Oh, how my heart swells! The clue is in the title and Abbie Emmon's debut novel 100 Days of Sunlight is both pure and uplifting and the perfect antidote for today's trying times. It has poetry, sunlight and victory over adversity, a character-driven plot and a story so beautiful that it makes the heart soar. Recommended for fans of Wonder, this is the young adult breakout hit of the summer and I'm prepared to stand on rooftops singing its praises.
Sixteen-year-old Tessa Dickinson can no longer see. She was involved in a car accident which blessedly took no lives but Tessa has lost her eyesight as a consequence. Her doctors are optimistic that her sight might return but the truth is that nobody knows. Keen to establish a link to Tessa's former life, her grandparents take out an advertisement for a typist to enable Tessa to continue writing and updating her poetry blog.
The problem is that they don't consult Tessa and she certainly does not approve, forcing them to cancel the ad. Still, Weston Ludovico turns up on Tessa's doorstep, unwanted and optimistic to a fault. Tessa takes an instant disliking to him but she cannot see the one thing Weston asks to be kept secret from her. Weston has a disability and unlike Tessa, his condition is certainly not temporary.
As we delve deep into Weston's backstory and explore Tessa's reaction to the world around her, we're gifted with surprisingly complex characters and intense character development. Despite this depth, the novel remains light (yes, like sunlight) and was an absolute joy to read. I really didn't want to put it down and spent a couple of late nights reading into the early hours.
100 Days of Sunlight is one of those books that makes you fall in love with life again and it inspires a desire to truly live one's best life. It is absolute, pure, sunny magic. I very much hope that Abbie Emmons has more books planned for the very near future.
I give 100 Days of Sunlight a superb five out of five stars and recommend to absolutely everyone. I'd especially recommend to those seeking superior young adult fiction with good character development as well as younger teens seeking clean YA fiction with no sexual content.
★★★★★
I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley, which is a great resource in my search for superior young adult fiction.
