All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a heart-wrenching story told from two perspectives during World War II. The book follows Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French girl, and Werner Pfennig, a German orphan. While trying to escape ongoing German occupation, Marie-Laure and her father reside on the coast of France. Meanwhile, Werner’s intrinsic talent for engineering radios ultimately causes the two characters to cross paths in Saint-Malo.
Doerr’s ability to capture multiple perspectives on the war allows for a deeper understanding of contrasting morals and how the choices people make often shape the trajectory of one’s character. Werner is troubled and faces the struggle of being a part of the Nazi regime. Marie-Laure on the other hand, is resilient and brave, allowing her to navigate a complex world being blind. The book is filled with an array of deep emotions as war is filled with both tragedy and hope. Doerr does an outstanding job fulfilling intricate storylines and creating a lasting imprint on readers.