Sources of Light (A Review)

In Sources of Light, Margaret McMullan revisits a tumultuous time in American history – the south in the early 1960s. Some might say that the Civil Rights movement and the struggle for racial equality that are the center events of this novel are not relevant in our modern world. They should consider recent events such as United States Congressmen being spat upon and the target of racial epithets hurled by an angry mob on the steps of the U.S. Capitol or the President of the United States being shouted at and called a liar during a State of the Union address. The bigotry and ignorance of Mississippi in the 1960s seem to be alive and well in society today.


McMullan deals with these volatile topics in a skilled and insightful manner. Samantha and her mother move to Jackson, Mississippi just before Sam begins high school as a ninth grader. Sam’s father, who is from Jackson, has been killed in action in Viet Nam, and her mother feels it’s important for Sam to be near her remaining family, his parents. Neither Sam nor her mother is used to the open prejudice that exists in the community. Both of them find themselves engaging in activities that would stamp them as outcasts if it weren’t for Sam’s father’s reputation.

Sam and her mother both fall in love, but the relationships are thwarted by the social upheaval in the community. When Sam’s mother’s boyfriend teaches her to take photographs, she begins to see the world in a different light. Her photography sets her apart from the events taking place in the community and allows her to see them more clearly.

McMullan creates likeable and believable characters and imbues the novel with a true feeling of life in the South during this period. The reader is able to understand how civil rights divided not only communities, but also families. The novel deals with conflicts both large (civil rights) and small (Sam typical adolescent angst – wanting to be accepted by the “in” crowd but not wanting to compromise who she is).

There are some minor problems with flow in this story. Great leaps in time take place with little explanation. There are also some instances of characters acting without realistic motivation. Sam’s mother will only allow her to attend the well-chaperoned school dance with the older and handsome Stone McLemore if she returns home with her mother at the end of the evening, yet she allows Sam to go stargazing with Stone a short time later, totally unchaperoned. It also seems odd that a high school student has only one teacher. These flaws do not detract from the story as a whole, nor do they decrease the appeal of this novel.

War Games: A Novel Based on a True Story

War Games by Audrey and Akila Couloumbis is the story of Petros, an ordinary 12-year-old boy growing up in Greece in the 1940s. Petros, his brother, and his friends, marvel at the heroic exploits of their cousin who is fighting first the Italians, then the Germans. They engage in small acts of bravery, believing they are supporting Greece in its war efforts. The war becomes only too real when the Germans invade Petros’ small home town, and the glamour and glory of war are quickly replaced by fear.


The Couloumbises impart a true feeling for daily life in occupied Greece. The characters, both Greek and German, and fully developed. The novel is based on childhood experiences of Akila Couloumbis and the novel has an air of memoir.

The Compound

What would happen if your self-made billionaire father was obsessed with nuclear war? Eli Yanakakas finds the answer to this question in a tense, page-turner by S.A. Bodeen. Fifteen-year-old Eli has spent the past six years living in “the compound” with his parents and his two sisters. On his ninth birthday the family fled to underground safety ton escape impending nuclear attack, only part of the family, Eli’s twin Eddy and his grandmother, didn’t make it. Eli is haunted by his guilt about Eddy not making it to the compound. He is also disturbed by his growing sense that his father, Rex, is lying about the world outside. The father’s activities and plans, including the Supplements, begin to lead the reader to believe that the father may not just be lying, he may be insane. Does Rex Yanakakas have ulterior motives for brining his family to the compound or is he actually saving them from a horrible death from radiation? If he is, in fact, insane, can Eli save his family?

Bodeen’s detailed description of this alternate world is mesmerizing. The characters are fully developed and become more likeable as we get to know them. Some content maybe a bit shocking for younger readers, but the novel is recommended for grades 7 and up. It should appeal to both boys and girls. The Compound would be a great choice for any reader who loves thrillers.

And the Winner Is

There were a slew of fabulous books for children and young adults published last year. Two of my favorites recently won ALA awards.


When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead won the Newbery Medal. This is a wonderful mystery dealing with time, friendship, and the challenges of growing up. Sixth-grader Miranda has to unravel a series of mysterious events, and she takes us along for a thrilling journey.

Libba Bray’s Going Bovine won the Michael L. Printz Award. Going Bovine is difficult to describe in a few sentences. Our hero, Cameron, is a 16-year-old with mad cow disease. He engages in a quest to save himself and the world with the help of Gonzo, a hypochondriacal dwarf; Balder, a Norse warrior who disguises himself as a garden gnome; and Dulcie, a pink-haired angel in fishnets and combat boots. Their adventures take them across the country, and, along the way, they meet a variety of bizarre characters. Will they save the world, or is the whole journey a figment of Cameron’s fevered brain? This hilarious book will keep the reader turning the pages to find out.