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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
A Light Within by Ann Nolder Heinz begins in 1850s California, with Cora Fielding, a young woman determined to study medicine. Her father is a doctor, and her twin brother, Carl, is set to follow in his footsteps despite not wanting to. Although Cora is intelligent and well-prepared, she’s told she can’t attend medical school because she’s female. Unwilling to accept that, she leaves home and travels to San Francisco, where she begins to create a new identity. With the help of her Aunt Lizzie and others, she sets a bold path in motion to pursue her education. When things don’t go as expected, a new direction begins to take shape. Cora and Carl leave for Philadelphia, where they will both be able to study. There she meets Peter, and their connection begins to shape both her personal and academic life. Carl, on the other hand, meets more than one woman who catches his eye—one who turns him away, one who breaks his heart, and one who supports his love of creating art. Which will he ultimately choose? Will Cora be able to have a medical career and a family of her own?
I really enjoyed reading A Light Within by Ann Nolder Heinz. It’s set during one of my favorite time periods, and I found myself easily pulled into Cora’s journey. The writing is natural and steady, and the historical setting came through without taking over the story. Cora stood out to me right away—she’s strong-willed, but also thoughtful. More often than not, she acts with her heart and then thinks things through with her head. Throughout the entire book, I was rooting for her dream of being a doctor one day to come true. Cora’s relationship with her brother Carl had both moments of bonding and others where they were at odds, which helped balance her. The connection between Cora and Peter happens slowly, but it feels right that way. Readers who like historical fiction with determined heroines and personal journeys will find a lot to love here.
