All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a historical fiction novel centered around two teenagers during World War II in Europe. It details the journeys of Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig, who have drastically different yet similar experiences in war-torn countries, whose paths intertwine through secret radios and a mythical stone. As the book’s name suggests, the author’s goal is to show how people go out of their way to be kind to others despite challenging circumstances. Marie-Laure, one of the primary protagonists, is blind and lives in Paris with her father, Daniel LeBlanc. He is a loving character, guiding his daughter around their hometown and on their journey after being forced to flee. He is a locksmith at the Museum of Natural History, where the Sea of Flames, a spectacular diamond with an equally enthralling legend, resides. Marie-Laure’s great-uncle Etienne, who takes in her and her father, lives in a house near the coast of Saint Malo. Madame Manec, Etienne’s housekeeper, is a courageous woman who stands up for her beliefs, causing Marie-Laure to slowly do the same. Werner lives in an orphanage in a mining city in Germany with his younger sister Jutta, who serves as his point of clarity and reason when he sinks further into war with her strong opinions and fearless thoughts. He spent his bleak childhood tinkering with machines – like radios – and exploring math and science, eventually leading up to his role during WWII. Deeper into the war, Werner meets Fredrick, whose unique personality makes him stand out when staying inconspicuous is best, and Frank Volkheimer, who appears formidable at first, but gradually cares for Werner like an older brother. Reinhold von Rumpel is another major character in the story. He is a sergeant major in the German army, examining and verifying precious treasures. As a result of his cancer, he wants to gain the Sea of Flames to become immortal. Throughout the book, he travels around Europe in pursuit of this mysterious diamond, representing Nazi greed and selfishness. However, he is not irredeemable, as he cares greatly for his children, and he suffers from health issues, making von Rumpel an emotionally complex character like many of the characters in the book. Doerr portrays the harsh circumstances through sophisticated vocabulary, creating a vivid picture for the reader. However, the author may have overused descriptions, as the book seems to drag, causing readers to skip sections and possibly miss something important. The verbose language is not real enough, causing a gap between the reader and the story. The book also skips in time, where one section will be during the war and suddenly will transition to before the war. This can be confusing at times, which is one of the reasons why this book is better suited for audiences in high school. And even though the author’s goal was to “[illuminate] the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another”, it does not seem to appear much. It is only shown near the ending, which I found a bit abrupt and didn’t make much sense. The book failed to captivate me, as I was unable to feel for the characters even during major problems. However, the story is well written, and depicts the difficult circumstances during World War II on both sides. The author also touches on the fragile topics of greed, love, and perseverance. Overall, it was a compelling read, albeit slightly boring, and I would suggest it to readers interested in the war and who enjoy descriptive writing styles. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Scribner Book Company, 2017. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
book review
Akata Witch, Reviewed by Philip Chen, 13
In Nnedi Okorafor’s captivating fantasy novel Akata Witch, first published in 2011, knowledge takes center stage. Sunny Nwazue, the main protagonist, grapples with her dual identity as an albino girl born in America but living in Nigeria. Her unique physical appearance makes her a subject of ridicule and a victim of bullying. At the beginning of the book, she sees a vision inside a candle: the end of the world. Without a full understanding, this vision only confuses and scares her. She soon discovers that she belongs to magical Leopard People and begins to read the “Fast Facts for Free Agents” book. Through the book and various adventures, she is awakened to a part of herself that was unknown to her previously. She later joins three other Leopard people to bring down Black Hat Otokoto, a corrupt serial killer whose misuse of knowledge led to his demise. I like Akata Witch because of its portrayal of knowledge: it enlightens and empowers people to achieve great things. However, it can also lead to self-destruction if used with evil intentions, such as greed for wealth and power. Knowledge, as portrayed in the book, is a double-edged sword that could be very powerful if used properly but can also cause great harm. The theme of knowledge weaves throughout the story. Sunny’s journey is one of empowerment and self-discovery. As she delves into magical texts and faces life-altering challenges, she learns to embrace her unique identity. Her physical appearance, once a source of ridicule, becomes a powerful tool. The narrator uses a series of events to describe how she becomes more confident and courageous. For example, the first time she sees the slippery bridge to Leopard Knocks, she is too scared to cross. Her later crossing of the bridge comes naturally and liberating, summoning her spirit face and accompanying music. With the newfound confidence, she stands up for herself and wins a fight against Jibaku, a school bully. She goes from a bullied, shy, pathetic, and isolated child with low self-esteem into a confident warrior. The best illustration of how knowledge empowers Sunny to garner the inner strength to defeat the most powerful evil enemy occurs in the battle with Ekwensu at the climax of the novel. In this final battle, Sunny has an epiphany – a sudden complete understanding of her calling and destiny – that knowledge from all her experience empowered her with courage and unimaginable power to defeat Ekwensu. While knowledge is powerful, it does not equate with wisdom and making the right choices. When used for personal vengeance or greed, knowledge leads to severe negative consequences. Both Sunny and her friend Chichi have faced discipline after they misused their knowledge and spiritual capabilities for petty vengeance. Black Hat Otokoto, the murderous and psychotic main antagonist of the book, is exceedingly hungry for wealth and power. Otokoto’s abuse of knowledge turns him into a twisted serial killer, which leads to his own destruction. As a reader, I connected with Sunny’s struggles. Like her, I have questioned my own identity: Am I Asian? Am I American? The book resonated with my dual heritage, emphasizing the importance of embracing both sides. It deepened my empathy for marginalized kids who navigate complex identities and face special challenges. Akata Witch invites us to explore our own calling and hidden strengths. While defeating supernatural enemies might not be our reality, the journal of self-discovery remains universal. So, my fellow readers, open Akata Witch, dive into its magical world, wield knowledge wisely, and uncover our inner magic! Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. Speak, 2017. Buy the book here and help support Stone Soup in the process!
The Pipe Tree, Reviewed by Jeremy Lim, 11
When Ecláir the sparrow is forcefully shoved into a life in a cage, it is like a storm has come and swept away everything he has ever known. After years of living free in the wild, Ecláir is now entrapped inside an constricting and inescapable prison. But when his captor, a woman coined as “the handkerchief woman,” starts bribing Ecláir with muffins and bombarding him with stories from her daily life, he starts to grudgingly make a hesitant friendship with her. Such begins The Pipe Tree, the moving debut novel by Lily Jensen. It portrays the protagonist coming to terms with an uncertain future and friendship, with the easy choice between freedom and life behind bars suddenly becoming almost impossible as the relationship between the two becomes more and more complex. In short chapters set at Ecláir’s present-day Portland, Maine, he narrates the story of how the friendship between him and the handkerchief woman came to be, and what further steps he should take to gain trust- and potentially a route to freedom. Some of the novel, however, addresses the question of freedom itself, and testing whether their friendship is strong enough to hold themselves together. As a wild, pastry-loving sparrow, Ecláir easily falls to the temptation of a sweet treat, especially ecláirs and blueberry muffins. When he arrives at the apartment, he easily feels out of place, trapped in a mysterious world. Looking for potential ways to escape, he starts closely observing the woman’s routine, and the house around him. When, on the first few days after capture, he immediately notices the lack of extravagance in the apartment, especially when it comes to the dinners, in which the woman eats cereal. But Ecláir is particularly moved by the way the woman seemed to be missing something, just like he himself, something expressed in the way she talks and sings. Ecláir sees the sadness in her actions. Over the course of the next year or so, Ecláir and the woman find themselves intertwined in a friendship and history with connections far deeper than what meets the eye. Both sacrifice what is quite dear to them for the other in this heartbreaking friendship that was not meant to be. Ecláir sings for the woman every day, staying obedient otherwise, while the woman spends her tight supply of money for pastries and food for Ecláir. But escape is imminent as time ticks before a new cage is built, one with no physical bars anymore- but instead mental ones. As Lily King, the author of Euphoria and The English Teacher stated perfectly: “The Pipe Tree is a powerful act of imagination. Through the eyes of a bird, Lily Jessen explores the truths and contradictions of human nature in a tale full of humor, delight, and deep understanding.” While the Pipe Tree lies from the viewpoint of a carefree sparrow, Lily Jensen has tapped into a universal connection facing the importance of freedom and friendship with consequences and if well-meant acts of love can actually hurt the other, as well as yourself. The Pipe Tree by Lily Jessen. Children’s Art Foundation – Stone Soup Inc., 2024. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
