The Only Light Left Burning

April 1, 2024
Where do you go after the world ends? Picking up almost immediately after the events of All That's Left in the World (2022), this second foray into a post-apocalyptic world follows teen boyfriends Andrew and Jamie as they attempt to make a home among the few survivors of a superflu that killed most of the world's population. Unfortunately, home is a difficult concept, especially after a hurricane severely damages their colony in the Florida Keys. Not only does the destruction derail the colony members' northward expedition in search of survivors, but a request for aid could potentially put Andrew and Jamie within reach of the Fort Caroline settlement, a racist, homophobic religious colony in Georgia that the duo barely escaped. The pair decide to escape from both communities with a small group of friends. Their bond is tested as they forge new relationships, and some people are lost. The novel doesn't have a lot of exposition for new readers (or forgetful readers of the first book), which may make the first few chapters challenging, and the story moves at a clip that hinders character development. Die-hard fans will love delving into the story again, but astute readers may wonder why, in a post-apocalyptic world without cell phones and other screen distractions, the two white boys can't find time to talk about their differences? This sequel needs a few booster shots. (Post-apocalyptic adventure. 12-18)

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Starred review from May 15, 2024
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* The world has not quite ended: a superflu has killed some seven billion people and fractured civilization. Many of the survivors live in scattered small settlements, like boyfriends Andrew and Jamie, who live--er, survive--in one of the Florida Keys. Andrew feels they have found a family there; Jamie is less sanguine and, it turns out, for good reason. In the wake of a devastating hurricane, their settlement turns to another, Fort Caroline, for help and supplies. In exchange, they will give up Jamie, who has, to save Andrew, killed the son of a prominent leader there. Wisely, the two boys flee, accompanied by a small clutch of adults and seven children. And so, a series of breathtaking adventures begins that will ultimately find Jamie headed to Fort Caroline, perhaps to kill the father of the boy he killed. Andrew refuses to go on what he deems to be a revenge quest, and the two separate, which invites two questions: Will Jamie actually kill his target, and will the two boys reconcile? The questions keep the pages turning at a brisk pace, fueled by a generous helping of white-knuckle suspense, which Brown handles masterfully. Brown is obviously a skilled plotter, too, and a pro at characterization. Both Andrew and Jamie are fully realized, empathetic characters whom readers will take to heart. Superb.

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