In the Wild Light

By: Jeff Zentner

Narrated by: Michael Crouch

A poignant coming-of-age novel about two best friends whose friendship is tested when they get the opportunity to leave their impoverished small town for an elite prep school. For fans of Looking for Alaska.

Life in a small Appalachian town is not easy. Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and his Papaw is dying slowly from emphysema. Dodging drug dealers and watching out for his best friend, Delaney, is second nature. He's been spending his summer mowing lawns while she works at Dairy Queen. But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney, and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he has to leave behind. Jeff Zentner's new novel is a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and young love.

Another Zenter masterpiece!

This is possibly Jeff’s best work of fiction to date. It’s a contemporary YA story of the journey of the self where life can hand you times of grief & beautiful moments of love & joy in order to help you along on your way to becoming the person you were meant to be. Jeff captures this in such a way that it’s reminiscent of an artist painting a masterpiece. All the emotions are felt, and the poetry of both the story & created by the main character are music for the heart & soul. While the book is YA, I believe any adult who enjoys realistic fiction would enjoy this book. The voice actor I believe is the one who’s done most of the books by Zentner, & he seems to fit the characters in these books very well. I can almost imagine Jeff having a similar cadence & tone to his own voice. Highly recommend this book & definitely will to all of my students as well as friends who like this genre.

Another Gem by Jeff Zentner

I enjoyed this book immensely. The narration was excellent. The author, Mr. Zentner, is a master story teller. The Serpeant King is also a highly satisfying and inspirational read about young people overcoming huge challenges.

Loved it!!!

The writing is beautiful and poignant. I couldn’t put it down! I will be looking to read more by this author

feelings

brought forward to my mind the memories of my life through the words being spoken

Lovely

I didn’t want it to end. Absolutely, heartbreakingly beautiful. The characters became real, letting us into their struggles and growth. A gift. Best book I’ve read in a long time.