There’s something about the holiday season that just begs for cozy books, and Let It Glow delivers. Authors Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy have teamed up to write a middle-grade novel for Christmas and Hanukkah. In the book, a chance meeting between Aviva Davis and Holly Martin upends both of their lives. They both knew they were adopted, but they didn’t know they had an identical twin … until now.
The two meet at tryouts for a holiday pageant. Whereas Aviva celebrates Hanukkah, Holly celebrates Christmas — and each girl is super curious about others’ culture and family traditions. In a plot reminiscent of The Parent Trap, the twins decide to switch houses for a few days, just until the pageant. Throw in a search for a letter from their birth mother, and you have a modern-day family swap with some twists.
Levy and Meyer are a perfect pair to write this fun and immersive book, and their writing styles are so matched that the story reads seamlessly. Aviva and Holly are both tweens, so there’s plenty of texting; and while in some books that can feel gratuitous, in this book it’s done in a way that propels the story forward.
The characters’ description of the holidays evokes nostalgia and excitement. Aviva recounts, “Everyone stood there for a minute, watching the [three] flickering candles as they danced, their reflection in the window making it seem like there were six of them. It felt like an important moment. I didn’t know why, but it felt good to be a part of it.” And Holly says, “ … me and Mom in our coziest pajamas and Gramps in his ratty old robe and slippers, sipping coffee and hot cocoa with extra dollops of whipped cream. Ooohing and aahing over every little gift in our stockings. The sweet smells wafting through the apartment while cinnamon rolls baked in the oven.”
Levy and Meyer address a number of issues, including the challenges that Jews of color face, the desire for one’s family to be more observant, and how to present oneself as Jewish in a world that largely isn’t, especially during the holidays. These issues make the characters more vivid and keep them from becoming tropes.
If you’re looking for a fun and heartwarming book to read or gift this holiday season, Let it Glow is the perfect choice. While it’s a twist on a well-known story, its familiarity is part of what makes it so cozy.
Jaime Herndon is a medical writer who also writes about parenting and pop culture in her spare time. Her writing can be seen on Kveller, Undark, Book Riot, and more. When she’s not working or homeschooling, she’s at work on an essay collection.
