‘When Light Left Us’ delves into dark concepts in N.M. setting

Amixture of young adult literature and science fiction, Leah Thomas’ When Light Left Us follows the stories of the Vasquez siblings — Hank, Ana and Milo — after their father leaves.

Luz, an otherworldly being, fills the void left by their father’s departure, but he soon departs, driving the siblings to self-destructive tendencies and mentalities. As the Vasquez siblings interact with their friends and family more, however, they begin to heal and realize the detrimental aspects of their relationship with Luz.

The novel is the first I’ve read that takes place entirely in the desert landscapes of New Mexico, and the descriptions of cool purple evenings and desert made me appreciate our state’s beauty a little more. The book also has LGBTQ representation, which is something that is becoming more prevalent in literature and media today, and a message that mental illness doesn’t always manifest physically and can affect anyone. The novel also challenges the stigma around males expressing insecurity or emotion.

When I read the novel, I interpreted the Vasquez siblings and Luz’s relationship as a toxic one. With promises of “everything will be okay, I’m here now” and “I want to keep growing,” Luz compels the Vasquez siblings to do things they don’t want to do, like hurt and insult their friends and isolate themselves, while using their insecurities as an incentive.

After Luz leaves, the siblings are shattered, because without him, they are nothing. As they rekindle friendships with teachers and peers, though, they learn what a healthy relationship should look like, and with the help of family and friends, they defy Luz when he returns.

While my interpretation could vary from another reader’s — Luz could be anything with the potential to hold someone back from living their best life — the ultimate message within When Light Left Us is the importance of building healthy relationships and self-confidence.