What Light Summary
Jay Asher

What Light Overview

In the novel What Light, written by Jay Asher, Sierra falls in love with a boy named Caleb while working at her parents’ Christmas tree lot in California. Sierra's parents and her friends question her choice because of Caleb's involvement in an isolated incident of violence. Although the people in Caleb's small, California town have labeled him as a trouble-maker, Sierra sees only gentleness and kindness in Caleb. Even as she struggles with her own fear that her family will not return another year to run their tree lot, Sierra campaigns for her parents and others to take a fresh look at Caleb. Themes in the novel include differences in Christmas traditions, the danger of rumors and gossip, and ways to deal with relationship challenges.