The Hint of Light

The Hint of Light is narrated by three characters: Margaret, Kyle, and Ally. How does each of these characters bring a unique perspective to the novel?

“Motherhood is not for the weak.” Several forms of parenting relationships are featured in the novel: mother-son, mother-daughter, father-daughter, and grandmother-granddaughter. How did the characters each approach their parental relationship? What did they do well, and what could they have improved upon?

Kyle suggested that battling his addiction is not just a day-to-day struggle but hour by hour. Given the unlimited availability of a legal drug such as alcohol, what are some ways a recovering addict might adjust their life and lifestyle to function within society?

After meeting Ally, Kyle was determined to overcome his addiction in order to be worthy of a relationship with his daughter. Do you believe in second chances?

After the loss of her son, Margaret obsessed over finding his secret daughter. How did searching for her granddaughter help her overcome her grief?

Do you think Hannah was justified in keeping Kyle out of Ally’s childhood?

Kimber’s last words to her brother were “I love you. Unconditionally.” How can family members support those with addiction while avoiding enabling them?

Margaret and Martin have a long-lasting but complicated relationship, fraught with secrets and conflicts. How would you characterize their marriage?

The priest told Margaret, “The secrets we bury deepest can hurt us the most.” Do you find this an accurate statement? How might Margaret’s and Kyle’s lives have differed had she not insisted they keep the attack secret?

Margaret realized “Kimber is judging me through today’s #MeToo standards, not yesterday’s reality. Back then I would’ve been blamed.” How fair is it to judge decisions made decades ago using the socially accepted standards of today?

Kyle was waiting for his birthday to introduce Ally to his parents. How might his fate have changed had they been introduced sooner?

“Our scars of grief are proof of having loved.” Each of the characters processed their grief differently. How else could they have supported each other to heal more completely?

As protective mothers, Margaret’s and Hannah’s parenting narratives paralleled each other. How did their choices—both good and bad—affect their respective children’s lives?

The novel’s title—The Hint of Light—alludes to an inflection point or an aha moment. For Margaret, the break in the clouds suggests newfound hope for a brighter future. In Hannah’s case, the interpretation was more ominous. How might someone’s unconditional love of another skew their perception of events?

Reimagine how the story might have unfolded had Kyle and/or Margaret received effective therapy after his trauma.

While Hannah seemingly avoided legal consequences for her actions, was justice served on some level?

What role did societal norms play in The Hint of Light? How were Kyle, Margaret, and Hannah’s choices dictated by expectations of others—those they knew and society in general?

After reading The Hint of Light, who do you feel was the true victim? Did your opinions shift while reading the novel?