister’s suicide. In one sense it’s not a book about suicide, then, but about grief and loss and how that affects different people.
Beth/Lizzie, who takes her own life, was a young member of a girl group launched through a TV talent show. As such, matters relating to fame, social media, drugs etc. are present in the book and that should be considered too in recommending the book. There is sex and bad language but it’s not graphic and the emphasis throughout is on pain, grief and loss.
Emmy’s parents don’t come out of this well – and the book definitely gives the teen perspective on events – but it’s also made clear that the parents are also traumatised and are incapable rather than unwilling to give Emmy the care and support she so desperately needs. At the same time, Emmy treats many people badly as she struggles to process what has happened – to cope with her loss and her guilt and the lack of knowing what might have changed the outcome for her sister.
The theme of friendship is also explored – what does it look like to be a real friend to someone who is going through unimaginable suffering? Emmy’s friends try to help her but she pushes them away over and over again – treating them so badly – yet they ultimately remain faithful to her – unlike the boy in whose arms she tries so hard to find release from her feelings.
I think this could be a helpful book for young people today – it doesn’t shy away from the painful reality of death and loss, and it doesn’t glorify fame and social media notoriety – but in the end it shows that there can be hope beyond the pain and grief.