The Bright Unknown: A coming-of-age historical novel about friendship, survival, and the will to be free

by Elizabeth Byler Younts

Overview

From award-winning author Elizabeth Byler Younts comes a luminous and heartbreaking historical novel about resilience, friendship, and the search for belonging—perfect for readers of Susan Meissner and Katherine Reay.

"Younts's successor to The Solace of Water (2018) has an enthralling foundation for its story, along with an appealing historical setting and themes of friendship and love amidst oppression . . . the captivating plot will engage readers." —Booklist

Brighton Friedrich has never known life beyond the walls of Riverside Home, the rural asylum where she was born in the 1940s. Raised by a nurse who keeps secrets about her past and bound to her best friend, a boy she calls Angel, Brighton dreams of freedom. Together they risk everything to escape, but the world outside is as perilous as it is beautiful. With no identities, little money, and only fragile hope, they must rely on each other and the unexpected kindness of strangers in their quest to find home.

Told with Elizabeth Byler Younts's gorgeous, lyrical prose, The Bright Unknown is a poignant story of love, loss, and redemption that will linger long after the last page. This standalone historical novel includes discussion questions, making it a great choice for book clubs and a thoughtful gift for fans of unforgettable, hope-filled fiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780718075682
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	10/22/2019
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Elizabeth Byler Younts gained a worldwide audience through her first book, Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl. She is also the author of the Carol Award–winning novel The Solace of Water, the critically acclaimed novel The Bright Unknown, and the Promise of Sunrise series. She has consulted on Amish lifestyle and the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect for two award-winning television shows. Elizabeth lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two daughters, and a small menagerie of well-loved pets. Visit her online at ElizabethBylerYounts.com; Twitter: @ElizabethYounts; Facebook: AuthorElizabethBylerYounts; and Instagram: @ElizabethBylerYounts_author.

Editorial Reviews

A beautifully woven story of a young woman's journey to understanding that the past shapes us but does not define us, and that it is love that gives us the courage to live like we believe it. With prose that is luminous and lyrical, The Bright Unknown is a compelling read from the first page to the last.

Susan Meissner

Younts's successor to The Solace of Water (2018) has an enthralling foundation for its story, along with an appealing historical setting and themes of friendship and love amidst oppression . . . the captivating plot will engage readers.

Booklist

A beautifully woven story of a young woman's journey to understanding that the past shapes us but does not define us, and that it is love that gives us the courage to live like we believe it. With prose that is luminous and lyrical, The Bright Unknown is a compelling read from the first page to the last.--Susan Meissner

Younts's successor to The Solace of Water (2018) has an enthralling foundation for its story, along with an appealing historical setting and themes of friendship and love amidst oppression . . . the captivating plot will engage readers.--Booklist

From the Publisher

Younts's successor to The Solace of Water (2018) has an enthralling foundation for its story, along with an appealing historical setting and themes of friendship and love amidst oppression . . . the captivating plot will engage readers.

Booklist