Citation
Perez, A.H. (2015). Out of darkness. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
Description
"This is East Texas, and there's lines. Lines you cross, lines you don't cross. That clear?"
New London, Texas. 1937. Naomi Vargas and Wash Fuller know about the lines in East Texas as well as anyone. They know the signs that mark them. They know the people who enforce them. But sometimes the attraction between two people is so powerful it breaks through even the most entrenched color lines. And the consequences can be explosive.
Ashley Hope Pérez takes the facts of the 1937 New London school explosion—the worst school disaster in American history—as a backdrop for a riveting novel about segregation, love, family, and the forces that destroy people.
Carolrhoda Lab. (n.d.). Out of darkness details. Retrieved from https://www.lernerbooks.com/products/t/16981/9781467742023/out-of-darkness
Historical Fiction
Scholarly Review
Two teens, Mexican American Naomi and African American Wash, fall in love and struggle to keep their relationship secret in racist 1936 east Texas. This novel weaves in the forces that led up to the 1937 New London school explosion, a tragedy rooted in the era's violent abuse against minorities. A poignant, potent, and provocative historical drama steeped in well-researched factual details.
New London, Texas. 1937. Naomi Vargas and Wash Fuller know about the lines in East Texas as well as anyone. They know the signs that mark them. They know the people who enforce them. But sometimes the attraction between two people is so powerful it breaks through even the most entrenched color lines. And the consequences can be explosive.
Ashley Hope Pérez takes the facts of the 1937 New London school explosion—the worst school disaster in American history—as a backdrop for a riveting novel about segregation, love, family, and the forces that destroy people.
Carolrhoda Lab. (n.d.). Out of darkness details. Retrieved from https://www.lernerbooks.com/products/t/16981/9781467742023/out-of-darkness
Historical Fiction
Scholarly Review
Two teens, Mexican American Naomi and African American Wash, fall in love and struggle to keep their relationship secret in racist 1936 east Texas. This novel weaves in the forces that led up to the 1937 New London school explosion, a tragedy rooted in the era's violent abuse against minorities. A poignant, potent, and provocative historical drama steeped in well-researched factual details.
Soltan, R. (2016, Spring). Perez, Ashley Hope: out of darkness. The Horn Book Guide, 27(1), 123. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uky.edu/apps/doc/A448905211/BRIP?u=uky_main&sid=BRIP&xid=79a59b06
My Analysis
This book was hard to get through at times because throughout the novel the characters faced many hardships such as racism, sexual abuse, death, and poverty. While I did like the story of Wash, Naomi, Beto, and Cari, this was a very hard book to get through, especially the last 50 pages or so. I do think that this is an important book because it gives readers a glimpse into America’s soiled history as well as how those who were not white were treated. This story builds empathy for those affected by racism and abuse. Even though this book is important, I would not recommend this book for readers below high school because of the content. As an adult, it was hard for me to read.
Tags
interracial relationships, romance, historical fiction, race relations, post-Great Depression
Usage
This would be a good book to use in history or as part of a project on culture, the Great Depression, or the south. I would also use it in a book club for students who like historical fiction.
Awards
2016 Michael L. Printz Honor for Excellence
2016 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award (Texas State Award)
2016 Américas Book Award
Censorship
I see references to this book being part of Banned Books Week in schools and libraries, but I cannot find specific challenges or articles.
References
Carolrhoda Lab. (n.d.). Out of darkness details. Retrieved from https://www.lernerbooks.com/products/t/16981/9781467742023/out-of-darkness
Soltan, R. (2016, Spring). Perez, Ashley Hope: out of darkness. The Horn Book Guide, 27(1), 123. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uky.edu/apps/doc/A448905211/BRIP?u=uky_main&sid=BRIP&xid=79a59b06
My Analysis
This book was hard to get through at times because throughout the novel the characters faced many hardships such as racism, sexual abuse, death, and poverty. While I did like the story of Wash, Naomi, Beto, and Cari, this was a very hard book to get through, especially the last 50 pages or so. I do think that this is an important book because it gives readers a glimpse into America’s soiled history as well as how those who were not white were treated. This story builds empathy for those affected by racism and abuse. Even though this book is important, I would not recommend this book for readers below high school because of the content. As an adult, it was hard for me to read.
Tags
interracial relationships, romance, historical fiction, race relations, post-Great Depression
Usage
This would be a good book to use in history or as part of a project on culture, the Great Depression, or the south. I would also use it in a book club for students who like historical fiction.
Awards
2016 Michael L. Printz Honor for Excellence
2016 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award (Texas State Award)
2016 Américas Book Award
Censorship
I see references to this book being part of Banned Books Week in schools and libraries, but I cannot find specific challenges or articles.
References
Carolrhoda Lab. (n.d.). Out of darkness details. Retrieved from https://www.lernerbooks.com/products/t/16981/9781467742023/out-of-darkness
Soltan, R. (2016, Spring). Perez, Ashley Hope: out of darkness. The Horn Book Guide, 27(1), 123. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uky.edu/apps/doc/A448905211/BRIP?u=uky_main&sid=BRIP&xid=79a59b06
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