In Darkness

Review

Common Sense Media says

Violent but riveting story of Haiti's past and present.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this violent, disturbing novel is nevertheless fascinating and emotionally powerful. The bleak life of Shorty, who was born in the Haitian slums of Site Solèy and seems to have no hope for a better future, is tempered by the second narrative of the historical figure Toussaint L'Ouverture, who leads the slaves of Haiti to freedom during the 18th century. However, Toussaint's story is a violent one, too, and Shorty is a gang member who has seen and done many awful things.

  • Educational value4
    Set in Haiti in both the past and present, In Darkness focuses on two important events in the country's history: the 2010 earthquake, and the 1791 slave rebellion led by Toussaint l'Ouverture. Through the memories of Shorty, a boy caught in the rubble of a hospital after the earthquake, and the eyes of Toussaint, the leader of Haiti's first foray into independence, readers will be able to learn much about Haiti. However, it's a lot to absorb for those unfamiliar with either Haiti's history or the bleak present-day situation of the poor and disenfranchised, and readers may feel a little lost at times. In addition to many foreign names and phrases and political and historical background, Lake introduces the voudou mythology and describes ceremonial practices of the religion that invoke the large pantheon of gods.
  • Positive messages3
    It may not be immediately apparent in the face of all the horrors that occur during the two stories in this book, but the overriding message of In Darkness is that you have to hold onto love and try to make the world a better place, even if the situation seems hopeless.
  • Violence5
    At a young age, Shorty sees his father killed by gang members wielding clubs and machetes right in front of his eyes. When he later joins the Route 9 gang that rules one part of the slums of Site Solèy, the violence in his life escalates. He sees many people gunned down, either by a rival gang or government forces, and he is also taught to shoot and kill people at the age of 12. In the other narrative, Toussaint tries to conduct his revolution peacefully whenever possible, but it is a war, and violence is unavoidable.  He sees white men dismember his friend and nail hism to a tree, and he remembers the horrors inflicted on the slaves, including rape and severe beatings.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism1
    Shorty mentions that his friend raps about Cadillacs and Cristal (champagne) and dreams of living the life of an American rap star. Shorty finds this laughable in a land where people are so hungry they bake dirt to have something to fill their stomachs.
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

Shorty wakes to find himself under a pile of rubble. The last thing he remembers is being in the hospital after he was shot in a gang war, and now he is lying among dead bodies after Haiti's huge earthquake of 2010, hoping someone will find him. Meanwhile, Toussaint has joined a group of slaves in a voudou ceremony to discover who will lead the slaves to freedom; he is shocked to find it is himself. When their spirits are connected through an ancient voudou ritual, Shorty and Toussaint begin to inhabit each other's minds, and their stories unfold in alternating narratives. As Shorty remembers the details of his short life that brought him to the present day and Toussaint's rebellion grows successfully across Haiti, it becomes clear that both are caught up in destinies over which they have little control.

Is it any good?

 

Though often hard to take because of the brutal violence at almost every turn, IN DARKNESS is an absorbing and haunting story. The alternating settings of past and present keep the reader involved, and Shorty and Toussaint are complex and real. Though Toussaint is an easy character to root for, Shorty is a much more complicated mixture of good and bad, and the way Lake explores his psyche by offering experiences that align with his jaded worldview and yet somehow keep his hope and sense of humor alive is amazing. For readers who have the stomach for the brutality and tragedy of a life lived in Haiti's slums, reading this book will be an ultimately rewarding experience.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the device the author used of having Shorty and Toussaint inhabit each other's minds. How does this help to connect the two stories? Do you think the two characters are at all alike?

  • What are some of the positive qualities Shorty sees in the gang members Biggie and Tintin?

  • How well you think you'd do if you were trapped in rubble after an earthquake? What would you think about as you waited to be rescued?

This review was written by Sally Engelfried

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Sally Engelfried
Topics:misfits and underdogs
Author:Nick Lake
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:January 17, 2012
Number of pages:341
Hardcover price:$17.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):14
This review was written by Sally Engelfried
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!

About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

More tough characters in tough situations
For kids who love Multicultural books and historical fiction
Browse more books
 

vote now

Will you read In Darkness?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already read it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it