Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen searches for belonging in tense, dark thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
At the beginning of INTO THE LIGHT, Manny, a 17-year-old who's been living on the road for the past year, sees a news report about a body found near the religious compound where his sister Elena lives. He realizes that he has to go back to the place that kicked him out to make sure that she's OK. On the way back to the compound, he meets the Varela family, who offer to help Manny get back to the compound. As he gets to know the Varelas, he opens up to them little by little. As he gets closer and closer to the compound, the terrible memories of his time there resurface, and Manny senses that much darker truths than even his worst nightmares are waiting for him there.
Is It Any Good?
This is a dark, tense, and gripping thriller that will keep readers guessing right through to the end. Into the Light feels firmly grounded in the here and now, but it adds a touch of speculative science fiction into the mix that provides a lot of food for thought among the many other important issues explored. Overall, it's very carefully plotted and cleverly crafted to keep the pages turning, although some plot points are similar enough to start to feel a bit repetitive. The characters are well developed and believable, and teens will relate to Manny, Elena, Carlos, and Eli as they search for a sense of belonging.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about religious conversion and trauma in Into the Light. How do the Thompsons use faith and the concept of reconciliation? How does it affect the teens they try to influence?
Is the violence in the book realistic? Too much? How is reading about violence different from seeing it in movies, games, videos, and other media?
How did you feel about the swearing in the book? Does it seem realistic, and does that matter?
How do characters model courage and perseverance? How does being brave and determined help characters work through the trauma and violence they experience?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Tor Teen
- Publication date : March 28, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 448
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate