The Keeper of the Isis Light
by Monica Hughes
I didn’t think I’d like this book. I thought it was written for teenage boys, and I’d be bored to tears by the alien planet setting. I was wrong. This is a fantastic book. Truly fantastic.
A sixteen-year-old girl, Olwen, has lived on an alien planet all her life; her parents were sent from Earth to explore an inhabitable planet, since Earth has been abused and needs to be evacuated. Olwen has been free, happy, and alone. She’s had an entire planet to herself, besides the man appointed as her guardian after her parents’ death, and she’s loved every minute of it. One day. . .
A spaceship from Earth lands, with refugees who intend to make their home on her planet. Olwen’s solitude is disturbed for the first time. How will she and her fellow humans get along?
The Keeper of the Isis Light isn’t just for teenagers, even though the protagonist is a young girl. Anyone who remembers their childhood fondly in contrast to the hurts of adulthood will be moved by Olwen’s journey. Anyone who remembers the highs and lows of their first love will be affected by this book. Anyone who’s felt insecure about how they come across to others, anyone who’s felt complete when they’re alone and alone around others, anyone who’s been forced to cope in an unfair situation, will love this book. It’s moving, tragic, hopeful, nostalgic, surprising, and realistic. It’s just lovely.
Do me two favors: go out and read this book, and whatever you do, don’t read the synopsis blurb on the back of the book. There are major spoilers!
A sixteen-year-old girl, Olwen, has lived on an alien planet all her life; her parents were sent from Earth to explore an inhabitable planet, since Earth has been abused and needs to be evacuated. Olwen has been free, happy, and alone. She’s had an entire planet to herself, besides the man appointed as her guardian after her parents’ death, and she’s loved every minute of it. One day. . .
A spaceship from Earth lands, with refugees who intend to make their home on her planet. Olwen’s solitude is disturbed for the first time. How will she and her fellow humans get along?
The Keeper of the Isis Light isn’t just for teenagers, even though the protagonist is a young girl. Anyone who remembers their childhood fondly in contrast to the hurts of adulthood will be moved by Olwen’s journey. Anyone who remembers the highs and lows of their first love will be affected by this book. Anyone who’s felt insecure about how they come across to others, anyone who’s felt complete when they’re alone and alone around others, anyone who’s been forced to cope in an unfair situation, will love this book. It’s moving, tragic, hopeful, nostalgic, surprising, and realistic. It’s just lovely.
Do me two favors: go out and read this book, and whatever you do, don’t read the synopsis blurb on the back of the book. There are major spoilers!