Out of Darkness

By: Ashley Hope Pérez

Narrated by: Benita Robledo, Lincoln Hoppe

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

"This is East Texas, and there's lines. Lines you cross, lines you don't cross. That clear?"

New London, Texas, 1937. Naomi Vargas and Wash Fuller know about the lines in East Texas as well as anyone. They know the signs that mark them. They know the people who enforce them. But sometimes the attraction between two people is so powerful, it breaks through even the most entrenched color lines. And the consequences can be explosive.

Ashley Hope Pérez takes the facts of the 1937 New London school explosion, the worst school disaster in American history, as a backdrop for a riveting novel about segregation, love, family, and the forces that destroy people.

©2015 Ashley Hope Pérez (P)2016 Listening Library

Banned in some school districts

I honestly only read this book because I saw it was being banned or at risk for being banned at some Texas school districts. I find it ironic that the people who are urging to ban this book, are the people who could learn the most from reading this book. It was excellent from beginning to end, I highly recommend it!

Out of darkness

Well told story of racism, crime and a school gas explosion from the 30s in east Texas

Compelling truths

A must read because it reveals past and present compelling truths. Although fictional the story’s strings attached to real events leaves the reader with a gleamer of hope for a better tomorrow through the twins’ innocent joy unoccupied by racism. Well-done!

Summer reading book

This book was really good especially to be a summer reading book in high school (11th grade )

Not what I was expecting but really enjoyable

This heart wrenching book was suggested to me by a friend. The fact that most of the events were fictional but based off of real events never ceases to amaze me. I don’t know why this book was banned when it retells the truth. Accurate historical information should be told to youth not hidden because they are the ones responsible for making sure that these terrible things are not repeated. As for an actual book review, I am glad I finished it. There were times when it was very slow but the end made it worth my time.

you'll need courage.

painful and devastating. poetic and beautiful. brutal and honest. it takes courage to read this.

Brilliant, and Heartbreaking

Brilliantly written. I think I saw someone else write that you need courage to read this book, and that couldn’t be more true.

Should be required reading

What an incredible story. It was so real, I’m every way. Stories of love, and hate. Injustices in every way. Heartbreaking. It may not have been a true story, but it may as well have been.

Deeply dark

A beautifully written nightmare. This book is very well written with great character development but turns really dark and disturbing . Graphic images of rape and murder.

Beautifully crafted

The writing of this haunting story is superb. It is one of those historical fictions that feels so very real that I want to research the characters and events despite the author's note at the end.