Exploring grief, family and community in Let the Light In
About Author
Mother and son team Jenny Downham and Louis Hill introduce their first collaborative novel, Let the Light In.
Jenny Downham's first novel, Before I Die, is an international bestseller and was made into the blockbuster film, Now Is Good. She has also written You Against Me, which won the Waterstones Teenage Book Prize; Unbecoming; and Furious Thing.
Louis Hill is a writer and actor in a wide variety of stage, screen and voiceover work. He has written a number of plays, short films and short stories. Let the Light In is his debut novel.
Interview
Let the Light In (David Fickling Books)
January 2025
Let the Light In is a powerful dual narrative YA novel told by teenage siblings Leah and Charlie as their lives spiral into deception and despair involving a secret relationship, loan sharks and impoverishment.
After the death of their father and as a result of their mother's mental illness, Leah takes responsibility for the family but when things start to unravel, the true power of family, friends and community comes to the fore. Read a Chapter from Let the Light In
Mother and son authors Jenny Downham and Louis Hill introduce Let the Light In, and talk about what inspired their new book, why they wrote it together, and the story's themes of community and hope.
Q&A with Jenny Downham and Louis Hill, exploring mental health, family and community in Let the Light In
"We wanted to show that even in the darkest moments, there's light, connection, and hope."
1. Can you tell us a little about yourselves and what brought you into writing for young people?
We are mother and son. We are both trained actors and learned how to tell stories on our feet before the page. Jenny's published books have all been YA, so perhaps it's contagious!
Young people are wonderful to write for because they're on the cusp of adulthood and so are interested in protagonists who are stepping towards an adult world but are still bound by the rules of parents and teachers. It makes for great narrative tension. Young people are also sensitive and intelligent readers - it's a challenge to write compelling stories that keep them turning the page.
2. What is your new book, Let the Light In, about and what did you want to explore through this story about teenage siblings Leah and Charlie?
The story follows 17-year-old Leah and 15-year-old Charlie, who lost their dad three years ago and are dealing with their grief in very different ways. For Leah, it's love that brings her back to life - though it's a complicated and forbidden kind of love. And for Charlie, it's an offer that seems too good to be true - an offer that could change everything.
We wanted to explore grief, family, mental health, and community. We drew from our own experiences - the love and closeness that come with being a family but also the tensions and disagreements.
As Leah and Charlie's separate journeys unfold, secrets and lies begin to surface, and their paths collide in ways that send shockwaves through their family and community. The central question becomes: can Leah and Charlie find their way back to the light?
3. Why did you decide to focus on siblings for this novel? Is this why you have written Let the Light In as a dual narrative?
Charlie and Leah appeared during a writing challenge we set ourselves. We were immediately drawn to them and enjoyed exploring a family through a lens that was different from our own mother/son relationship. Leah is rather 'motherly' sometimes, so perhaps there's some of our own dynamic in there… It made sense that we write a character each and the dual narrative followed on from that.
4. Why did you decide to write this book together and what was the process like for you?
We'd co-written a TV pilot before, so were used to collaborating. When Covid happened, we bubbled together and wanted to keep creative. It wasn't surprising that themes of hidden grief and familial love came up in the middle of a pandemic but it did surprise us that we appeared to be writing a novel. By the end of lockdown, we had a huge, messy first draft. We thought we'd stop there but kept being drawn back...
5. What kinds of themes do you explore through Let the Light In, and why did you want to take such a careful, in depth look at young people's mental health? How did you make sure you got it right?
Family is at the heart of the story. The sibling relationship is central - Leah, as the older sister, takes on the weight of responsibilities - trying to pass her A-levels, support her family, and deal with her own grief. She gets involved in a love affair as a way of demanding happiness for herself. But it turns out to be messy and complicated.
Charlie's journey explores the impact anxiety and low self-esteem can have on a young person. His struggles show how important it is to create space for young men to talk about their mental health and reach out when they need help. This is why we've highlighted community in the book - neighbours, friends, teachers - and the importance of noticing those around you. We also highlight the benefits of talking with someone you trust.
If any of the issues raised are directly relatable to readers, there's an extensive resources list at the back of the book.
6. How did you go about researching some of the other subjects you explore, including bereavement and loan sharks?
The challenge about handling any difficult subject is to do so truthfully and sensitively. Research is imperative. If we didn't have direct lived experience of something in the book, we talked to people who did. We watched videos and documentaries and got in touch with relevant organisations.
It was vital to us that there were no 'baddies'. Every character has a backstory and good motivation for making the choices they do. We offer varied opinions through different characters and allow readers to wonder what they might do or say in such circumstances. We hope that this sparks debate.
7. Other than a great read, what would you like your readers to take from Charlie and Leah's stories?
Despite the difficult themes, this book is about love, friendship and family. We firmly believe that a novel allows a safe space to explore difficult things.
We hope our story resonates with young adults today, tackling difficult subjects like grief, broken friendships, and the challenges of growing up in a world that isn't always kind. But we also wanted to show that even in the darkest moments, there's light, connection, and hope.
8. How has the writing process worked for each of you - and would you recommend young writers try creating a story with another person?
It was mostly enormous fun and we learned a lot from each other. Louis is a fan of sharing early work. His first drafts are often visual and full of humour. Jenny tends to veer towards the dark side and is reluctant to share anything that hasn't been vigorously edited.
Working together, we were forced to move away from our comfort zones. It was great to have someone to explore new things with and to share the highs and lows. So, yes, we would recommend it.
9. Do you have other YA novels planned? What are you writing currently?
We are working on separate projects for now. Louis is writing a middle grade mystery set in two different worlds. Jenny is writing a book for older readers about a haunting.
10. What do you enjoy doing to relax and unwind from the writing process? If you read other YA authors, who are your favourites?
A great antidote to being at the desk all day is getting outside and moving. We both enjoy cycling and long walks. Jenny loves gardening too and Louis is always up for a kick about.
There are so many wonderful YA authors, it's hard to pick a favourite. Jenny will read anything by Patrice Lawrence and Kiran Millwood Hargrave because they're bound to be brilliant. Eva Ibbotson is a favourite and on the TBR list are Jenny Valentine's Us in the Before & After, Candy Gourlay's Wild Song and Danielle Jawondo's If my Words had Wings.
Louis grew up reading Robert Muchamore, Charlie Higson, Patrick Ness, and Anthony Horowitz and is always excited when they have new work out. He also enjoys Katya Balen and Louise Finch's books and he recently read Happy Head by Josh Silver and thought it was excellent.
Let the Light In
