How The Light Gets In

Plot

The story follows Ruth Neufeld, who faces the devastating loss of her husband and father-in-law while they were working for a relief organization overseas. Seeking solace, Ruth travels to Wisconsin with her young daughters and mother-in-law, Mabel, to bury her husband. She hopes that the Mennonite community will provide a quiet space for her to grieve and figure out her next steps.
Upon arrival, Ruth and her family are welcomed by Elam, her husband’s cousin, who invites them to stay at his cranberry farm during the harvest season. As Ruth navigates her grief, she finds comfort in the beauty of the land and the hard work involved in farming. Through her budding friendship with Elam, she begins to rediscover hopes and dreams she thought were lost forever. However, the story takes an unexpected turn when Ruth must confront the possibility that her husband may not be dead after all, leading her to make an impossible choice about her future.