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Anya and the Light Above the Ocean
A thrilling, heartfelt debut novel perfect for fans of Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Ross Montgomery.
Anya reached out and placed her hand against the light.
And then she was gone.
When her mum disappears, Anya sets out to find her in the middle of a storm. Taking a boat out to sea, she encounters a strange window of light hovering above the waves. Transfixed, she reaches out to touch it. She then wakes in her boat, the sea now eerily silent.
With her mum still missing, Anya is packed off to stay with an odd, unwelcoming couple. Trapped under their watchful gaze, she uncovers a shocking secret that changes everything she thought she knew.
Anya must now battle to find the about her mum, about the Light, and about herself.
One of the most gripping and thought-provoking books you will ever read.
‘A singularly brave and reflective mystery with a thrilling sci-fi twist’ Ash Bond
'From the opening page, I felt I had discovered a lost treasure' Ross MacKenzie
Cover Illustration by Philip Harris.
Anya reached out and placed her hand against the light.
And then she was gone.
When her mum disappears, Anya sets out to find her in the middle of a storm. Taking a boat out to sea, she encounters a strange window of light hovering above the waves. Transfixed, she reaches out to touch it. She then wakes in her boat, the sea now eerily silent.
With her mum still missing, Anya is packed off to stay with an odd, unwelcoming couple. Trapped under their watchful gaze, she uncovers a shocking secret that changes everything she thought she knew.
Anya must now battle to find the about her mum, about the Light, and about herself.
One of the most gripping and thought-provoking books you will ever read.
‘A singularly brave and reflective mystery with a thrilling sci-fi twist’ Ash Bond
'From the opening page, I felt I had discovered a lost treasure' Ross MacKenzie
Cover Illustration by Philip Harris.
- GenresMiddle Grade
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2026
1 person is currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 2, 2026
Normally I pride myself on giving good plot summaries, but on this occasion I really feel like it's better to come to this cold, knowing as little as I did – ie nothing – about what I would get. Normally I am aware that when I write a lot of detail it's negative, and I'm too short with my descriptions of all that's positive in a book. Here, so much is positive I'll struggle to make this meaningful, then.
It won't suffice to say, I really really liked this. Obviously I'll have to go further. So we have a girl following her mother out into a storm – the parent is a scientist on a proper boat, she is just rowing a small thing – and finding something white and glowing and heavenly above the waters. She gets right up to it, in amongst the pounding waves, and then… After that we have high drama galore, with double-crossing, evil people, people that seem good but are evil, people that seem evil but are good, and over it all such a welcome, different, engaging and clever concept that was really up my street.
It's not perfect – the rat and its hole seemed contrived, and I was thrown for several chapters as to whether we'd been in an underground lair or a high-rise nobody knew about, what with this being a small coastal town, and far too much being on each floor – but there is, to repeat, a lot to be positive about. Intended readers will love Anya and all that she brings to things, and anyone would be taken by the conviction of the author in her concept and the narrative drive she brings to things.
So distinctive is this in fact that I have to make it doubly clear. Normally when reviewers say "nobody is writing stuff like this" it means "...because everyone else knows it's a stupid idea". But I haven't seen a book like this do what it's doing, and so enjoyably well, for many a moon. With this being a debut author, I'd have to wait for her second to say "nobody is writing stuff like this", but she's given herself the best start for my thinking that. Four and a half stars.
It won't suffice to say, I really really liked this. Obviously I'll have to go further. So we have a girl following her mother out into a storm – the parent is a scientist on a proper boat, she is just rowing a small thing – and finding something white and glowing and heavenly above the waters. She gets right up to it, in amongst the pounding waves, and then… After that we have high drama galore, with double-crossing, evil people, people that seem good but are evil, people that seem evil but are good, and over it all such a welcome, different, engaging and clever concept that was really up my street.
It's not perfect – the rat and its hole seemed contrived, and I was thrown for several chapters as to whether we'd been in an underground lair or a high-rise nobody knew about, what with this being a small coastal town, and far too much being on each floor – but there is, to repeat, a lot to be positive about. Intended readers will love Anya and all that she brings to things, and anyone would be taken by the conviction of the author in her concept and the narrative drive she brings to things.
So distinctive is this in fact that I have to make it doubly clear. Normally when reviewers say "nobody is writing stuff like this" it means "...because everyone else knows it's a stupid idea". But I haven't seen a book like this do what it's doing, and so enjoyably well, for many a moon. With this being a debut author, I'd have to wait for her second to say "nobody is writing stuff like this", but she's given herself the best start for my thinking that. Four and a half stars.
March 8, 2026
Anya’s mum doesn’t come home one night, to search for her she goes out to sea, finding a light. She touches the light at first think nothing happened, then we meet the other Anya, but two of the same girl is impossible and the scientists want to understand what she is.
What a book, what a world that was created in this book. So much was happening constantly and I was hooked from start to finish. What a beautifully created story, I’m honestly still in shock at how good this book was.
I loved Anya both of them, they were so creative and I loved that though they were the same they also felt different like when reading you could recognise which one you were with. Honestly genius writing to be able to en-capture that about them. I really loved how clever they were, how mischievous they were, but mostly how connected they were to finding the answers and their mum coming back.
I loved the mystery surrounding it all and all the scientists trying to figure everything out, but maybe not quite in the nicest or best ways possible. I loved figuring out why there were two, I loved understanding what they were and how it came to be. The way you get the answer is amazing and really keeps you gripped as you have to understand. You connect so easily with Anya that wants to know what or who she really was.
I couldn’t recommend this book more honestly it’s a new favourite for me, it was so incredibly well written, so grippingly enticing, you can’t put it down, there’s always so much more to learn as you turn the chapters. The characters are all amazingly well crafted even the evil ones, you don’t know who to trust through a lot of it and I loved that element as it changed the perspective constantly. I really loved this book so much, what a creative story with so much heart at its core.
What a book, what a world that was created in this book. So much was happening constantly and I was hooked from start to finish. What a beautifully created story, I’m honestly still in shock at how good this book was.
I loved Anya both of them, they were so creative and I loved that though they were the same they also felt different like when reading you could recognise which one you were with. Honestly genius writing to be able to en-capture that about them. I really loved how clever they were, how mischievous they were, but mostly how connected they were to finding the answers and their mum coming back.
I loved the mystery surrounding it all and all the scientists trying to figure everything out, but maybe not quite in the nicest or best ways possible. I loved figuring out why there were two, I loved understanding what they were and how it came to be. The way you get the answer is amazing and really keeps you gripped as you have to understand. You connect so easily with Anya that wants to know what or who she really was.
I couldn’t recommend this book more honestly it’s a new favourite for me, it was so incredibly well written, so grippingly enticing, you can’t put it down, there’s always so much more to learn as you turn the chapters. The characters are all amazingly well crafted even the evil ones, you don’t know who to trust through a lot of it and I loved that element as it changed the perspective constantly. I really loved this book so much, what a creative story with so much heart at its core.
April 21, 2026
Anya’s scientist mum doesn’t return one day while working out at sea. Determined to find her, Anya braves the stormy waters and stumbles upon a strange light hovering above the waves. When she touches it, she blacks out and wakes to discover her mum is missing, and she’s being shipped off to live with a frosty couple who just happen to be investors in the company her mum works for. Sensing something’s off, Anya escapes, only to find a carbon copy of herself living in her house. From there, the two Anyas team up to uncover the truth, with sinister scientists chasing them every step of the way.
This turned out to be a pretty gripping middle-grade science fiction mystery and thriller. I don’t read a lot of MG sci-fi but the premise hooked me and I was invested in the mystery of what really happened to Anya and her mum. The dual perspective of the two Anyas kept things interesting, and I was rooting for them to outsmart the villains and reunite with their mum… or mums? (🤔 hehe no spoilers, but you’ll see what I mean).
The prose is engaging and easy to follow, and the story did offer some unexpected twists. That said, I feel the plot got a bit tangled near the end, and I found myself trying to recall and piece certain things together, so I reckon it might get tricky for some younger readers towards the end. Still, I think working through the puzzle is part of the fun of reading sci-fi. I’d recommend this for readers around 11 years and up. If you’re into sci-fi or speculative fiction with themes of trust, courage and identity, this one’s worth picking up.
This turned out to be a pretty gripping middle-grade science fiction mystery and thriller. I don’t read a lot of MG sci-fi but the premise hooked me and I was invested in the mystery of what really happened to Anya and her mum. The dual perspective of the two Anyas kept things interesting, and I was rooting for them to outsmart the villains and reunite with their mum… or mums? (🤔 hehe no spoilers, but you’ll see what I mean).
The prose is engaging and easy to follow, and the story did offer some unexpected twists. That said, I feel the plot got a bit tangled near the end, and I found myself trying to recall and piece certain things together, so I reckon it might get tricky for some younger readers towards the end. Still, I think working through the puzzle is part of the fun of reading sci-fi. I’d recommend this for readers around 11 years and up. If you’re into sci-fi or speculative fiction with themes of trust, courage and identity, this one’s worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How gorgeous is the cover? This is such a thrilling novel and is a perfect introduction to science fiction for middle grade kids.
Anya lives with her scientist mother, and when she goes missing at sea one night, Anya feels compelled to go and look for her. She finds her mother’s boat empty and a strange white light in the sky glowing above her. When she returns home, all is not as she left it.
This debut novel gallops along at a thrilling pace and is perfect for luring in reluctant readers. For part of the novel, we feel that we are in the dark as much as Anya, until the sense of disquiet and unease ruptures with a series of gripping twists which keeps us captivated right until the end. Even the ending itself was unexpected!
I can see this novel being read in the classroom, as it has the possibility to generate so many discussions about the nature of scientific discoveries, experiments, and ethics. It’s also a timely reminder for adults that authoritarian figures may not always have our best interests at heart and can twist the truth to benefit themselves.
At times there are rather too many helpful co-incidences but I’m not sure that younger readers will mind this too much. A lull in the pace now and then would also have been appreciated, just to give a bit of ebb and flow to the writing. Nonetheless, this is a really enjoyable read, and I look forward to seeing what the author will write next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Andersen Press for the ARC.
Anya lives with her scientist mother, and when she goes missing at sea one night, Anya feels compelled to go and look for her. She finds her mother’s boat empty and a strange white light in the sky glowing above her. When she returns home, all is not as she left it.
This debut novel gallops along at a thrilling pace and is perfect for luring in reluctant readers. For part of the novel, we feel that we are in the dark as much as Anya, until the sense of disquiet and unease ruptures with a series of gripping twists which keeps us captivated right until the end. Even the ending itself was unexpected!
I can see this novel being read in the classroom, as it has the possibility to generate so many discussions about the nature of scientific discoveries, experiments, and ethics. It’s also a timely reminder for adults that authoritarian figures may not always have our best interests at heart and can twist the truth to benefit themselves.
At times there are rather too many helpful co-incidences but I’m not sure that younger readers will mind this too much. A lull in the pace now and then would also have been appreciated, just to give a bit of ebb and flow to the writing. Nonetheless, this is a really enjoyable read, and I look forward to seeing what the author will write next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Andersen Press for the ARC.
March 15, 2026
Anya and the Light Above the Ocean is a gripping, thought-provoking science-fiction mystery: a story of secrets and revelations, of love and loss, of hope and friendship. I was held utterly mesmerised from the intriguing and thrilling start to its heart-warming finish, totally invested in Anya’s mission.
Anya’s mum, a scientist working for a secretive corporation, has not come home from her work, conducting experiments out at sea. Worried that her mum might be in danger and with a storm raging, Anya sets sail in her rowing boat and rows towards a light which she assumes is coming from her mum’s boat. Enclosed within a thick sea fog, she is drawn towards the light but soon discovers that, rather than coming from her mum’s boat, it is hovering above the ocean. Reaching out, she touches the light … and her life changes forever.
Waking up with no memory of what had happened, and with calm waters, Anya rows back to shore with the unsettling feeling that something is wrong. When she arrives back at her cottage, it is to discover that her mum is missing. Anya is disappointed and alarmed that her mum’s best friend, Imani, is unable to look after her. Instead, she is sent to stay with a rather strange, and unwelcoming, couple who keep her trapped within their home. But when Anya uncovers a startling secret that challenges everything she thought she knew, she is determined to escape and discover the truth.
I absolutely loved this action-packed, thrilling and thought-provoking read. I was completely invested in following Anya on her mission to discover the truth about her mum, the Light and herself. I loved the complexity of the narrative, the unexpected twists and turns and the journey of self-discovery that Anya makes as she battles with uncertainty, grieves for her missing mum, worries about who she can trust and faces great danger with such courage and strength. This is also a story that shines brightly with hope, with love and with friendship. I won’t say anything more about this for fear of spoilers as this is most definitely a mystery that readers should discover for themselves – and I have no doubt that they will be completely intrigued and mesmerised by this stunning story.
I really enjoyed the science-fiction elements within the story, especially as one of those within this is one of my favourite themes – something I find completely fascinating – and I loved how it was given a fresh perspective in this mystery, keeping a contemporary feel to the narrative. I also think that themes around ethics, big corporations and self-identity will offer lots of opportunity for powerful discussions.
A vivid and riveting sci-fi mystery, heartfelt and hopeful – an intriguing treasure for readers of 10+.
Anya’s mum, a scientist working for a secretive corporation, has not come home from her work, conducting experiments out at sea. Worried that her mum might be in danger and with a storm raging, Anya sets sail in her rowing boat and rows towards a light which she assumes is coming from her mum’s boat. Enclosed within a thick sea fog, she is drawn towards the light but soon discovers that, rather than coming from her mum’s boat, it is hovering above the ocean. Reaching out, she touches the light … and her life changes forever.
Waking up with no memory of what had happened, and with calm waters, Anya rows back to shore with the unsettling feeling that something is wrong. When she arrives back at her cottage, it is to discover that her mum is missing. Anya is disappointed and alarmed that her mum’s best friend, Imani, is unable to look after her. Instead, she is sent to stay with a rather strange, and unwelcoming, couple who keep her trapped within their home. But when Anya uncovers a startling secret that challenges everything she thought she knew, she is determined to escape and discover the truth.
I absolutely loved this action-packed, thrilling and thought-provoking read. I was completely invested in following Anya on her mission to discover the truth about her mum, the Light and herself. I loved the complexity of the narrative, the unexpected twists and turns and the journey of self-discovery that Anya makes as she battles with uncertainty, grieves for her missing mum, worries about who she can trust and faces great danger with such courage and strength. This is also a story that shines brightly with hope, with love and with friendship. I won’t say anything more about this for fear of spoilers as this is most definitely a mystery that readers should discover for themselves – and I have no doubt that they will be completely intrigued and mesmerised by this stunning story.
I really enjoyed the science-fiction elements within the story, especially as one of those within this is one of my favourite themes – something I find completely fascinating – and I loved how it was given a fresh perspective in this mystery, keeping a contemporary feel to the narrative. I also think that themes around ethics, big corporations and self-identity will offer lots of opportunity for powerful discussions.
A vivid and riveting sci-fi mystery, heartfelt and hopeful – an intriguing treasure for readers of 10+.
April 6, 2026
A brilliantly written book! Although written for younger readers I absolutely loved the story and the characters!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews