Review: A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Book: A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Released: 9/28/2005

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

Pages: 288 (paperback)

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

"I couldn't remember my sin, but I knew it was deep. My banishment from heaven was proof of it."

Helen is Light; a ghost with a deep grieving guilt that has left her unable to cross over. Helen has been haunting people for over 130 years. Her current host is Mr. Brown, a high school English teacher. One day in Mr. Brown's classroom something unexpected happens; a is boy staring directly at Helen. He sees her and Helen is drawn to him. The boy, known as Billy to his friend and family, is really James; a World War 1 soldier kept from passing on due to all the pain and guilt from war. Curious about how and why he can see her, Helen leaves Mr. Brown to find out more. What she discovers completely rocks her world as she realizes there's a chance for her to experience life once more. As Helen and James navigate their new relationship, together they must also confront their past lives and the lose of the teenagers they not inhabit. 

There are so many supernatural romances on the shelves that it’s hard to find one that stands out from the crowd and actually delivers a unique story. A Certain Slant of Light certainly does that. It’s far more sophisticated and adult compared to many of the other paranormal books out there. 

Though we're never fully introduced to Billy and Jenny, I became just as invested in their stories. One particular scene which really stood out to me in took place between these two Billy and Jenny near the very end, where they meet for the first time, but have already become a staple in each other's lives.

There's a sadness about this story that is very touching. Helen and James are two people who are desperate to be together, but realize that they may have to sacrifice their own happiness in order to help Billy and Jenny find the desire in themselves to live.

This book made a huge impression and touched me deeply. It's definitely worth the read! However, it's not meant for younger readers as it contains strong adult themes.