And There Was Light by Jacques Lusseyran is an incredible memoir that tells the story of a remarkable man who overcame immense challenges to become a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come. The book chronicles Lusseyran's life from his early childhood to his time as a resistance fighter during World War II. Despite losing his sight at a young age, Lusseyran never let his disability hold him back. In fact, he saw his blindness as a gift, a way of seeing the world in a different and more profound way.What I love about this book is Lusseyran's writing style. His prose is simple and direct, yet it has a poetic quality that makes the book a joy to read. He writes about his experiences with such vividness and detail that you can't help but be drawn into his world.
And There Was Light is also a book about resilience, courage, and the power of the human spirit. Lusseyran faced numerous obstacles in his life, from the loss of his sight to the horrors of war. Yet, through it all, he remained optimistic and hopeful, believing that the world was fundamentally good and that he had a role to play in making it a better place. Overall, I would highly recommend And There Was Light to anyone looking for a powerful and inspiring memoir. It's a book that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired, and one that you'll want to share with others.
- Bella, eighth-grade teen volunteer
Publisher's description:
Autobiography addressing the author's childhood experience of inner spiritual vision after becoming blind as a boy, his forming a boys' resistance group in occupied Paris at age seventeen (which later merged with Défense de la France), and his imprisonment in the Buchenwald concentration camp--