Picture Us in the Light

This well-written novel explores grief and emotions from various perspectives, also uncovering a world of long-hidden family secrets. As the protagonist in “Picture Us in the Light” experiences the death and suicide of his friend and learns about the mystery of his sister’s death—which may have actually been a kidnapping, he comes to realize that these realities have had a deep effect on his and his family’s lives and personalities. Suitable for independent reading or in literature circles for students in Grade 9–12, this engaging story pulls readers in, highlighting how secrets, grief, and dishonesty can play out across ages and generations. The themes in this novel lend themselves well to activities around character journalling or research around suicide prevention. Additionally, this novel facilitates the use of reading comprehension skills such as connecting, inferring, and predicting.