Award Winner - Out of Darkness - Kate

 

Photo Credit: Google Images 

Summary:

                Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez is a heartbreaking work of historical fiction, which takes places before, during, and after the 1937 explosion of the New London School in East Texas.  Before the story begins, the father of the main character, Naomi, has drowned, and her half Caucasian half Mexican mother has passed away after delivering her twin half-siblings, Cari and Beto.  Seven years later, the twin’s Caucasian father Henry sends for them, and Naomi to come live with him and be a family, but it is later revealed that Henry wants Naomi to become his wife.  However, Naomi is disgusted by Henry because he sexually abused her as a child, as well as being emotionally abusive to her and her mother.  Plus, Naomi has fallen in love with an African American boy, named Wash, which is completely against social norms at this time.  They plan to escape to Mexico together with the twins, but tragically Henry kills Naomi and Wash after he learns of their affair.  The story ends with Beto killing his father, Henry, and then escaping with Wash’s family to live with his grandparents in San Antonio where he excels in school and goes on to college to study English, as well as write his memoir.  

Critique:

            The author tells the story in short, 3-4 page chapters that alternate between different character’s points of view: Naomi, Beto, Cari, Wash, Henry and The Gang, who are the Caucasian students in Naomi’s classes.  Perez takes time to describe the various settings using many sensory details, such as “High in the branches, tree frogs sang shrill serenatas.  The sharp, clean scent of pine was in the air.” (Perez, 2015, p. 38). The racism towards Wash for being an African American and Naomi for being of Mexican descent is evident throughout the book. For example, “You sure that’s the right one? Niggers all look the same to me.” (Perez, 2015, p. 349).  Due to the topics of masturbation, oral sex, sexual abuse and rape of Naomi by her step-father Henry, the recommended audience is high school age.

 

Ashley Hope Perez's website: http://ashleyperez.com/ 

The Day a Texas School Exploded, and a Generation Died http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/texas-school-tragedy-remembered-75-years-later-143104106/611155.html  

Podcast from NPR - 75 Years Later: The Day The Town School Exploded http://www.npr.org/2012/04/06/150063910/75-years-later-the-day-the-town-school-exploded 

Survivor tells how he escaped school explosion that killed 293 by switching chairs with his classmate http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2114188/Survivor-tells-escaped-school-explosion-killed-293-switching-chairs-classmate.html

Bibliography

 

Perez, A. H. (2015). Out of Darkness. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Lab.