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Light Years
“A searingly beautiful page-turner.” —Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author
“A thrilling, thoughtful meditation on life and death.” —Hello Giggles
“Gorgeously written.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
"A supernatural romantic thriller that defies convention." --Kirkus Reviews
"...Reminiscent of the works of Madeleine L'Engle....Shockingly timely." --Shelf Awareness
Luisa is ready for her life to start. Five minutes ago. And she could be on her way, as her extraordinary coding skills have landed her a finalist spot for a fellowship sponsored by Thomas Bell, the world’s most brilliant and mercurial tech entrepreneur. Being chosen means funding, mentorship, and most importantly, freedom from her overbearing mother. Maybe Lu will even figure out how to control the rare condition that plagues her: whenever her emotions run high, her physical senses kick into overload, with waves of colour, sound, taste, and touch flooding her body.
But Luisa’s life is thrust into chaos as a deadly virus sweeps across the globe, killing thousands and sending her father into quarantine. When Lu receives a cryptic message from someone who might hold the key to stopping the epidemic, she knows she must do something to save her family—and the world.
“A thrilling, thoughtful meditation on life and death.” —Hello Giggles
“Gorgeously written.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
"A supernatural romantic thriller that defies convention." --Kirkus Reviews
"...Reminiscent of the works of Madeleine L'Engle....Shockingly timely." --Shelf Awareness
Luisa is ready for her life to start. Five minutes ago. And she could be on her way, as her extraordinary coding skills have landed her a finalist spot for a fellowship sponsored by Thomas Bell, the world’s most brilliant and mercurial tech entrepreneur. Being chosen means funding, mentorship, and most importantly, freedom from her overbearing mother. Maybe Lu will even figure out how to control the rare condition that plagues her: whenever her emotions run high, her physical senses kick into overload, with waves of colour, sound, taste, and touch flooding her body.
But Luisa’s life is thrust into chaos as a deadly virus sweeps across the globe, killing thousands and sending her father into quarantine. When Lu receives a cryptic message from someone who might hold the key to stopping the epidemic, she knows she must do something to save her family—and the world.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2017
26 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Emily Ziff Griffin
1 book36 followersEmily Ziff Griffin lives in LA where she writes, produces, teaches, daydreams, and mothers two young kids. When she was 25, she co-founded Cooper’s Town Productions with Philip Seymour Hoffman and produced the Academy Award-winning film, ‘Capote,’ along with Hoffman’s directorial debut ‘Jack Goes Boating,’ and John Slattery’s ‘God’s Pocket.’ She's run three marathons, slowly, and holds a degree from Brown University in art-semiotics, the study of how images make meaning. She believes children are way more sophisticated than adults typically give them credit for and writes for the teenager who is ready to claim their own worldview and be grounded in their own power. ‘Light Years’ is her first novel. Find her at www.emilyziffgriffin.com
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September 25, 2017
2.5 stars. Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Light Years (2017), film producer Emily Ziff Griffin’s debut YA novel, explores a New York teenager’s coming of age and spiritual and emotional awakening in a world rapidly descending into chaos because of a deadly pandemic. Luisa Ochoa-Jones is an unusually bright 17 year old software coder, on the short list of finalists competing for a coveted fellowship offered by a brilliant tech entrepreneur, Thomas Bell. In her face-to-face meeting with Bell, Luisa demonstrates her prized software program LightYears, which scans the Internet for people’s emotional reactions to a video, news story or other content. But she’s concerned that she and her program haven’t sufficiently impressed Bell. Before the fellowship decision is announced, however, society begins to unravel as a flu-type illness descends. Accelerated Respiratory and Neurodegenerative Syndrome, or ARNS, strikes swiftly and unpredictably and is almost invariably fatal, leaving devastation in its wake.
Light Years has an edgy YA beginning, with copious swearing, underage partying by privileged New York City teens (viewed with combined disdain and envy by Luisa, who sees herself as on the outskirts of their social group because she’s odd and not particularly wealthy), and Luisa’s bitter complaints about her absent yet controlling mother and her anguish about the boy she has a crush on, who’s been sending her mixed signals. As the terrifying ARNS pandemic takes hold, killing friends and family members, Light Years shifts gears to a road trip story, as Luisa decides to head across the country to Los Angeles in search of a man that she believes may be the key to finding a cure for ARNS. I found this part of the novel the most enjoyable, as Luisa, her brother Ben, her love interest Kamal, and their friend Phoebe make their way across the U.S., encountering individuals and groups who have reacted to the epidemic in different ways.
**The next couple of paragraphs discuss the ending in general terms and are mildly spoilerish**
Light Years then unexpectedly veers to a mystical ending that seems to be an amalgam of New Age and eastern spiritualism, combined with a hefty dose of surrealism. It made little sense to me on either an intellectual or emotional/spiritual level. I even read the last fifty or sixty pages of the book twice, hoping for more insight or connection, but didn’t find it any more satisfactory the second time around. The mysterious ending also leaves not just a few plot threads, but really the entire resolution of the plot, wide open. Perhaps Luisa’s metaphysical breakthrough is intended as the final answer. It simply didn’t resonate with me, but other readers may find it more profound and meaningful.
Luisa has a synesthesia type of condition, in which her senses combine, but in her particular case this condition is triggered by strong emotions (“Blue always tastes like chocolate when I’m nervous”). This unnamed medical condition, as well as Luisa’s part-Hispanic and Kamal’s British Muslim heritage, add some diversity to the story. Unfortunately, other than his unusual culture, Kamal is a flat and uninteresting love interest with little personality. So their romantic moment, when it finally arrived, failed to move me.
Still, there is some engaging story-telling, and a thoughtful examination of loss and grief, in between the woo-woo parts. Luisa’s first person, present tense narration gives a sense of urgency and immediacy to her experiences and feelings. Teenage readers may sympathize with her fraught relationships with her parents, her desire to be independent and live life on her own terms, and her struggles to come to terms with the illness and deaths of people she loves.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review. Thanks!
Content note: Lots of F-bombs. This one is for older teens who aren't fazed by that. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 16, for general content reasons as well as language.
Light Years (2017), film producer Emily Ziff Griffin’s debut YA novel, explores a New York teenager’s coming of age and spiritual and emotional awakening in a world rapidly descending into chaos because of a deadly pandemic. Luisa Ochoa-Jones is an unusually bright 17 year old software coder, on the short list of finalists competing for a coveted fellowship offered by a brilliant tech entrepreneur, Thomas Bell. In her face-to-face meeting with Bell, Luisa demonstrates her prized software program LightYears, which scans the Internet for people’s emotional reactions to a video, news story or other content. But she’s concerned that she and her program haven’t sufficiently impressed Bell. Before the fellowship decision is announced, however, society begins to unravel as a flu-type illness descends. Accelerated Respiratory and Neurodegenerative Syndrome, or ARNS, strikes swiftly and unpredictably and is almost invariably fatal, leaving devastation in its wake.
Light Years has an edgy YA beginning, with copious swearing, underage partying by privileged New York City teens (viewed with combined disdain and envy by Luisa, who sees herself as on the outskirts of their social group because she’s odd and not particularly wealthy), and Luisa’s bitter complaints about her absent yet controlling mother and her anguish about the boy she has a crush on, who’s been sending her mixed signals. As the terrifying ARNS pandemic takes hold, killing friends and family members, Light Years shifts gears to a road trip story, as Luisa decides to head across the country to Los Angeles in search of a man that she believes may be the key to finding a cure for ARNS. I found this part of the novel the most enjoyable, as Luisa, her brother Ben, her love interest Kamal, and their friend Phoebe make their way across the U.S., encountering individuals and groups who have reacted to the epidemic in different ways.
**The next couple of paragraphs discuss the ending in general terms and are mildly spoilerish**
Light Years then unexpectedly veers to a mystical ending that seems to be an amalgam of New Age and eastern spiritualism, combined with a hefty dose of surrealism. It made little sense to me on either an intellectual or emotional/spiritual level. I even read the last fifty or sixty pages of the book twice, hoping for more insight or connection, but didn’t find it any more satisfactory the second time around. The mysterious ending also leaves not just a few plot threads, but really the entire resolution of the plot, wide open. Perhaps Luisa’s metaphysical breakthrough is intended as the final answer. It simply didn’t resonate with me, but other readers may find it more profound and meaningful.
Luisa has a synesthesia type of condition, in which her senses combine, but in her particular case this condition is triggered by strong emotions (“Blue always tastes like chocolate when I’m nervous”). This unnamed medical condition, as well as Luisa’s part-Hispanic and Kamal’s British Muslim heritage, add some diversity to the story. Unfortunately, other than his unusual culture, Kamal is a flat and uninteresting love interest with little personality. So their romantic moment, when it finally arrived, failed to move me.
Still, there is some engaging story-telling, and a thoughtful examination of loss and grief, in between the woo-woo parts. Luisa’s first person, present tense narration gives a sense of urgency and immediacy to her experiences and feelings. Teenage readers may sympathize with her fraught relationships with her parents, her desire to be independent and live life on her own terms, and her struggles to come to terms with the illness and deaths of people she loves.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review. Thanks!
Content note: Lots of F-bombs. This one is for older teens who aren't fazed by that. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 16, for general content reasons as well as language.
April 16, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Luisa’s extraordinary coding skills have landed her a finalist spot for a fellowship, being chosen means funding, mentorship, and most importantly, freedom. Maybe Lu will even figure out how to control the rare condition that plagues her: whenever her emotions run high, her physical senses kick into overload, with waves of colour, sound, taste, and touch flooding her body. But when a deadly virus sweeps across the globe, killing thousands, Lu receives a cryptic message from someone who might hold the key to stopping the epidemic…
The short review...
The condition that is talked about in the blurb is called synesthesia. I LOVE and ADORE this condition and have read extensively about it. While its difficult to write a realistic portrayal of an unusual and rare condition if I feel like the story explains how it works, if it works for the plot and is mentioned in terms that give me an insight into how the character feels then I call it successful! This was not successful to me even though it was totally integrated with the plot. This was a big fail to me because the condition talked about in the blurb is WHY I wanted to read it. I was so, so disappointed that the book became a slog fest to me because the condition was only very lightly mentioned when Luisa interacted with others.
Luisa's reaction to the pandemic was quite exaggerated to me. And her friends acted all badass but with no real reason except that the girl was seriously "hot" and the guy she was crushing on was "rich" and "hot" - this got so boring and just unbelievable. I quite enjoyed the idea of her program evaluating social media reactions and the pandemic origins was fascinating if a little too new age for me. If you can find something to relate to Luisa about (her rich boy crush, her extreme fear of the outbreak or her relationship with her brother) then this has potential to be a totally different experience from mine... unfortunately this dystopian was not one I could relate to no matter how cool the twist was at the end.
Cover & Title grade -> B-
Even though the graphics on the cover look like valentine snowflakes to me I can understand what was trying to be portrayed... I think a diagram type of cover with different aspects of the book would have been more effective at hitting the right target audience. Something similar to the A Taxonomy of Love cover... I think as is the cover is rather more adultish and boring. I know I wouldn't have picked it up at all except that I LOVE books with conditions like this: "whenever her emotions run high, her physical senses kick into overload, with waves of colour, sound, taste, and touch flooding her body."
As a Writer...
As a writer I understand that research can be never ending... and what is documented can and may be totally different to what own voices may say about particular conditions and diseases they are experiencing. I believe that a writer can certainly take liberties too with what they learn from what sources they find. I don't think a totally accurate portrayal need always be necessary, especially when we are talking about a paranormal or fantasy genre book.
I do however, as a reader and writer, want to understand how their condition effects the character that has it. Incidental mentions that feel like a clumsy effort to establish the condition and nothing more are quite disappointing to me. Make me feel what its like to have such a condition!! We have so many similarities as human being, highlighting our differences as readers and protagonists is key to making a character stand out from the crowd.
This is far from a perfect book, but if you enjoy pandemic type dystopians with fascinating origins and a misleading and twisty plot then Light Years will be a fun and enjoyable read! The diversity is applaudable as is the strong family...
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ World Building
BOTTOM LINE: A pandemic dystopian with a rare condition at its heart.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
June 8, 2017
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. because i wrote it. i hope you will read it too. you can pre-order it on amazon RIGHT NOW! or visit my website to learn more. i love you. buy my book. i love you.
March 14, 2023
It has honestly been really difficult for me to put into words my overall reading experience of Light Years by Emily Ziff Griffin. My loss for what to say can only be attributed to the fact that my interest in the plot of the story outweighed my enjoyment of the characters.
I found the overall premise to be quite fascinating. We see a society which is very similar to ours. There are still apple watches, and people listen to Taylor Swift and Katy Perry (I’m not going to lie when I say that it did require me to stretch my imagination to honestly belive that within the next ten years she’ll still be relevant), teens are worrying about getting into college etc. They also live under the fear of the next terrorist attack; five years before the novel takes place there had a been another terrorist attack in New York City which was refered to as the Blackout Bombing. The US has a president and a government that the citizens feel unsatisfied with as a result of the handling of the Blackout Bombing. The mishandling of the terror attack cause for Front Lines ( a self-governed, volunteer based organization that has become more popular and more heavily relied on than government first aid services) to be founded. Light Years is different than most other dystopians because we get to see the progression from normalcy to living in an environment in which the lives of millions are forever changed. The rise of militas, distrust in the media and the panic that comes along with an epidemic. Light Years plot was able to capture my interest because of my curiosity about the cause of the epidemic and its solution as well as my interest in seeing Font Lines in action.
Like I already mentioned, my disinterest for the characters caused me to not be completely invested in the book. I would have to say that the biggest issue that I had with the characters, was Luisa. She was not a complex character; Luisa made rash decisions based off of her emotions when she’s supposed to be portrayed as un-emotional and rational. There were instances where she came off as a know it all rather than a leader which didn’t make her a likeable, endearing character. I also wasn’t blown away by her innovative technology because it felt…..not inovative enough. Therefore, I found it to be very difficult to connect emotionally with her and it ended up being a reason why I chose to take a star off of my rating.
The little moments that Luisa and Ben had with their parents were my favorite. We readers were able to examine the dysfunctional and complex relationship children can have with their parents. It added realism and depth to the story.
An aspect about this book that really, truly disappointed me was the portrayal of Luisa’s Synesthesia.
Synesthesia “is an anomalous blending of the senses in which the stimulation of one modality simultaneously produces sensation in a different modality. Synesthetes hear colors, feel sounds and taste shapes…. Synesthetic sensations are highly consistent” according to Scientific America. We see throughout the story the “blending of senses” that Luisa has when she recalls memories, feels stressed, happy, sad, observes interactions etc. However not only is this neurological condition never named but Luisa is ashamed of having it because it makes her feel “foolish”, “weak”, and “freakish”. It didn’t make sense to me why the author would decide to give the impression that Luisa was ashamed of her condition and yet have it be huge part of the story. Obviously, it’s not like I was expecting the protagonist to preaching about self-love and acceptance of disabilities in the first chapter; but the use of the work weak to describe an illness that other people suffer with was an unwise decision to make on the authors part.
I took off another star from my rating because the ending was perplexing. It felt rushed and this is because Light Year’s is a stand alone novel and so the beginings of an epidemic, travelling across the country, and finding a solution to said epidemic had to be rolled into 304 pages. The novel should have been longer for the ending to feel more fleshed out and so that more questions were answered.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style of Emily Ziff Griffin and I would defnitely read any of her future releases. Would I recommend Light Years? I’m not sure, I think that it depends on what you enjoy reading since so many people have enjoyed this book.
Thank you so much Simon Pulse and the FFBC for providing me with a e-arc for review. In compliance with FTC guidelines, I must state that I received this book for free and was in no way compensated for my review.
I found the overall premise to be quite fascinating. We see a society which is very similar to ours. There are still apple watches, and people listen to Taylor Swift and Katy Perry (I’m not going to lie when I say that it did require me to stretch my imagination to honestly belive that within the next ten years she’ll still be relevant), teens are worrying about getting into college etc. They also live under the fear of the next terrorist attack; five years before the novel takes place there had a been another terrorist attack in New York City which was refered to as the Blackout Bombing. The US has a president and a government that the citizens feel unsatisfied with as a result of the handling of the Blackout Bombing. The mishandling of the terror attack cause for Front Lines ( a self-governed, volunteer based organization that has become more popular and more heavily relied on than government first aid services) to be founded. Light Years is different than most other dystopians because we get to see the progression from normalcy to living in an environment in which the lives of millions are forever changed. The rise of militas, distrust in the media and the panic that comes along with an epidemic. Light Years plot was able to capture my interest because of my curiosity about the cause of the epidemic and its solution as well as my interest in seeing Font Lines in action.
Like I already mentioned, my disinterest for the characters caused me to not be completely invested in the book. I would have to say that the biggest issue that I had with the characters, was Luisa. She was not a complex character; Luisa made rash decisions based off of her emotions when she’s supposed to be portrayed as un-emotional and rational. There were instances where she came off as a know it all rather than a leader which didn’t make her a likeable, endearing character. I also wasn’t blown away by her innovative technology because it felt…..not inovative enough. Therefore, I found it to be very difficult to connect emotionally with her and it ended up being a reason why I chose to take a star off of my rating.
The little moments that Luisa and Ben had with their parents were my favorite. We readers were able to examine the dysfunctional and complex relationship children can have with their parents. It added realism and depth to the story.
An aspect about this book that really, truly disappointed me was the portrayal of Luisa’s Synesthesia.
Synesthesia “is an anomalous blending of the senses in which the stimulation of one modality simultaneously produces sensation in a different modality. Synesthetes hear colors, feel sounds and taste shapes…. Synesthetic sensations are highly consistent” according to Scientific America. We see throughout the story the “blending of senses” that Luisa has when she recalls memories, feels stressed, happy, sad, observes interactions etc. However not only is this neurological condition never named but Luisa is ashamed of having it because it makes her feel “foolish”, “weak”, and “freakish”. It didn’t make sense to me why the author would decide to give the impression that Luisa was ashamed of her condition and yet have it be huge part of the story. Obviously, it’s not like I was expecting the protagonist to preaching about self-love and acceptance of disabilities in the first chapter; but the use of the work weak to describe an illness that other people suffer with was an unwise decision to make on the authors part.
I took off another star from my rating because the ending was perplexing. It felt rushed and this is because Light Year’s is a stand alone novel and so the beginings of an epidemic, travelling across the country, and finding a solution to said epidemic had to be rolled into 304 pages. The novel should have been longer for the ending to feel more fleshed out and so that more questions were answered.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing style of Emily Ziff Griffin and I would defnitely read any of her future releases. Would I recommend Light Years? I’m not sure, I think that it depends on what you enjoy reading since so many people have enjoyed this book.
Thank you so much Simon Pulse and the FFBC for providing me with a e-arc for review. In compliance with FTC guidelines, I must state that I received this book for free and was in no way compensated for my review.
June 8, 2017
Before reading this book I had a preconceived notion of what to be expecting. I thought that I knew what direction this book would take and had expected your typical YA novel. Boy was I wrong. Light Years was a journey like no other book out there. The main character Luisa was someone who could pass you on the street. I had connected with her on so many levels; she was someone who I aspire to be. She is someone who I can potentially be. Light Years not only gave me a book to cherish for the rest of my life, it gave me a book that showed me I can be this amazing, strong, confident girl in a world where that may be a challenge. I truly love this book and it has made a huge impact within my life and hope that happens to whoever else reads this.
August 23, 2017
Originally reviewed for http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
A dystopian-leaning mid-apocalyptic YA with a pandemic premise and a code savvy heroine.
The book takes place in a slightly alternate version of the present-day U.S., several years after a catastrophic presumed terror attack (referred to as the Blackout Bombing.) Thousands of people died and those responsible were never captured. The result was a weakened central government and the emergence of a popular govern-less organization called Front Line—which seemed to develop from volunteer first-responders who filled the void in the aftermath.
The story is told exclusively through the first-person present-tense eyes of 16-year-old Luisa Ochoa-Jones, a gifted coder with grand ambitions. Though she is tightly controlled and not outwardly very emotional, Luisa’s unusual neurological response to emotion has resulted in her taking a strong interest in the emotional reactions of others. So much so, she’s come up with an algorithm that scans the internet for pervasive emotional responses to a particular image. (A social media scraper, of sorts.) The data can then be sorted into geographical locations. It’s this algorithm, which she calls ‘LightYears,’ that she is (in the first chapter) pitching to a famously successful tech entrepreneur in hopes of winning a highly competitive fellowship. Of course, her priorities are forced to re-order when a deadly mystery illness begins sweeping across the globe…
What I liked:
The heroine is unique in that she apparently has a form of Synesthesia.
Synesthesia being a neurological condition/disorder (occurring in 1-4% of the population) which blurs the distinction between the five senses. Meaning, a person literally perceives something in a sense besides the sense that’s being stimulated (i.e. the sight of certain colors, shapes, or numbers may be perceived along with a particular taste or smell, or vice versa. Certain sounds or smells may concurrently be experienced as colors or textures…etc.)
Depending on the frequency and intensity, this involuntary extra perception can sometimes be overwhelming and/or disorienting for the person affected. And that’s precisely the case with Luisa. She thinks of her condition as sensory misfires, and explains the experience thusly: “Smells come with flashes of color, sounds have tastes, sights bring the sensation of temperature or touch. Certain people or places can spark complex reactions.”
For her, emotions tie in with this cross-perception effect. She indicates early on that her grandmother was the same way, and people viewed her as crazy—and so Luisa hides her condition from everyone but her immediate family.
I appreciated that, while the main character was Hispanic and there was some well-woven and openly translated Spanish involved, her ethnic background served as natural enrichment rather than an artificial focal point.
The prose itself is distinct—a strong voice with sometimes borderline poetic qualities. There were moments that memorable quotes and characterization bits punched through and lodged in my memory. Here’s one particular instance that manages both:
"My dad may be a recovering addict with five years of sobriety under his belt, but my mother is a recovering martyr with two decades of resentment under hers."
(And there you also have Luisa’s parents neatly summed up.)
What Didn’t Work For Me:
I was disappointed that Luisa’s neurological condition wasn’t actually named in the book. Not even when she finally reveals that part of herself to her love interest. She gives him only a few examples, explaining that she always thought it made her “weak” and “weird.” Sadly, this ended up feeling like a missed opportunity to better inform readers about a real neuro atypical issue in an unobtrusive way.
(While there are some great explanations of synesthesia out there, I personally favor the Good Mythical Morning version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj7vu... )
Unfortunately, this reader wasn’t able to connect with any of the characters as well as I would have liked. Ben was whiny and indecisive, Kamal seemed bland (outside of the novelty of being British and Muslim), Phoebe was domineering, manipulative, and frigid to an unrelatable degree… and Luisa was difficult to empathize with—which is discouraging, given we spend the whole book in her head.
Luisa presents as an aloof, calculating mind and a regular party girl with reverse Peter Pan syndrome. Once the apocalypse kicks in, she also turns out to be the kind of girl who’s apparent first instinct, when gifted a holy book by an uninfected quarantine camp worker, is to throw it in the garbage. And despite her purported high intelligence, she made a number of inexplicably senseless decisions toward the end that—along with a seeming late shift from the apocalyptic genre to the new-age spiritual/paranormal—may cause a distancing rift between the reader and the main character, as well as the reader and overall believability.
This reader’s biggest reservation centers around the perplexingly vague ending. Beyond a simple cliffhanger, it’s the kind of ending that raises more questions than it answers, and perhaps calls reality itself into question. All of the repeated symbols and spirituality never quite congealed into something sensical. (I still don’t understand the significance of the scar on Luisa’s knee, though it was brought up often enough to be blatantly purposeful.) It does at least seem clear that more books must be intended, so readers may simply have to wait to find satisfaction.
Content Note: The first half of this book is pretty laden with coarse language—f-bombs in particular—primarily from the lone viewpoint character. (Oddly, as the situation becomes more dire and apocalyptic, the language eases up—just when it would be easier to contextually overlook.) The book also contains numerous scenes involving casual underaged drinking, including one in which it is encouraged/facilitated by an adult.
The prose in this debut shows a lot of promise, but for me, the narrative didn’t quite come together. Readers who enjoy more in-depth worldbuilding and/or a sense of closure may want to hold out until the next book releases for a better sense of where this may be headed.
A dystopian-leaning mid-apocalyptic YA with a pandemic premise and a code savvy heroine.
The book takes place in a slightly alternate version of the present-day U.S., several years after a catastrophic presumed terror attack (referred to as the Blackout Bombing.) Thousands of people died and those responsible were never captured. The result was a weakened central government and the emergence of a popular govern-less organization called Front Line—which seemed to develop from volunteer first-responders who filled the void in the aftermath.
The story is told exclusively through the first-person present-tense eyes of 16-year-old Luisa Ochoa-Jones, a gifted coder with grand ambitions. Though she is tightly controlled and not outwardly very emotional, Luisa’s unusual neurological response to emotion has resulted in her taking a strong interest in the emotional reactions of others. So much so, she’s come up with an algorithm that scans the internet for pervasive emotional responses to a particular image. (A social media scraper, of sorts.) The data can then be sorted into geographical locations. It’s this algorithm, which she calls ‘LightYears,’ that she is (in the first chapter) pitching to a famously successful tech entrepreneur in hopes of winning a highly competitive fellowship. Of course, her priorities are forced to re-order when a deadly mystery illness begins sweeping across the globe…
What I liked:
The heroine is unique in that she apparently has a form of Synesthesia.
Synesthesia being a neurological condition/disorder (occurring in 1-4% of the population) which blurs the distinction between the five senses. Meaning, a person literally perceives something in a sense besides the sense that’s being stimulated (i.e. the sight of certain colors, shapes, or numbers may be perceived along with a particular taste or smell, or vice versa. Certain sounds or smells may concurrently be experienced as colors or textures…etc.)
Depending on the frequency and intensity, this involuntary extra perception can sometimes be overwhelming and/or disorienting for the person affected. And that’s precisely the case with Luisa. She thinks of her condition as sensory misfires, and explains the experience thusly: “Smells come with flashes of color, sounds have tastes, sights bring the sensation of temperature or touch. Certain people or places can spark complex reactions.”
For her, emotions tie in with this cross-perception effect. She indicates early on that her grandmother was the same way, and people viewed her as crazy—and so Luisa hides her condition from everyone but her immediate family.
I appreciated that, while the main character was Hispanic and there was some well-woven and openly translated Spanish involved, her ethnic background served as natural enrichment rather than an artificial focal point.
The prose itself is distinct—a strong voice with sometimes borderline poetic qualities. There were moments that memorable quotes and characterization bits punched through and lodged in my memory. Here’s one particular instance that manages both:
"My dad may be a recovering addict with five years of sobriety under his belt, but my mother is a recovering martyr with two decades of resentment under hers."
(And there you also have Luisa’s parents neatly summed up.)
What Didn’t Work For Me:
I was disappointed that Luisa’s neurological condition wasn’t actually named in the book. Not even when she finally reveals that part of herself to her love interest. She gives him only a few examples, explaining that she always thought it made her “weak” and “weird.” Sadly, this ended up feeling like a missed opportunity to better inform readers about a real neuro atypical issue in an unobtrusive way.
(While there are some great explanations of synesthesia out there, I personally favor the Good Mythical Morning version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj7vu... )
Unfortunately, this reader wasn’t able to connect with any of the characters as well as I would have liked. Ben was whiny and indecisive, Kamal seemed bland (outside of the novelty of being British and Muslim), Phoebe was domineering, manipulative, and frigid to an unrelatable degree… and Luisa was difficult to empathize with—which is discouraging, given we spend the whole book in her head.
Luisa presents as an aloof, calculating mind and a regular party girl with reverse Peter Pan syndrome. Once the apocalypse kicks in, she also turns out to be the kind of girl who’s apparent first instinct, when gifted a holy book by an uninfected quarantine camp worker, is to throw it in the garbage. And despite her purported high intelligence, she made a number of inexplicably senseless decisions toward the end that—along with a seeming late shift from the apocalyptic genre to the new-age spiritual/paranormal—may cause a distancing rift between the reader and the main character, as well as the reader and overall believability.
This reader’s biggest reservation centers around the perplexingly vague ending. Beyond a simple cliffhanger, it’s the kind of ending that raises more questions than it answers, and perhaps calls reality itself into question. All of the repeated symbols and spirituality never quite congealed into something sensical. (I still don’t understand the significance of the scar on Luisa’s knee, though it was brought up often enough to be blatantly purposeful.) It does at least seem clear that more books must be intended, so readers may simply have to wait to find satisfaction.
Content Note: The first half of this book is pretty laden with coarse language—f-bombs in particular—primarily from the lone viewpoint character. (Oddly, as the situation becomes more dire and apocalyptic, the language eases up—just when it would be easier to contextually overlook.) The book also contains numerous scenes involving casual underaged drinking, including one in which it is encouraged/facilitated by an adult.
The prose in this debut shows a lot of promise, but for me, the narrative didn’t quite come together. Readers who enjoy more in-depth worldbuilding and/or a sense of closure may want to hold out until the next book releases for a better sense of where this may be headed.
August 16, 2017
I absolutely love this book. It's provocative, beautifully-written and raw. So few books deal with life and death, sickness and grief with as much nuance and care!
August 20, 2017
Griffin's YA novel grabbed my attention from the beginning and drew me into a near future world that almost seems more far future with its more advanced computer technology, a female president, and a much more alcohol/drug using youth. It was only the references to current pop stars such as Katy Perry that convinced me that the setting of this book was closer to right now. 16 year old Luisa/Lu is a strong female protagonist who yearns to put her coding skills to work now in order to make a brighter future for not only herself, but all of society. And her talent in the computer world is not the only unique feature of this heroine--she senses emotions and personalities of herself and others in vivid colors and scents and is often able to discern motivations of those around her. When pandemic strikes, Lu, her brother, crush Kamal and beautiful Phoebe set out to find a cure. Up until the end, I was turning pages as quickly as I could, but for me, the confusing ending fell flat, felt incomplete and altogether too simplistic. It made me wonder if there were pages missing from the end of my book! Very, very disappointing. Another disappointing discovery was that the publisher and other reviewers placed this book at being directed at the 12-16 year old reader. With the frequency of the "f" bombs and the constant drinking of the high school aged characters, this is clearly aimed at an older YA audience. I would not even place it at a junior high school. On the plus side, the romantic tension between Kamal and Luisa was obvious without being blatantly sexual. Fans of the dystopian genre will likely enjoy this one, but with such a weak ending, I will not be recommending it to our district's high school librarian. (Review of digital ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline)
September 4, 2017
This novel is perhaps too ambitious for what it amounts to. While there are many things I would like to commend Griffin for--such as how well she captures Lu's desire to "start her life five minutes ago" the way I remember feeling it as a ~gifted sixteen year old (not so long ago), or how natural the diverse representation feels--I think the scope of the story and themes it wanted to encompass were too grand for what it actually achieved.
The well-paced exposition of Luisa's personal life, synesthesia-like perception of the world, and the data analysis project LightYears that helped her achieve finalist status in the Thomas Bell fellowship in the beginning few chapters is completely overtaken by the outbreak of a fast and fatal unknown epidemic and the cross-country road trip narrative that takes center stage. The viral epidemic conflict seemed promising enough but is underdeveloped, especially when the cause and cure are explained vaguely and altogether too neatly in the last few pages. Character development is sacrificed for plot by the time Lu and friends hit the road a third of the way through the book, and because of the lack of character development, the big plot moments in the road trip part of this story--deaths of strangers on the road and relatives alike--seem hollow and lack the devastation I think I was supposed to feel. The dystopian plot took a strange turn toward some yogic spirituality at the end of the road trip, and the vague ending left me utterly confused.
*Note: I received an ARC of this book from its publicist.
The well-paced exposition of Luisa's personal life, synesthesia-like perception of the world, and the data analysis project LightYears that helped her achieve finalist status in the Thomas Bell fellowship in the beginning few chapters is completely overtaken by the outbreak of a fast and fatal unknown epidemic and the cross-country road trip narrative that takes center stage. The viral epidemic conflict seemed promising enough but is underdeveloped, especially when the cause and cure are explained vaguely and altogether too neatly in the last few pages. Character development is sacrificed for plot by the time Lu and friends hit the road a third of the way through the book, and because of the lack of character development, the big plot moments in the road trip part of this story--deaths of strangers on the road and relatives alike--seem hollow and lack the devastation I think I was supposed to feel. The dystopian plot took a strange turn toward some yogic spirituality at the end of the road trip, and the vague ending left me utterly confused.
*Note: I received an ARC of this book from its publicist.
July 9, 2017
I wasn’t as fond as others regarding this novel. We meet sixteen year old Luisa—Lu—as she interviews for a prestigious internship with powerful Thomas Bell. Afterwards, she spends her time partying and drinking every single day with her BFF Janine, and then cries on her shoulder when her love interest comes back into town with a beautiful girl on his arm. A couple days later, panic explodes over a mysterious virus that begins killing thousands of people. Once her dad becomes infected, Lu, her brother Ben, her love interest Kamal, and his beautiful friend Phoebe go on a cross country expedition to LA from NYC to help others and attempt to find a cure.
The story would have worked, but the writing and world building was a letdown. This takes place in a reality similar to ours, but something called the Blackout happened prior to the novel and now there is a relief force called Front Lines with the Peacemakers. Lu is also special since all her senses are mixed up; she can taste colors, etc. She wasn’t a smart character since she made rash decisions, and apparently knew how to kill someone with a knife but then got abducted later on. You know she’s special from the beginning because of her “powers” and a scar on her knee that everyone is obsessed over. The ending was confusing and random, ending on a cliffhanger that left me not wanting to read about Lu’s future struggles as she saves the world. There was zero chemistry between Kamal and Lu, and honestly the whole book was about everyone telling Lu how special she was and that she was going to cure the world and become a savior.
I received an ARC of Light Years through Edelweiss.
The story would have worked, but the writing and world building was a letdown. This takes place in a reality similar to ours, but something called the Blackout happened prior to the novel and now there is a relief force called Front Lines with the Peacemakers. Lu is also special since all her senses are mixed up; she can taste colors, etc. She wasn’t a smart character since she made rash decisions, and apparently knew how to kill someone with a knife but then got abducted later on. You know she’s special from the beginning because of her “powers” and a scar on her knee that everyone is obsessed over. The ending was confusing and random, ending on a cliffhanger that left me not wanting to read about Lu’s future struggles as she saves the world. There was zero chemistry between Kamal and Lu, and honestly the whole book was about everyone telling Lu how special she was and that she was going to cure the world and become a savior.
I received an ARC of Light Years through Edelweiss.
April 12, 2019
I think that a possible theme could be to trust your friends because the whole book Lu has to trust her friends to stay safe from the spreading disease.
September 4, 2017
Though I personally didn't find myself connecting with the characters the story line kept me interested until the end. This book is packed with a bit of everything from a dysfunctional and broken family to a deadly virus and the author's writing style often takes on a poetic voice which I believe is the real reason why I enjoyed reading it. When I first reached the abrupt ending I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth but I went back and read the last three chapters again and the ending took on a different meaning for me. I recommend that this book be read with an open mind. I will end my review with some of my favorite quotes.
"You have nothing to lose here, whatever happens. You just be yourself and let go of the results."
"The world is everyone's oyster if they step up to crack it open."
"Can you feel it? The wind? That's God's hand, washing you clean."
"If you begin with a belief that the world is flat, you'll never be able to conceive of it as a sphere. Your brain will just stop there, deciding that it knows. It will never allow you to consider an alternate perception."
{I received an E-ARC via The Fantastic Flying Book Club and the Publisher via NetGalley and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
"You have nothing to lose here, whatever happens. You just be yourself and let go of the results."
"The world is everyone's oyster if they step up to crack it open."
"Can you feel it? The wind? That's God's hand, washing you clean."
"If you begin with a belief that the world is flat, you'll never be able to conceive of it as a sphere. Your brain will just stop there, deciding that it knows. It will never allow you to consider an alternate perception."
{I received an E-ARC via The Fantastic Flying Book Club and the Publisher via NetGalley and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
November 27, 2017
BEST BOOK EVER!!
August 6, 2017
4.5 Stars, and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC. :)
This amazing, lyrical science fiction YA novel tells the story of a brilliant, sensitive, and creative teenage girl named Luisa, who has just been accepted into a high profile internship program as a result of her computer coding skills. But Luisa’s plans change abruptly when a mysterious virus erupts that affects thousands of people, including her best friend and her father. Luisa, her brother Ben, and their friends Kamal and Phoebe go on a cross-country journey to try to find a cure and to save the world, before it’s too late. Luisa gets hints in the form of mysterious poems, and she has to learn to trust faith and intuition that go beyond science and logic. Along the way, she better understands the positive side of her condition, which is seeing waves of color when her emotions run high. This book has depth, suspense, intriguing characters, and an engaging plot that moves along like a gripping action film. Highly recommended for older adolescents.
This amazing, lyrical science fiction YA novel tells the story of a brilliant, sensitive, and creative teenage girl named Luisa, who has just been accepted into a high profile internship program as a result of her computer coding skills. But Luisa’s plans change abruptly when a mysterious virus erupts that affects thousands of people, including her best friend and her father. Luisa, her brother Ben, and their friends Kamal and Phoebe go on a cross-country journey to try to find a cure and to save the world, before it’s too late. Luisa gets hints in the form of mysterious poems, and she has to learn to trust faith and intuition that go beyond science and logic. Along the way, she better understands the positive side of her condition, which is seeing waves of color when her emotions run high. This book has depth, suspense, intriguing characters, and an engaging plot that moves along like a gripping action film. Highly recommended for older adolescents.
February 15, 2020
Aside from the inevitable convenience that dictates parts of a YA plot, there's very little in this one that I didn't enjoy. What I think gets me the most is that the summary I read before picking this up completely undersold what this book was about. I thoroughly enjoyed how consistent Luisa's sensory condition was portrayed throughout the story and how well the pacing was handled. Parts of the mystery were utterly predictable but it was great that there was more sophistication to it than what I originally thought. Ultimately, this was a pleasant surprise after being on my TBR for so long.
August 23, 2017
A fantastic debut from Emily Ziff-Griffin, looking forward to seeing more from her in the future!
September 4, 2017
This has been an interesting book to try and write a review for. It’s a book that I really didn’t want to put down, the kind that I felt so engrossed with that I accidentally ignored people when they were talking to me, and I was loving it all the way through. However it’s the kind of book that when I reflected on it, which it does really leave itself open to, there were a few things that I picked up on which then retrospectively lessened my opinion of it. Not at all to the point where I would say that I didn’t enjoy the book because I did but more that I was disappointed that after being so enthralled with it, that instead of it sticking in my mind because I thought it was amazing, instead what stuck there was a lot of questions that I feel need answering.
I liked that Luisa has a different way of experiencing the world; her senses interpret differently to what would usually happen so she can see colours for emotions and certain people have a taste. On doing some further research I found this is an actual condition called synesthesia and I quite liked that I learned something new, and the way that her having synesthesia fit into the story was clever, but it was also kind of a double edged sword. The impression I got from the book was that it was made up, maybe because it’s never given a name but someone who is able to create a code to discern people’s emotions from social media reactions can surely look up this difference about them and put a name to it.
I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters, well strangely enough possibly Luisa’s Dad was the only one and that is possibly because he was given a lot of depth, whereas the other characters didn’t get explored that much past a superficial level. I did like that it felt as if Luisa was growing as a character as the book went on but I would maybe have liked to have gotten a bit more under her skin. I did, however, feel a lot of emotion throughout the book, not directed at any particular character but because of the situations that arose.
I think that this emotion and the way this book got to me was because of the writing, there was something very lyrical about it, it flowed so well and was able to let you easily picture what Luisa was experiencing. As much as I maybe wasn’t as drawn to the characters, the way some of the relationships are written; especially that of Luisa and her family and even Luisa and Kamal; really stood out, the way the author describes some of these scenes is what keeps you connected to the story.
Some of the concepts in the book were very clever, like Front Line the volunteer organisation that effectively steps in to help run things when it becomes clear that the government doesn’t have the necessary skills. Also the ARNS virus, it turned out to be something that I wasn’t expecting which can be difficult in a book of this nature, so I was pleasantly surprised.
However on reflection, there is a character called Theodore Nam who is crucial to a certain plot point, I’ll try not to spoil it so this might seem a bit vague, but once I finished reading I realized I wasn’t sure what his motivation was in trying to help Luisa. After finishing the book it even seemed counter productive.
Also, I’m not sure on the ending, I hope this isn’t giving too much away, but if this is meant as the first book of a series then I can see why it ended where it did. I still feel like there were too many unanswered questions but that I could live with if there is another book. However, if this is a standalone then for me it definitely was left a little too open. Unfortunately, I’m not sure which it is so I suppose I’ll have to wait and see.
I would still highly recommend Light Years, I was completely engrossed in the story even though there were some points, on reflection, that I was disappointed with. The writing was wonderful and I am very much looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
I liked that Luisa has a different way of experiencing the world; her senses interpret differently to what would usually happen so she can see colours for emotions and certain people have a taste. On doing some further research I found this is an actual condition called synesthesia and I quite liked that I learned something new, and the way that her having synesthesia fit into the story was clever, but it was also kind of a double edged sword. The impression I got from the book was that it was made up, maybe because it’s never given a name but someone who is able to create a code to discern people’s emotions from social media reactions can surely look up this difference about them and put a name to it.
I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters, well strangely enough possibly Luisa’s Dad was the only one and that is possibly because he was given a lot of depth, whereas the other characters didn’t get explored that much past a superficial level. I did like that it felt as if Luisa was growing as a character as the book went on but I would maybe have liked to have gotten a bit more under her skin. I did, however, feel a lot of emotion throughout the book, not directed at any particular character but because of the situations that arose.
I think that this emotion and the way this book got to me was because of the writing, there was something very lyrical about it, it flowed so well and was able to let you easily picture what Luisa was experiencing. As much as I maybe wasn’t as drawn to the characters, the way some of the relationships are written; especially that of Luisa and her family and even Luisa and Kamal; really stood out, the way the author describes some of these scenes is what keeps you connected to the story.
Some of the concepts in the book were very clever, like Front Line the volunteer organisation that effectively steps in to help run things when it becomes clear that the government doesn’t have the necessary skills. Also the ARNS virus, it turned out to be something that I wasn’t expecting which can be difficult in a book of this nature, so I was pleasantly surprised.
However on reflection, there is a character called Theodore Nam who is crucial to a certain plot point, I’ll try not to spoil it so this might seem a bit vague, but once I finished reading I realized I wasn’t sure what his motivation was in trying to help Luisa. After finishing the book it even seemed counter productive.
Also, I’m not sure on the ending, I hope this isn’t giving too much away, but if this is meant as the first book of a series then I can see why it ended where it did. I still feel like there were too many unanswered questions but that I could live with if there is another book. However, if this is a standalone then for me it definitely was left a little too open. Unfortunately, I’m not sure which it is so I suppose I’ll have to wait and see.
I would still highly recommend Light Years, I was completely engrossed in the story even though there were some points, on reflection, that I was disappointed with. The writing was wonderful and I am very much looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
March 13, 2019
Have you ever thought about what you would do if half the world is dying of something that no one knows what is causing it and how to stop it? Well this would be a great book for you.
January 5, 2018
4 1/2 Stars
*I received a free digital ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading Light Years. Obviously, I had read the synopsis, but even after reading it I still wasn't 100% sure and once I started reading, I still had no idea where Emily Ziff Griffin was taking us. I never could've have predicted the fascinatingly complex and multifaceted story Light Years turned out to be. It is so much more than what the synopsis describes.
In Light Years, we meet Luisa, a highly intelligent teenager who has just interviewed for an internship with a well-known tech genius and is still struggling to figure out her future and her place in this world. Then a deadly virus hits the world and Luisa is suddenly thrust into a role she never expected when she receives a cryptic message from someone who might know cure. The race to find a cure to this worldwide epidemic becomes personal and especially important as some of Luisa’s loved ones become infected and Luisa is willing to do anything to help. Soon Luisa, her brother, and a couple of friends find themselves risking their own lives as they journey to find answers.
Light Years, a story I found to be fast-paced, has a little bit of everything and definitely took some unpredictable turns. There are quite a few heavy topics dealt with or discussed in story such as death and alcoholism. It also deals with familial conflict, friendships, self-discovery and so much more. There’s drama, science, technology, mystery, suspense, and plenty of other things packed into this story. How the author was able to pack so much into this book and still manage to have a coherent and entertaining story, I couldn't tell you. But the more I read, the more engrossed I became in Luisa’s story and couldn't wait to see what would happen next.
Luisa is a fascinating character with an interesting condition. Extreme stress as well her emotions cause her senses to go haywire resulting in overwhelming colors, sounds, tastes, smells, and more. For example, seeing or encountering a sick person literally causes her to see the color red. Or sometimes seeing someone or something might make her taste a certain flavor or get a specific feeling. It’s a condition that affects her greatly and sometimes hits unexpectedly, but it can also be quite useful as you’ll see if you read the book.
Luisa is also quite relatable and deals with many of the same emotions and experiences as most of us do. She's trying to find her place in the world and just wants to feel normal. She wants to help people however she can. Her condition as well as a difficult childhood and current family dynamics have affected her and her decision-making a great deal. More so, than even she realizes, I believe, at times. It was interesting to see her grow throughout the story as she became stronger and more confident despite the obstacles she faced.
As I mentioned before, Light Years contains quite a few important relationships that help to drive the story. From Luisa’s relationships with her parents and brother to her friendships, each impact Luisa in various ways and help motivate her. It was interesting to see this as well as to see the different types of relationships represented in Light Years. A few of her relationships deal with some heavy or emotional issues, but all appeared to be quite believable and nicely written by the author.
With Light Years, Emily Ziff Griffin has managed to write a book that not only had me on the edge of my seat, but also affected me emotionally. At times heartbreaking, Light Years is an beautifully written story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
*I received a free digital ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading Light Years. Obviously, I had read the synopsis, but even after reading it I still wasn't 100% sure and once I started reading, I still had no idea where Emily Ziff Griffin was taking us. I never could've have predicted the fascinatingly complex and multifaceted story Light Years turned out to be. It is so much more than what the synopsis describes.
In Light Years, we meet Luisa, a highly intelligent teenager who has just interviewed for an internship with a well-known tech genius and is still struggling to figure out her future and her place in this world. Then a deadly virus hits the world and Luisa is suddenly thrust into a role she never expected when she receives a cryptic message from someone who might know cure. The race to find a cure to this worldwide epidemic becomes personal and especially important as some of Luisa’s loved ones become infected and Luisa is willing to do anything to help. Soon Luisa, her brother, and a couple of friends find themselves risking their own lives as they journey to find answers.
Light Years, a story I found to be fast-paced, has a little bit of everything and definitely took some unpredictable turns. There are quite a few heavy topics dealt with or discussed in story such as death and alcoholism. It also deals with familial conflict, friendships, self-discovery and so much more. There’s drama, science, technology, mystery, suspense, and plenty of other things packed into this story. How the author was able to pack so much into this book and still manage to have a coherent and entertaining story, I couldn't tell you. But the more I read, the more engrossed I became in Luisa’s story and couldn't wait to see what would happen next.
Luisa is a fascinating character with an interesting condition. Extreme stress as well her emotions cause her senses to go haywire resulting in overwhelming colors, sounds, tastes, smells, and more. For example, seeing or encountering a sick person literally causes her to see the color red. Or sometimes seeing someone or something might make her taste a certain flavor or get a specific feeling. It’s a condition that affects her greatly and sometimes hits unexpectedly, but it can also be quite useful as you’ll see if you read the book.
Luisa is also quite relatable and deals with many of the same emotions and experiences as most of us do. She's trying to find her place in the world and just wants to feel normal. She wants to help people however she can. Her condition as well as a difficult childhood and current family dynamics have affected her and her decision-making a great deal. More so, than even she realizes, I believe, at times. It was interesting to see her grow throughout the story as she became stronger and more confident despite the obstacles she faced.
As I mentioned before, Light Years contains quite a few important relationships that help to drive the story. From Luisa’s relationships with her parents and brother to her friendships, each impact Luisa in various ways and help motivate her. It was interesting to see this as well as to see the different types of relationships represented in Light Years. A few of her relationships deal with some heavy or emotional issues, but all appeared to be quite believable and nicely written by the author.
With Light Years, Emily Ziff Griffin has managed to write a book that not only had me on the edge of my seat, but also affected me emotionally. At times heartbreaking, Light Years is an beautifully written story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
March 3, 2019
This complexity of the characters coupled with the dystopian, apocalyptic nature of the storyline, creates a truly compelling read. The book features strong female leads such as the main character Luisa and intelligent Pheobe. Their smarts really caused me to try and think as the same intelligence level as them. It's like being in a room full of intellectuals because the characters I am "with" in the book are really smart. It's very much a book that will stretch your mind and it's one of those books where you truly don't know how it's going to end and stay at the same confusion level as the characters. Be prepared for a crazy twist and book you can't put down!
May 18, 2021
It really was a page turner! It's been a while since I've consumed a whole book in the bus rides to and from uni, but I really liked it. The ending was a bit...ambiguous? Wish there was a little bit more context with that but it was still good! Something incredibly funny about sitting in 2021 reading a book about a pandemic and the global response that was published in 2017 though.
September 9, 2017
I was beyond excited to receive an advanced copy of this book for review! The synopsis of this book was very inviting for a fan of dystopian novels. I knew this was going to be not only a fun read but an intense one. I have to admit that at times, it may have been a little too intense though for some fans of YA.
I say that because of the language. Griffin has a way with words that makes you sit back and think while your reading, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, the cursing, especially in the beginning of the book just seemed unnecessary. I supposed cursing seems to be incorporated into more and more YA but I am definitely not a fan, especially of the F word. Luckily, the cursing seems to dissipate as the story progresses.
Letting this go, I was able to move forward and enjoy the story and the character development of our main character Louisa. I loved this character. I loved that she has a Spanish heritage, I loved that she seemed to have a neurological condition that is rare, though I do wish it would have been named. Some type of sensory disorder definitely, and I think there would be a lot of people with different types of sensory disorders that can relate very easily to this character. I think Lu's character is very grown for her age, and rightfully so, considering the pandemic the world is facing, but as I read, I loss track that she is indeed, just a 17 year old girl.
Lu's love interest, Kamal is a fantastic character. I imagined him to be the tall, dark, rugged, handsome British, Arabic, that he is. Exactly as Griffin had intended him to be. I loved the diversity in this book. I wasn't too fond of Lu's brother though. Where in moments he seemed to be brave and protective, other times, I found him to be annoying. Maybe I was supposed to feel this way.
Also, I feel that I need to add that there were quite a few religious references throughout the story. However, instead of just one religion, there were many. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. I think Griffin is a genius for weaving all of this into the book. A true and intense handle for many to grab a hold of in the instance that the plot of this story were to come to fruition.
Light Years is a remarkable debut for Griffin. I felt like the story was real and raw and that it hits close to home for a lot of us. The ending definitely had me guessing, which I still have mixed feelings about so I won't go into too much detail there. All I can end with, is that I hope Griffin writes again soon!
I say that because of the language. Griffin has a way with words that makes you sit back and think while your reading, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, the cursing, especially in the beginning of the book just seemed unnecessary. I supposed cursing seems to be incorporated into more and more YA but I am definitely not a fan, especially of the F word. Luckily, the cursing seems to dissipate as the story progresses.
Letting this go, I was able to move forward and enjoy the story and the character development of our main character Louisa. I loved this character. I loved that she has a Spanish heritage, I loved that she seemed to have a neurological condition that is rare, though I do wish it would have been named. Some type of sensory disorder definitely, and I think there would be a lot of people with different types of sensory disorders that can relate very easily to this character. I think Lu's character is very grown for her age, and rightfully so, considering the pandemic the world is facing, but as I read, I loss track that she is indeed, just a 17 year old girl.
Lu's love interest, Kamal is a fantastic character. I imagined him to be the tall, dark, rugged, handsome British, Arabic, that he is. Exactly as Griffin had intended him to be. I loved the diversity in this book. I wasn't too fond of Lu's brother though. Where in moments he seemed to be brave and protective, other times, I found him to be annoying. Maybe I was supposed to feel this way.
Also, I feel that I need to add that there were quite a few religious references throughout the story. However, instead of just one religion, there were many. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. I think Griffin is a genius for weaving all of this into the book. A true and intense handle for many to grab a hold of in the instance that the plot of this story were to come to fruition.
Light Years is a remarkable debut for Griffin. I felt like the story was real and raw and that it hits close to home for a lot of us. The ending definitely had me guessing, which I still have mixed feelings about so I won't go into too much detail there. All I can end with, is that I hope Griffin writes again soon!
September 8, 2017
Luisa is a young girl who feels as though she’s stifled and can’t wait for her life to begin. She applies and interviews for a prestigious fellowship that, she hopes, will be the first step on the road to actually going somewhere in her life. Unfortunately, right around the time of her interview, a mysterious virus begins to infect the world, including people close to her. Add to that the fact that she’s beginning to get cryptic messages insinuating she might have the key to stopping it, and you’ve got the makings of Luisa going off on an adventure to, well, save the world.
It’s a book with a huge scope; namely, exploring how the world will react to a deadly virus, one like, say, AIDS…which affects some and not others, which seems impossible to cure, which is tearing the world to pieces. And Emily has taken on a huge task for herself in grappling with things like empathy, disease, family bonds, romance and even spirituality, all in a book aimed at teenagers. It’s a book that deals with the soul of the person as well as the body, that deals with how to choose between two difficult options, and that shows teenagers stepping up to the plate.
While there are places where I felt LIGHT YEARS fell a little flat — for instance, Luisa is set up as a brilliant visionary, but other than being told this is what she is, we aren’t given much reason for believing it — overall I found it entrancing and powerful.
And that twist! I won’t ruin it for you, obviously, but I will say that the ending comes with flair and makes everything leading up to it just…click into place. The ending, which is somewhat of a cliffhanger, leaves me both satisfied with how LIGHT YEARS concludes but also willing to read more, should Emily feel so led as to give me another book.
I think, in the end, my favorite thing about LIGHT YEARS is that it’s a young adult novel. That the protagonists, the ones with the keys and the heart and the vision to save the world, are teens. I’m into YA because it shows just how amazing teenagers really are, and this book does not fall short in that way.
It’s a book I will definitely recommend (as I’m doing right now!), one that isn’t perfect but is still very good, one that makes you think in a way that, at least personally, I’m not used to.
It’s a book with a huge scope; namely, exploring how the world will react to a deadly virus, one like, say, AIDS…which affects some and not others, which seems impossible to cure, which is tearing the world to pieces. And Emily has taken on a huge task for herself in grappling with things like empathy, disease, family bonds, romance and even spirituality, all in a book aimed at teenagers. It’s a book that deals with the soul of the person as well as the body, that deals with how to choose between two difficult options, and that shows teenagers stepping up to the plate.
While there are places where I felt LIGHT YEARS fell a little flat — for instance, Luisa is set up as a brilliant visionary, but other than being told this is what she is, we aren’t given much reason for believing it — overall I found it entrancing and powerful.
And that twist! I won’t ruin it for you, obviously, but I will say that the ending comes with flair and makes everything leading up to it just…click into place. The ending, which is somewhat of a cliffhanger, leaves me both satisfied with how LIGHT YEARS concludes but also willing to read more, should Emily feel so led as to give me another book.
I think, in the end, my favorite thing about LIGHT YEARS is that it’s a young adult novel. That the protagonists, the ones with the keys and the heart and the vision to save the world, are teens. I’m into YA because it shows just how amazing teenagers really are, and this book does not fall short in that way.
It’s a book I will definitely recommend (as I’m doing right now!), one that isn’t perfect but is still very good, one that makes you think in a way that, at least personally, I’m not used to.
January 18, 2019
Light Years is about a girl named Luisa who created a software program that showed what people are feeling about a certain topic. Luisa is the one of the finalist for a fellowship for Thomas Bell. Thomas Bell is a brilliant tech entrepreneur and the chance to work with him means that Luisa can finally have freedom from her mother. When Luisa is waiting to see if she got the fellowship a mysterious illness swoops in. The mysterious illness is causing more casualties and chaos as the days go by. As Luisa is seeing the data of how people are feeling about the illness she is getting messages from someone who she thinks has the cure for the mysterious illness. Luisa decides to go across the U.S. with her crush Kamal, her brother Ben and their friend Phoebe, to see if they could find a cure. As they go on this road trip there are more deaths, killing thousands of people around the world. As the group goes across the U.S they are able to see how much this illness is affecting everyone as is wrecks everything in its way.
Light Years is a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. I liked how it was an adventure to try and find if there was a cure for the illness. I also liked how Luisa realized new things about herself that she didn’t even know and I also enjoyed the twists that I didn’t see coming. Overall I did enjoy reading Light Years but what prevented me from rating the book a 5/5 stars was that I didn't like the ending. I did not like that the book left on a cliffhanger. The ending was also a little bit confusing since it stopped at a unsettled scene and went to a completely different scene, then back to the unsettled scene where the book ends. I was annoyed how the ending just cut off the way that it did and I wish the ending resolved the problem but it just left off on a cliffhanger.
Light Years is a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. I liked how it was an adventure to try and find if there was a cure for the illness. I also liked how Luisa realized new things about herself that she didn’t even know and I also enjoyed the twists that I didn’t see coming. Overall I did enjoy reading Light Years but what prevented me from rating the book a 5/5 stars was that I didn't like the ending. I did not like that the book left on a cliffhanger. The ending was also a little bit confusing since it stopped at a unsettled scene and went to a completely different scene, then back to the unsettled scene where the book ends. I was annoyed how the ending just cut off the way that it did and I wish the ending resolved the problem but it just left off on a cliffhanger.
November 30, 2019
First off, I quite enjoyed the way Lu saw/heard/smelled the world. I thought that was very interesting and well described, though I would have liked to have each colour, etc. described a little more as she'd sometimes "see a flash of blue" and I'd have forgotten what blue meant.
I wanted to give this a 3.5, but I rounded up because it was still a great read. I wish the journey was shorter so there was more time to dive into solutions and character interactions. I found it was a bit of "hurry up and wait". The deaths were a little too hollow for my liking but it could be because Lu is a more logical person and she doesn't see the deaths as tragically as other do, which would fit as she has a very different reality than myself and many others who read this book.
One major thing... the ending... Without spoilers I will say this. I was confused. Very, very confused and left wishing there were a few more chapters to unravel the boatload of questions the last chapter dumped on me. I don't think I've ever been so surprised that the book had ended than I had with this book. I mean, it was a very interesting ending but... what in the world? Like, WHAT JUST HAPPENED? I am thinking there will be a second book but still... The end was more like the stairs up the cliff, but it stopped right before a cliffhanger... Odd. But overall, I did enjoy the book and I definitely enjoyed the different perspective it offered me on disease and the power of thought/persistence.
I wanted to give this a 3.5, but I rounded up because it was still a great read. I wish the journey was shorter so there was more time to dive into solutions and character interactions. I found it was a bit of "hurry up and wait". The deaths were a little too hollow for my liking but it could be because Lu is a more logical person and she doesn't see the deaths as tragically as other do, which would fit as she has a very different reality than myself and many others who read this book.
One major thing... the ending... Without spoilers I will say this. I was confused. Very, very confused and left wishing there were a few more chapters to unravel the boatload of questions the last chapter dumped on me. I don't think I've ever been so surprised that the book had ended than I had with this book. I mean, it was a very interesting ending but... what in the world? Like, WHAT JUST HAPPENED? I am thinking there will be a second book but still... The end was more like the stairs up the cliff, but it stopped right before a cliffhanger... Odd. But overall, I did enjoy the book and I definitely enjoyed the different perspective it offered me on disease and the power of thought/persistence.
April 20, 2020
I don't know which masochist in my family checked out a book about a pandemic in the middle of a pandemic, but they did.
This book is about Luisa, who senses emotions and feelings somewhat differently (tastes and sees feelings, for instance), and how she is dealing with a mysterious pandemic spreading across the world.
There's a journey. There's some light romance. There's alternate reality stuff. I think it takes place in a not-too-distant future.
It feels a little bit like it might be the beginning of a series, but there's no promise of a series at the end of the book or anything.
This book is about Luisa, who senses emotions and feelings somewhat differently (tastes and sees feelings, for instance), and how she is dealing with a mysterious pandemic spreading across the world.
There's a journey. There's some light romance. There's alternate reality stuff. I think it takes place in a not-too-distant future.
It feels a little bit like it might be the beginning of a series, but there's no promise of a series at the end of the book or anything.
September 12, 2017
I won't say too much about this remarkable book, because you just have to read it. (Seriously, go get a copy, right now.) It is a stunningly intelligent, intricate, powerful novel that had me positively spellbound late into the night. When I reached the end, I nearly wept. I sincerely hope a sequel is in the works, because I haven't had nearly enough of these characters. On its own, though, it is an exceptional achievement, and is in a class of its own in the young adult genre.
December 7, 2017
This book was so weird... I definitely will not be reading book two when it comes out. I was confused the whole time and read the book all the way through in hopes that my confusion will be resolved; my confusion was not... I defiantly will not recommend this book to anyone. If I could give it 0 stars I would.
September 10, 2018
Great book! Lu is a smart, empathic 16 year old hero. Griffin shows us that a young woman can be a coder, whiz kid and be the hero. She can also be vulnerable and feel her emotions. Light Years does a wonderful job explaining the complexities of the death of a loved one. I think the book is also a fun thriller.
December 17, 2018
I feel like it was medium book because it gave me sadness that Luisa's father died because of the virus ARNS and I thought he was going to survive but he didnt and also the virus was weird because it actually just messes you with your brian to think that you are sick but I still love it overall, overall out of my 10 favorite books it would be placed by the 4 best book out of ten.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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