Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Bookworm9

Sixteen year old Mattie Gokey is struggling with her new role as mother to her 3 younger sisters after her own mom dies. Mattie's emotionally distant father wants her to remain in this role indefinitely, and Mattie herself is torn between her desire to marry her handsome neighbor, who is suddenly interested in her, and her desire to leave her small hometown and persue her talent for writing by going to college. During the summer before she needs to make her choice, Mattie works at a hotel where she encounters another troubled young woman, whose chouces lead to tragic consequences and help Mattie to realize the importance of making up her own mind.

By turns humorous and heartbreaking, "A Northern Light" deals with issues of sexism, classism, racism, and the values of friendship, family, and promises, without ever losing sight of the people involved in the issues.