Review by Kathy Wibbels, Yankton Community Library In the summer of 1990, fourteen-year-old Trevor Riddell gets his first glimpse of Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant whole trees and is set on a huge estate overlooking Seattle’s Puget Sound. Trevor’s bankrupt parents have begun a trial separation, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with his sister, Serena, dispatch the ailing and elderly Grandpa Samuel to a nursing home, sell off the house and property for development, divide up the profits, and live happily ever after. But as Trevor explores the house’s secret stairways and hidden rooms, he discovers a spirit lingering in Riddell House whose agenda is at odds with his father and aunt’s plan. Only Trevor’s willingness to face the dark past of his forefathers will reveal the key to his family’s future. Because the book is written through the eyes of a fourteenyear-old, the content of the book is richer. As an adult, I could see how character flaws would influence the actions of those characters, as well as the truth that Trevor eventually discovered about his ancestors and his living relatives. This knowledge in no way detracted from the story as I wanted to know how Trevor would discover those pieces of information that would lead him to draw the correct conclusions and lead him to a course of action. Trevor also met his grandfather for the first time. I enjoyed watching that relationship develop and, as it did, how it molded Trevor’s understanding of the situation, both past and present. I’ve not traveled to the Pacific Northwest, so I enjoyed learning about some of its history and descriptions of what the area looked like before and after men built personal empires through the lumber business. This would make a great book club read. There’s a special website dedicated to A Sudden Light, with expanded content on the book’s themes, characters, and settings. The home page features an artist’s rendition of The North Estate, the central location for the novel. You can hover over items in the picture and follow the links with topics relevant to the novel. The library also has Stein’s first book The Art of Racing in the Rain. I have read that book and highly recommend it as well. • Literary Speaking • A Sudden Light The Year You Take Care Of YOU. Allow your Yankton Hy-Vee registered Dietitian Kenny Tomek help you make 2016 “The Year You Take Care of You.” Whether you want to take better control of your diabetes, lower your cholesterol, lose weight or simply eat healthier, Kenny can help you succeed! • Individual Medical Nutrition Therapy with physician referral • Personal shopping experience via free store tours • Group nutrition classes in our store and the community • Assistance with food allergy and intolerance issues • Kids in the Kitchen Classes • Corporate wellness programming • Biometric health screenings • Nutrition education for optimal athletic performance 2100 Broadway, Yankton 12vHERVOICEvJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 Contact Kenny by calling the Store or emailing him at ktomek@hy-vee.com