A solid 3.5 stars. I will definitely be reaching for that sequel! That ending? omg NOT cool!
Summary
We Light Up The Sky by Lilliam Rivera is a YA sci-fi novel that follows three young adults who take on defending Los Angeles, CA from an invading extraterrestrial. The odds are against them as the gang barely know each other. Plus they are dealing with an e.t. that can morph itself to look human and sound like anyone it interacts with. It has turned LA into an overgrown jungle filled with an obedient poisonous subspecies of mountain lions and coyotes. The gang need to find it’s weakness to stop it from taking over the planet.
The story takes place after COVID-19 and uses this as a theme throughout the book. A parallel between the virus and the alien is created. It is a timely novel that I was very excited for, but I did not fall in love with. The story did not grab my heart due to the lack of connection between the reader and the protagonists. The writing is good, but the transitions are choppy, due to the ominous tone and also the multiple pov narration. The romance is executed poorly.It’s awkward at best. HOWEVER I did enjoy: the latinx representation, the setting, and the main message of the story.
We Light Up the Sky Characters
The Characters
Let’s talk about the positives: Pedro, Rafa and Luna are amazing! I loved them all… individually. Not so sure if they work well as a group?
Pedro: an influencer who would never be caught dead wearing the same outfit as the day before; he is loud and talks before thinking, he’s lovable and hilarious. I’ll admit, I loved Pedro instantly from page one and he is my favorite. I connected to him the most. From his desire to always look cute and his tendency to rely too much on horoscopes/astrology. I also empathized with Pedro, as we’ve both have had to deal with racist people at work.
Rafa: is quiet and keeps to himself. An introvert not by choice, but due to the immense responsibility he feels and to live up to family expectations. I related to Rafa as he struggled to uphold family expectations and respected his need to protect his little sister.
Luna: closes herself off from those who love her and hides behind a mask of superficial friends. She grieves the loss of her cousin in silence. She is also smart and independent. Her ability to brave everything the crazy alien storm throws at her was admirable. They’re all amazing individuals and relatable, but they did not ever click as a group. There was never that “go team! moment. It was a bit disappointing.
“A radical change is about to be imposed on this planet, and to hide from it is to be complicit. She won’t be complicit again. She must do something” (Rivera 188).
I Loved…
Though our cast of heroes did not click, I loved the representation. The fact that the main characters represented real Latinx young adults and their struggles, amazing! It is rare to read about one Latinix character, but in “We Light Up the SKy” there are three! Three diverse characters who are dealing with racism, homelessness, toxic masculinity, and death. Although these are heavy topics they are also important topics. Featuring these topics in books for young adults is important so they can be: A) aware of them and B) to have it to relate too and C) to get the help or reassurance that they may not be able to get from somewhere else.
As mentioned, I empathize with Pedro greatly in part to the scene where he is at work. Pedro is working the In-n-Out drive thru line. A car rolls up with two obnoxious teens asking for burritos. Pedro handles them like a pro, making witty remarks which I applauded and reveled in. So many times I have wished I could’ve said the right thing to the same type of people. Most of the time, I stay quiet. This scene and others like it, gave me a sense of relief.
Another big issue that the author practically yells out through her book: police brutality. The most tense and racist moments depicted cops. How quickly can a cop forget that they are pointing a gun at a young teenager with their whole life ahead of them? Very quickly. These scenes may allude to a specific shooting: on March 29th 2021 13-year old Adam Toledo was shot and killed by Chicago Police. Never is it specifically stated, but I challenge you to look up the case and read the book. Tell me if my theory holds
Check this book out if you’re looking for:
- Speculative Fiction
- E.T Invasion
- A Quick Read
- A Powerful Message
- Latinx Representation
- LGBTQIA+ REP
Thank you to the publishers and to B2weird Book Tours for the free finished copy of this book.
Interested in more? Get the vibe of the book with my playlist!