A review by vacantbones
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

5.0

I loved this book. Yes, I am incredibly biased - I binged most of Picoult's (at the time) published books when I was 15 and 16, so coming back to her all these years later feels like a warm hug. But this wasn't the first time I picked up A Spark of Light. That happened back in late 2018. I checked it out from the library and, upon reading the front flap, let it sit on my bookshelf for three weeks before returning it.

At the time, the state of reproductive rights felt too fragile for me to be reading a book from an author who is known to ask her readers to see both sides of something. Frankly, it still feels raw in late 2022; Roe v. Wade has been overturned and the fear this ignites is brutal.

With that being said, I really did love this read. I won't pretend that my feelings changed or that my beliefs were shaken in some life-altering way. But I have always admired the ways in which Picoult can make you empathize with anyone and everyone. I appreciated how abortion was handled, and the characters were fascinating to me.

I didn't adore the backwards timeline, but it allowed for some twists and reveals that I liked. 5 stars, great to be reconnected with my childhood favorite author.