LIGHT AND AIR is the story of Hallelujah Newton, better known as Halle. At the beginning of the book Halle’s main concerns are convincing Mama to buy her a new lunchbox, getting through her chores as quickly as possible so she can read under the willow tree, and avoiding another argument with her grouchy father. But when Halle’s mother develops a case of tuberculosis, the life Halle has known falls to pieces.
In 1935, the only known treatment for tuberculosis is rest, fresh air, and sunlight. So Mama is sent away to the J.N. Adam Hospital for Tuberculosis, a sanatorium located high in the hills of upstate New York. Before long, Halle ends up as a patient there, too.
Although Halle thrives in the children’s ward of this remote, makeshift community, Mama does not. When Halle realizes Mama is not responding to the treatment of light and air and rest, she decides to take matters into her own hands. At first, her plan seems to be working, but when Mama suffers a lung hemorrhage after one of Halle’s secret visits, Halle’s whole world comes crashing down.
LIGHT AND AIR, published by Holiday House, is now available!
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
