"Grief, mental health, identity and the nature of perception are at the fore of this unexpected speculative YA novel"
Richly layered, thought-provoking, and written with an empathetic touch, Harry Allen’s A Light from Elsewhere explores relatable real-world experiences of grief, depression and anxiety in the context of a world that feels both resonantly contemporary and otherworldly.
In the wake of losing her mother, Esme, grappling with grief as she and her father start to embark on a new life, begins to see and hear the strangest of things. Early on, she’s alarmed to see a part-human, part-horse creature that speaks to her in another tongue that she can somehow understand: “Come with me now…Don’t give up. Keep going…Run, run. Nearly there”. As a result, Esme’s dad takes her to see their doctor, and she’s diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
From this, connections made through her psychiatrist lead Esme to question whether her visions are, in fact visions, and what follows is a suspenseful story that shimmers with family secrets as it explores memory and the nature of perception in an increasingly uncertain age, where nothing can be taken at face value. While the plot takes unexpected turns, in turn, the novel transcends boundaries as it melds mythology and the real world with fantastical, speculative YA fiction.
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Consumed with grief after the loss of her mother, Esme begins to see and hear things that others can't.
Diagnosed with depression and anxiety, she hides her experiences, afraid she's losing her mind. But everything changes after a session with her psychiatrist leads her to Perkin, a Canadian expat, and his mother, Toni, a reality researcher with unorthodox ideas.
As Esme and Perkin grow closer, she starts to believe her visions might be more than just symptoms — they could be glimpses into hidden layers of reality. Together, they test the boundaries of perception and are drawn into a world as dangerous as it is beautiful, where nothing is quite what it seems.
Set against a backdrop of emotional vulnerability and philosophical discovery, this gripping YA mystery invites readers to question what is real and what lies just beyond our senses.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed A Light from Elsewhere and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
A Light from Elsewhere features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Featured Books for Young Adults, Recommendations, Fantasy / Magical, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
A Light from Elsewhere is available in Paperback
A Light from Elsewhere was written by Harry Allen and published by The Book Guild Publishing an imprint of Troubador Publishing
A Light from Elsewhere has 320 pages
£8.99
