Drenched in Light

[Holly]

I think that this book is my favorite Wingate book so far. I simply couldn't put it down. The story follows Julia, a former ballet dancer whose career is cut short due to a life-threatening eating disorder. After she "recovers" she becomes a guidance counselor at a middle school and befriends Dell Jordan, who is living with Karen and James from The Language of the Sycamores and struggling to fit in at her elite arts school.
The format is the same as Wingate's previous books: homespun wisdom and advice, a coming-of-age and finding your place in the world, and family ties. As Grandma Rose communicated with Kate through the written journal, Dell communicates with Julia by writing essays. As Dell finds her voice, so does Julia.

Kate and Ben make an appearance in the novel, as does the engaging Keilor Bradford.

I enjoyed Julia's voice. I could relate to her struggles with her family as their love and concern grew to smothering and stifling. The story comes together, predictably again, at the end. I read it in a day. It was compelling enough that, predictable or not, I simply had to find out what happened.

A delightful, insightful read.