Title: A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult, 9780345544988, Ballantine Books, New York,
First Edition, October 2, 2018, $28.99, 384 pp.
Genre: Women’s Literary Fiction, Thriller
Characters: Told in ten perspectives, A Spark of Light hosts many different, diverse
characters without a main character. Wren is a wide-eyed yet confident young daughter
of a local policeman. Her reason for being at the Women’s clinic that day was to receive
birth control. Bex, the aunt of Wren, assists her niece in her attempt to receive birth
control due to Wren not having a mother. Hugh is Wren’s policeman father who is a part
of the negotiating team during the standoff. George is the troubled, conflicted gunman
who holds the diverse group of hostages inside the Women’s clinic for hours. Beth
performed an illegal abortion on herself and is facing murder charges in the state of
Mississippi, showing the stark dichotomy of the difficulty and shame behind abortion.
Olive is the oldest hostage and the intellect of the group who willingly sacrifices her life
when George attempts to shoot Wren. Joy is a middle-aged woman who went to the
Women’s clinic that day and successfully completed an abortion. However, Janine, a pro-
life protester escapes with Joy and their differing viewpoints on the emotional topic
create a division between the two. Louie is the doctor that performs abortions at the
Women’s clinic and reveals much about racial tension and morality when discussing his
profession and purpose in life with the remaining hostages. Finally, Izzy is the only nurse
left in the Women’s clinic when George barricades them in. She recently found out she is
pregnant herself and wonders if she will make it out of the clinic alive to become a
mother.
Plot: With the novel being told in reverse chronological order, Picoult walks the reader
through events the characters have experienced before the beginning of the book. In the
beginning, it is revealed that there is only one hostage left in the Women’s Clinic: Wren
McElroy. As soon to be revealed, this fifteen-year-old girl is the daughter of the police
negotiator outside of the clinic, Hugh McElroy. Having negotiated with the distraught
gunman, George Goddard, Hugh is doing everything in his power to make sure that his
daughter makes it out of the clinic alive. As the story progresses in reverse, character
development ensues and much about the diverse reasons for the characters to be in the
Women’s clinic are revealed. Specifically, there is the black abortion doctor (Louie), a
pregnant nurse (Izzy), a pro-life protester and spy (Janine), a woman recovering from her
abortion that day (Joy), a former psychology professor (Olive), and a fifteen-year-old girl
seeking guidance on birth control options (Wren). With Bex having been rushed out of
the clinic early on for medical attention by Izzy and Hugh on the outside communicating
with George, the number of hostages slowly dwindles (yet the reader has to infer this due
to the style of storytelling) for a variety of reasons. Progressing back in time, it is
revealed why George Goddard walked into the Women’s clinic that day with a gun and
the reasons for his distress. At the end of the novel, it flashes forward to 6:00 pm which is
the most current update on the situation. As the novel comes to an exploding ending,
perspectives on the emotional debate are revealed and leave the reader contemplating the
meaning of life in all forms.
Touchy Areas: Obviously, the topic of abortion is highly emotional and controversial.
Additionally, the gun violence and its consequences portrayed in the novel are descriptive
and visual to the reader.
Related Titles: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret
Atwood, The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir, The Girls Who Went Away by
Ann Fessler, The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Movies: A Private Matter (1992), Unplanned (2019), For Colored Girls (2010), The
Negotiator (1998)
Music: “Not Ok” by Kygo and Chelsea Cutler (2019), “Blackout” by Freya Ridings
(2018), “Take Care” by Drake and Rihanna (2011), “Complicated” by Olivia O’Brien
(2015), “Fix You” by Coldplay (2005)
Poem: “An Absolvable Task of Responsibility” by Styno, “The Abortion” by Anne
Sexton
Classic Work: The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I “The Quality of Mercy…”
Art: Stitch-in Submission, 5.4 Million and Counting by Chi Nguyen
https://artreport.com/an-artists-stitches-represent-5-4m-women-and-challenge-the-texas-
abortion-laws/
Evaluation: Overall, this fictional thriller left me on the edge of my seat the entire time I
was reading it. When I initially started reading this novel, I expected my personal opinion
on this emotional debate to restrict me accepting the other perspectives that were to be
provided, However, in Picoult’s fictional magic, she unbiasedly presents diverse opinions
and allows the reader time for introspection. Importantly, the way that the story was told
was innovative in concept but beautiful in execution. Having to piece together what I had
already read allowed for further and deeper character development and understanding.
This novel is extremely timely in the divided world we live in and provides a spread of
opinions to create a safe space for conversation. I would read this book over and over
again and recommend to anyone searching for answers about the opposition surrounding
to this debate. I would give this novel a 9/10.
First Edition, October 2, 2018, $28.99, 384 pp.
Genre: Women’s Literary Fiction, Thriller
Characters: Told in ten perspectives, A Spark of Light hosts many different, diverse
characters without a main character. Wren is a wide-eyed yet confident young daughter
of a local policeman. Her reason for being at the Women’s clinic that day was to receive
birth control. Bex, the aunt of Wren, assists her niece in her attempt to receive birth
control due to Wren not having a mother. Hugh is Wren’s policeman father who is a part
of the negotiating team during the standoff. George is the troubled, conflicted gunman
who holds the diverse group of hostages inside the Women’s clinic for hours. Beth
performed an illegal abortion on herself and is facing murder charges in the state of
Mississippi, showing the stark dichotomy of the difficulty and shame behind abortion.
Olive is the oldest hostage and the intellect of the group who willingly sacrifices her life
when George attempts to shoot Wren. Joy is a middle-aged woman who went to the
Women’s clinic that day and successfully completed an abortion. However, Janine, a pro-
life protester escapes with Joy and their differing viewpoints on the emotional topic
create a division between the two. Louie is the doctor that performs abortions at the
Women’s clinic and reveals much about racial tension and morality when discussing his
profession and purpose in life with the remaining hostages. Finally, Izzy is the only nurse
left in the Women’s clinic when George barricades them in. She recently found out she is
pregnant herself and wonders if she will make it out of the clinic alive to become a
mother.
Plot: With the novel being told in reverse chronological order, Picoult walks the reader
through events the characters have experienced before the beginning of the book. In the
beginning, it is revealed that there is only one hostage left in the Women’s Clinic: Wren
McElroy. As soon to be revealed, this fifteen-year-old girl is the daughter of the police
negotiator outside of the clinic, Hugh McElroy. Having negotiated with the distraught
gunman, George Goddard, Hugh is doing everything in his power to make sure that his
daughter makes it out of the clinic alive. As the story progresses in reverse, character
development ensues and much about the diverse reasons for the characters to be in the
Women’s clinic are revealed. Specifically, there is the black abortion doctor (Louie), a
pregnant nurse (Izzy), a pro-life protester and spy (Janine), a woman recovering from her
abortion that day (Joy), a former psychology professor (Olive), and a fifteen-year-old girl
seeking guidance on birth control options (Wren). With Bex having been rushed out of
the clinic early on for medical attention by Izzy and Hugh on the outside communicating
with George, the number of hostages slowly dwindles (yet the reader has to infer this due
to the style of storytelling) for a variety of reasons. Progressing back in time, it is
revealed why George Goddard walked into the Women’s clinic that day with a gun and
the reasons for his distress. At the end of the novel, it flashes forward to 6:00 pm which is
the most current update on the situation. As the novel comes to an exploding ending,
perspectives on the emotional debate are revealed and leave the reader contemplating the
meaning of life in all forms.
Touchy Areas: Obviously, the topic of abortion is highly emotional and controversial.
Additionally, the gun violence and its consequences portrayed in the novel are descriptive
and visual to the reader.
Related Titles: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret
Atwood, The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir, The Girls Who Went Away by
Ann Fessler, The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Movies: A Private Matter (1992), Unplanned (2019), For Colored Girls (2010), The
Negotiator (1998)
Music: “Not Ok” by Kygo and Chelsea Cutler (2019), “Blackout” by Freya Ridings
(2018), “Take Care” by Drake and Rihanna (2011), “Complicated” by Olivia O’Brien
(2015), “Fix You” by Coldplay (2005)
Poem: “An Absolvable Task of Responsibility” by Styno, “The Abortion” by Anne
Sexton
Classic Work: The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I “The Quality of Mercy…”
Art: Stitch-in Submission, 5.4 Million and Counting by Chi Nguyen
https://artreport.com/an-artists-stitches-represent-5-4m-women-and-challenge-the-texas-
abortion-laws/
Evaluation: Overall, this fictional thriller left me on the edge of my seat the entire time I
was reading it. When I initially started reading this novel, I expected my personal opinion
on this emotional debate to restrict me accepting the other perspectives that were to be
provided, However, in Picoult’s fictional magic, she unbiasedly presents diverse opinions
and allows the reader time for introspection. Importantly, the way that the story was told
was innovative in concept but beautiful in execution. Having to piece together what I had
already read allowed for further and deeper character development and understanding.
This novel is extremely timely in the divided world we live in and provides a spread of
opinions to create a safe space for conversation. I would read this book over and over
again and recommend to anyone searching for answers about the opposition surrounding
to this debate. I would give this novel a 9/10.
