The Light Pirate - Lily Brooks-Dalton

The Light Pirate

By Lily Brooks-Dalton

  • Release Date: 2022-12-06
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
Score: 4
4
From 164 Ratings

Description

FINALIST FOR THE DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE

Set in the near future, this hopeful story of survival and resilience follows Wanda—a luminous child born out of a devastating hurricane—as she navigates a rapidly changing world: A “symphony of beauty and heartbreak” (Associated Press).


USA TODAY BESTSELLER! 

A Good Morning America Book Club pick · #1 Indie Next pick · LibraryReads pick · Book of the Month Club selection ·  Marie Claire #ReadWithMC book club selection · 2022 NPR “Book We Love” · New York Times Editors’ Choice

Florida is slipping away. As devastating weather patterns and rising sea levels wreak gradual havoc on the state’s infrastructure, a powerful hurricane approaches a small town on the southeastern coast. Kirby Lowe, an electrical line worker, his pregnant wife, Frida, and their two sons, Flip and Lucas, prepare for the worst. When the boys go missing just before the hurricane hits, Kirby heads out into the high winds in search of his children. Left alone, Frida goes into premature labor and gives birth to an unusual child, Wanda, whom she names after the catastrophic storm that ushers her into a society closer to collapse than ever before.

As Florida continues to unravel, Wanda grows. Moving from childhood to adulthood, adapting not only to the changing landscape, but also to the people who stayed behind in a place abandoned by civilization, Wanda loses family, gains community, and ultimately, seeks adventure, love, and purpose in a place remade by nature.

Told in four parts—power, water, light, and time—The Light Pirate mirrors the rhythms of the elements and the sometimes quick, sometimes slow dissolution of the world as we know it. It is a meditation on the changes we would rather not see, the future we would rather not greet, and a call back to the beauty and violence of an untamable wilderness.

Includes a Reading Group Guide.

Reviews

  • Stunning

    5
    By v-j-weed
    Well written, at times just outright beautiful. This story is one for our times. There are so many layers to this story. Highly recommended.
  • Absolutely perfect!

    5
    By Kmw711
    I absolutely loved the character development, unique storyline, the vivid imagery and I could not put it down! Highly recommend!
  • Okay

    4
    By Choralriff
    Good book but faded into a bland ending.
  • Beautifully told story . .

    5
    By frenchy0674
    Such a beautifully told story, from beginning to end. Hardships, friendships, joy and laughter. A life experience since birth for her. Very remindful of the Marsh Girl in “Where the Crawdads Sing,” but still mesmerizing. Loved it . . every word.
  • The Light Pirate

    4
    By olddue1
    This was a really good novel. The plot made sense and the characters were relatable. The mysterious lights aspect distracted from the story’s central themes for me. It’s a terrific beginning for a movie script. I look forward to reading more books by this author.