The House of Light by Julia Green

"I found a boat and a boy from the sea and I bought them back here so we can help him and maybe use his boat for fishing and going on voyages."

This is a book about light and dark. The title and lighthouse image on the cover are perfect signposts of these themes.

Darkness:
For Bonnie and her Granda life in their community is dark but they both try hard to keep some light in their lives. Julia Green gives her reader tiny fragments to show this darkness. Bonnie finds school is tedious and that she is often shouted at. She has to recite The Rules of Civil Conduct and copy out The Duties of Citizenship. Food is very short and so Bonnie needs to scavenge things from the beach near their home. She finds "sticky sea flowers"; "green crabs"; and "fresh green edible sea-leaves, and pink seaweed that tasted good in soup." There is a Border Notice on the beach and concrete blocks "big, ugly things which had been put there to stop tanks invading from the sea in some old war, years and years ago."

Then we hear about the Border Guards. Granda has been away for the day completing the Registration. "Their stupid rules and punishments... The guards. They're keeping tabs on numbers. How many people live in the village. How many cross the border." In this place of darkness babies have died in the past because there were no medicines. People call this "the seven day death."

Light:
That same day Bonnie finds a row boat on the beach. A boat means hope. Hope that she and Granda can leave this place and travel over to the light. The light comes from an island, one of twenty five, which can be glimpsed from the shore on clear days. The lighthouse island is now uninhabited because everyone has been told the islands are poisoned with sickness and death. Granda regards this, though, as "superstitious nonsense."

Bonnie, though, finds more than a boat. She finds a boy. It is illegal to land on the beach. This boy is in danger and he is hurt. Bonnie takes him home and hides him an old barn. What Bonnie has not realised is that this boy, the boat, and her Granda will soon be able to escape over to the island with the lighthouse and that this physical journey will also mean Bonnie can make important discoveries about the journey of her own life - the mystery of her mother, her father, her past and her future. Bonnie will find the light!

This is a thrilling read, a truly heart-stopping adventure which has no need to labour the details of the dystopian society in which it is set. The setting is so vividly realised and the nuances of the relationships are so movingly portrayed that the reader is absolutely in the moment with Bonnie. A beautifully written book with a powerful but ultimately hopeful message. LoveReading4Kids

Bonnie’s relationship with both the boy, Ish, and her Granda are drawn tenderly and evocatively. The reader feels her doubts and pain, her love and instincts. Although this is a simple story, it is well told, with underlying depth and memorable characters, and a tangible setting. It sears its message and vision into the reader’s mind. Minerva Reads

Update to this post: A wonderful friend of mine has been reading The House of Light to her grandchildren. She pointed out to me the power of the chapter headings that Julia has used in her book. Words such as these allow the reader to anticipate and predict the unfolding events: Boat; Early; Eggs; Boy; Sickness; Guards; Dark; Runaway; Island; Storm; A fair wind.  She also alerted me to the power of the short sentences which are used by Julia Green. These highlight her perfect word placement.

"He was shivering. His feet were bare. His clothes were torn. She was sure he hadn't eaten for a long time."

"A small bird landed on the yew tree. Robin. It sang its chirpy song. It flew down to the wall and looked at them with its beady eye, as if expecting something. It did not seem afraid."

"They laid his body on the quiet earth. They hardly said a word."

Julia Green is the author of seventeen books. I am keen to explore some of her other titles:

Here in Australia there seems to be some issues with purchasing this book. It is fairly new - only published in 2019 so I cannot imagine it is out of print. I do hope you can find a copy in a bookstore or library as I highly recommend The House of Light for mature readers aged 10+. Lighthouse fans will not be disappointed with the wonderful lighthouse where Bonnie, Ish and Granda find their sanctuary.  I would follow this with Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk and Jubilee by Patrica Reilly Giff.