*Starred Review* In this surreal, complex novel, Thomas artfully tells the story of the three Vasquez children and their mother in four distinct, interwoven voices. When Luz, a parasitic being from an unknown place, lands in the canyon next to the Vasquezes' home, it latches onto each of the three Vasquez children's most valuable sense: Hank's hands, Ana's eyes, and Milo's ears. While Luz is around, each of the children's senses are heightened, but the relationship is far from beneficent: rather, it's predatory and manipulative, and when Luz ultimately disappears, it cripples each one of them on its way out. Each chapter is titled not after the character whose perspective it takes on, but the body part they lost, save for their mother, whose desolate chapters are titled Outside. Metaphor and figurative language make the prose here beautiful to read, even in Milo's chapters, which are written in the voice of an eight-year-old. Thomas gracefully weaves together the past and present in each character's narrative and offers moving insight into how each of them process losing what they each perceive to be their most important sense or ability. This poignant, strange, and poetic novel is a nuanced exploration of human nature.--Pino, Kristina Copyright 2017 Booklist

When important people leave, emotional holes inevitably remain, voids that can be filled by either new symbiotic or parasitic relationships. Both are explored in this new philosophical contemporary sci-fi from Thomas (Nowhere Near You, 2017).The Mexican-American Vasquez family of Eustace, New Mexicomom Maggie, elder brother Hank, middle child Ana, and younger brother Miloare still reeling from the sudden loss of their father when a mysterious being takes up residence within the three Vasquez siblings. Having originally considered the clan to be one complex organism, Luz (as the children dub their interloper) appropriates Hank's hands, Ana's eyes, and Milo's ears to both observe the surrounding world and to communicate with and among its sibling hosts. But then Luz leaves as well. Chapters of densely metaphorical third-person prose shift focus among the members of the Vasquez clan and eventually to Luz himself, highlighting each character's unique relationship with the strange being that once occupied their home and their attendant emotional turmoil at his sudden and violent separation. Thomas explores themes of forgiveness, family, friendship, and identity along the way as the Vasquez clan slowly heals from the major rifts in their lives, rifts whose beginnings were set in motion long before the arrival of Luz.This pensive sci-fi novel straddles many worlds without quite fitting in any, not unlike the endearing square-peg characters at its heart. (Science fiction. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

After the Vasquez siblings' father left, a strange alien-like being they think of as "Luz" inhabited them, taking over Ana's eyes, Hank's hands, and Milo's ears before also leaving. The novel relates the physical and emotional aftermath of Luz's departure in each family member's life--a rich premise, but overabundant story lines make it difficult to follow or to become attached to the characters. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 8 Up-A compelling, character-driven, and imaginative novel. The Vasquez children have a gaping hole in their hearts; but the summer after their father leaves them, they are visited by Luz (an alien), and the hole is filled. Now the school year is here, Luz is gone, and they are much worse than before. In the aftermath of this devastation, the eldest son has broken up with his boyfriend, the daughter can't stop self-harming, and the youngest son is having difficulty hearing. This is a story about a family's encounter with an alien being, but, it's not your usual science fiction romp; it's a slow-paced, emotional drama. The story starts in mystery; who was this alien and where did he go? As the novel unfolds, the questions build and the tone grows dark. As readers discover more about each Vasquez family member, they learn troubling secrets and impossible truths. Overall, this is a novel about coping with loss and family dysfunction. What makes it stand out is Thomas's talent of bringing intimacy, thoughtfulness, and a sense of wonder to her writing. -VERDICT For fans of Patrick Ness and Lauren Oliver, this is a must buy.-Melanie Leivers, Palm Beach Country Library System, FL © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.