Out of Darkness

Set around the 1937 explosion of a white school in New London, Texas, this fictional story examines an actual disaster that killed nearly 300 students and teachers. Mexican American Naomi and African American Wash fall in love as Naomi tries to protect her younger half-siblings, Cari and Beto, from their abusive white stepfather, Henry. After the family moves to town, Wash befriends Naomi and the twins and hopes they can leave together, despite plans for him to attend college. The novel addresses racism, sexual abuse, religion, family ties, and the devastating explosion.