Out of the Dark

A follow-up of the bestselling, Geoffrey Bilson Award — and Victoria Book Prize — nominated A Blinding Light, focusing on the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion and the onset of the Great Influenza Pandemic.

When Jane Mooney’s older brother Connor lies about his age and enlists in the Great War at age fifteen, she can’t imagine ever being more devastated. But on December 6, 1917, when two ships collide in Halifax Harbour, the resulting explosion proves her wrong.

An injured Jane awakes to discover that the North End of Halifax, including her home, has been destroyed; her father and three of her brothers have been killed; her mother, recovering from a head injury, has been left confused and forgetful; and her two surviving brothers are looking to her for guidance. Like so many Explosion survivors, Jane and her family are forced to start over. This means accommodation in a newly-constructed apartment block, clothing and furniture from donation centres, and a new school. Unfortunately for Jane, the school she must now attend is in the prosperous South End. How will she fit in with her uppity classmates?

The only bright light is that Jane now lives closer to her best friend, Livy Schneider. Livy’s older brother, Will, a student at the same school, gives Jane a job at the school newspaper. The start of the 1918 school year appears more hopeful until Jane hears rumblings of a new enemy at their door — and this one is contagious. The Great Influenza Pandemic has reached Halifax’s vulnerable shores. In a time of financial and emotional strain, and with this terrifying new threat, how will Jane keep her family safe? And why hasn’t Connor written to her? Will he ever return from the trenches?

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average rating is 4.5 out of 5, based on 2 votes, book lovers sharing their thoughts

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Jorja Walker

Location:

Dartmouth NS

average rating is 4 out of 5

Time Published

Out of the Dark

I recommend this book.

Emily Hunter

Location:

Prince Edward Island

average rating is 5 out of 5

Time Published

A very well written read!

“Out of the Dark” written by Julie Lawson, and published by nimbus publishing, was a read given to me by digitally lit for being an Our Stories Matter Youth Ambassador. This book tells the story of Jane Mooney, whose older brother Connor enlists to fight in the Great War far to young, and who faced the many trials of that era in Halifax. Between the war, the Halifax explosion, the influenza, and the many problems her family faced Jane did not have it easy.

I thought this book was a great read and very interesting, and I loved the time period it was set in. The 1910’s - 1920’s was a hard time for the whole world, with the war and influenza hitting, but Halifax, Nova Scotia had a particularly hard time with the Halifax Explosion also occurring. I’ve always taken a great interest in all of these events so reading about them in this book, even though it is a work of fiction, was very intriguing for me.

What I also loved about this book was, at the very end with the authors note, there was sections with actual facts and descriptions about some of the events that were portrayed in this book, like the Halifax Explosion and the Influenza. I appreciated that because, as much as I loved and enjoyed this book, it was nice to have a little wrap up of actual facts to top it off!

Finally, the characters in this book were all written strikingly well and were quite relatable, especially considering that this book talks about the influenza, and us as a population just having experienced and still experiencing covid in recent years. I specifically found Jane’s mother to be written very well, and her struggles portrayed very well. I also liked that Jane grew up in this story, and that you see a stark change from start to finish in her personality.

All around I was very impressed with this book, and now that I know there is a book that came before this one I will most definitely have to read it!

I recommend this book.