This Little Light

More about the book

This novel by the bestselling author of The Girls and The Mountain Story presents a chilling vision of a near-future America dominated by the religious right. It follows Rory Ann Miller, a smart young girl accused of terrorism after a bombing at her upscale Californian high school during an American Virtue Ball. Over the course of 48 hours in 2023, Rory and her best friend become fugitives with a bounty on their heads, facing a relentless pursuit from law enforcement, drones, and a social media frenzy of trolls. Complicating matters, Rory's mother, a social activist, is arrested and implicated, while her father, who betrayed them in a bitter divorce, cooperates with the authorities. The narrative unfolds in a society marked by gated communities, re-criminalized abortion and birth control, and teenage virginity oaths. It introduces the Red Market, a controversial entity that either symbolizes a conservative fear or represents a criminal network profiting from unwanted babies and fetal tissue. Rory's journey is filled with cynicism, fear, and anger as she grapples with betrayal and seeks trust. Her insights into the roles of men and women in perpetuating societal norms are sharp, blending humor, sadness, and truth.