Review: Little Light, by Coral Rumble

Little Light, Coral Rumble, Illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin, Troika Books.

Little Light is an extraordinary accomplishment – a verse novel with a story so engaging and immersing you often don’t notice it’s in verse, even though Coral frequently breaks the boundaries of the page to play with form.

Living in one room with her mum and two siblings after a marriage break up, on the cusp of leaving primary and entering secondary education, Ava is a child lost between worlds, her old school, her old self, her old life and that yet to come. Her discovery of a stray dog leads her into the future.

The light that Ava shines and finds is beautifully kindled by Coral’s luminous writing.

The book is sensitively illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin.

A sample:

Wagging

Wagging is a strange word.

If you’re wagging school –

you’re in trouble,

if a finger is pointed at you –

you’re in trouble,

but when a dog’s tail is wagging –

you’ve got approval.

Coral Rumble

Very much recommended – every school should have a copy. Five Stars.