Out of Darkness

Ashley Hope Pérez’s “Out of Darkness” isn’t your typical historical YA novel that dusts off the past for a neat morality tale. Instead, it plunges you right into the gritty, uncomfortable realities of 1930s East Texas, where race, identity, and survival clash in ways that still sting today. The story orbits around Naomi Vargas, a fifteen-year-old Mexican-American girl who’s just moved to New London with her twin half-siblings, Beto and Cari. Their father, Henry, is white, and that family dynamic alone sets the stage for tension. Naomi faces blatant racial discrimination at the segregated school she attends, while her siblings, who look white, get a very different experience. It’s a sharp reminder that skin color isn’t just pigment—it’s a social passport or a wall.

Naomi’s world becomes even more complicated when she and her siblings befriend Wash Fuller, an African-American senior at the local high school. The friendship quickly turns into a secret and forbidden romance between Naomi and Wash, a relationship that challenges every social boundary set by the community. Pérez doesn’t sugarcoat the risks or the prejudice they face; instead, she pulls you into the claustrophobic atmosphere where love must hide in shadows, and every glance can carry danger.

The novel’s backdrop is the 1937 New London school explosion, the deadliest school disaster in U.S. history, which hangs over the story like a ticking time bomb. Pérez uses this historical event not just as a plot device but as a metaphor for the volatile tensions simmering beneath the surface of the town—and the characters’ lives. It’s a grim reminder that tragedy can strike without warning, and sometimes the biggest explosions aren’t the ones you can see coming.

What makes “Out of Darkness” stand out is how Pérez weaves multiple perspectives into the narrative. You don’t just get Naomi’s view but also insights from Beto, Cari, and Wash, giving a layered, multifaceted look at identity and prejudice. This approach deepens the emotional impact and forces readers to confront how race and family shape each character’s reality differently.

The prose is straightforward but charged with emotion, capturing the tension of a town divided by color lines and the personal struggles of young people caught in the crossfire. The pacing sometimes slows to let moments breathe, but it never drags; instead, it builds a steady sense of dread and urgency.

At its core, the novel is about more than just racism or tragedy. It explores how love persists in the face of societal rejection and how family can be both a refuge and a source of pain. Pérez doesn’t offer easy answers or neat resolutions, which makes the story feel raw and honest.

One thing to watch out for is that the novel’s heavy themes and historical setting can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re looking for a light read or a tidy romance. It’s a tough, sometimes brutal look at the past that asks readers to sit with discomfort—something not everyone is ready for.

Still, “Out of Darkness” is a powerful reminder that history isn’t just dates and disasters; it’s lived experience, full of messy, complicated people trying to find connection in a divided world. It’s a book that sticks with you, not because it’s easy, but because it’s real.