The Light Fantastic

Reviewed by: Brooke Faulkner - McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 6, 2016

Review

A plot to convince a high school student in each state to stage a school shooting on the same day is masterminded through an online forum in this richly atmospheric fictional offering which interweaves clever literary and pop culture references, but features a few too many narrative voices. A young woman named April, who has a neurological anomaly that allows her to remember all of the details of her life in full, draws readers into the story by linking together events in her childhood to horrific events such as the Oklahoma City bombings and the World Trade Center attacks. The menacing tone is set and pervades as others begin to tell their stories, including a boy who April knew in childhood who moved away and is now involved in a relationship with an emotionally distant through beautiful girl, a downtrodden though caring teacher, a girl who is deeply unhappy, a group of people who've barricaded themselves in a closet as shooting begins at the their school and an awkward but intelligent boy who is obsessed with a girl he tutors. Each of these characters, plus many others, take their narrative turn as the story slowly unfolds and teens will need to be patient as they begin to piece together the various parts, which are on their own discomfiting and only become more so as events take shape. Sophisticated readers who favor authors such as A.S. King and Andrew Smith will find plenty they like here, but it may not appeal across a wide audience. A note at the end by the author includes contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Overall Book Score: very good