Light in the Canyon

by Darren Cools

A year has passed since Halley’s mom died, but she still feels like she’s falling to pieces. Dad talks her into joining him at her uncle Gill’s house for yet another homemade science experiment (something to do with black holes and cosmic rays), but to their horror, his machine explodes in a flash of blue light.

Jamie finds himself increasingly isolated now that his brother Ash left for college—not long after his father left for forever. Out for a walk, he’s thinking about the book that Raina, the neighborhood librarian, gave him when there’s a sudden explosion down the street. . . .

A few houses away, the blast hits Raina too. She’s joined by Halley’s dad, who can’t find his daughter—or his brother. Their search leads them first to Gill’s wrecked machine, then to a secluded farmhouse where a young girl died many years ago.

This astonishing debut novel for young adults and readers of all ages—in the spirit of beloved writers like Madeleine L’Engle and Claire Legrand—is by turns chilling, tender, and profound. A story of loss and courage, Light in the Canyon explores how change can help us discover who we’re truly meant to be.

296 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Darren is an author, illustrator, and designer. When he’s not writing or working, he likes to spend time outside running, biking, or relaxing with friends around a campfire. His home is in Michigan with his wife Anna and their three children.

Reviews

[Anna Cools · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I'm married to the author. I'm also not much of a YA reader, and am very picky when I do read it. That being said, this book caught and held my attention and checked off all the things I look for in a novel. The characters are believable, relatable, and wrestle with shared human experiences. This book is a powerful exploration of early teen experience with loss, self discovery, identity, denial, big feelings, and the power of community and family. Beautifully written to draw the reader into the places and the character's experiences. Set in the Pacific Northwest, a place we called home for many years and love deeply.

[Carly Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review*: Light in the Canyon delivers a perfectly spooky tone that hooks you right away. This fantastical coming-of-age tale explores the intricacies of what it means to belong with both compassion and a hopeful sense of adventure.

[Arwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a friend of the author, I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this book, and even luckier to get to reread this finished version.

This is a lovely, rich, creative story filled with so many good things: a strong sense of place, an exciting adventure, complex characters and relationships, love and loss and self-sacrifice and forgiveness. I wish I could have read this book as a teenager. But I also loved reading it as an adult. I guess it is technically science fiction, but feels like a story about what it means to be human. The best kind of story, IMO.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light in the Canyon was engaging from beginning to end! I felt a connection to the characters and I didn’t want to put it down. I highly recommend!

[Patti Dobrowolski]

I absolutely blew through this book. It was non-stop action and also just so well written. I cannot wait for the sequel to see what happens next! If you like a good story with mystery and intrigue, this is for you!

[Liz Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As somebody who grew up in a world where I didn't trust myself, this is a book I wish my younger self had had on my shelf. This story takes you on deep dive into a beautifully brilliant and world full of rich and compelling characters. I found myself equally invested in each character's stories and the world they were building together, and the payoff as their worlds began to intertwine was every bit as rewarding as the tantalizing clues hidden throughout hinted at. The relatable emotional arc made this fictional world tangible and the action-packed pace had me flipping pages late into the night. Perhaps my favorite part was the insightful reflections shone through at the end of the story. For anybody who is struggling in life, this story is a beautiful reminder that everything you need is inside of you.

[Eva Hattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I wanted to list every aspect of Light in the Canyon which I loved, I would be writing this review for the next two years. So instead, I'll try to summarize. Light in the Canyon is an incredible read because it rings true: true as a meditation on grief, loss and trying to understand your place in the world, true as a thoughtful examination of gender and true as a lovenote to YA as a genre, turning science into magic and promising readers (who may indeed be young and searching for their place in the world) that no matter what, there is always light to be found on the horizon of our grief.

Thank you to the author (who I am VERY fortunate to be able to count as a friend) for letting me read a preview copy of this book!

[Andrea Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light in the Canyon is a fantastic combination of fantasy, sci-fi and a coming of age story. The characters’ histories are expertly interwoven to bring families, friends, and strangers to a deeper place of understanding, forgiveness, peace and joy in the life they’ve been given and the hope that lies in the future. I really enjoyed following Halley and Jamie as they embark on their teen years and begin to discover the tension between learning the darker side of trusted adults and their continued need for help and guidance from these same people. Prepare to laugh and maybe shed a tear or two in this YA delight.

[Patrick Flores-scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read advanced reader copy. This book feels really fresh and original. What stands out is the plethora of very specific, truly original characters, all fighting/journeying to discover something critical about themselves. YA doesn't always feel like it captures the reality of the intergenerational lives that young people encounter. This book doesn't give its grown-ups--of all ages--short shrift. Those non-YA characters are as rich as the young people who carry us through this beautiful story. The language struck me as so poetic. A sentence by sentence joy to read.

[Julie Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light in the Canyon is the kind of book that stays with you long after the final page. Blending mystery, science, grief, and hope, it tells a deeply moving story about what happens when life shatters and how healing can begin in the most unexpected ways.

Halley and Jamie are beautifully written characters, each carrying loneliness and loss in different ways. Their emotional journeys feel authentic and heartfelt, making them easy to root for.

A stunning debut that reminds readers that even in darkness, light can still be found.

[Christy L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy

Complex, relatable characters and relationships intertwine as this coming-of-age story unfolds in a race to discover missing family members and the answer for those unexplainably altered by a strange phenomenon. The reader will find the supernatural, science, and psychology woven throughout this profound debut novel. Buckle up for a wild ride until the final stunning conclusion.

[Emily Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I’m the managing editor at Slant Books, the indie publisher behind Light in the Canyon. But I can honestly say this isn’t like any YA novel I’ve read before—truly original, deeply imaginative in a way that is rare to find nowadays, and full of questions about what it means to be a person that have stuck with me long after the book was finished.

[Rebecca Schmitke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reader is pulled into a fantastical story by heartwarming and relatable characters. I resonated deeply with the themes of grief, acceptance, and hope explored. Lots of little discoveries in each chapter gradually illuminate a mysterious adventure. This book had its hooks in me until the very end!

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to read an early version of this which I liked. Reading it again after Darren’s tireless editing and reworking, it seemed almost a different and better book. It is what it’s supposed to be, IMO.

I can’t wait to read the next thing Darren writes!

Definitely a lot of deep themes in this book, but still written in a way that should be accessible to young adult readers.