Reviewed by David Jaggart for Readers' Favorite

Light Beneath Ashes by Boaz Anglade depicts the author's challenging childhood and how he grows to find meaning in his life amidst the chaos. Anglade lived with his mother and siblings in a dangerous neighborhood in Carrefour, Haiti, where gangs and political upheaval made life unsafe for them all. Yet, his mother was determined to give her children a better life despite their volatile environment. He describes the church as a safe haven, especially when their safety was being threatened. The memoir follows his migration to the United States as a teenager and his adjustment to American life—where cultural contrasts, racial awareness, and questions of identity deepened his understanding of self and home. Rather than tracing a simple path from hardship to triumph, Anglade’s story is one of reflection and reckoning. The later chapters explore his return to Haiti as an economist, his disillusionment with fragile institutions, and his struggle to reconcile personal ambition with the limits of development work.

Boaz Anglade's Light Beneath Ashes merges personal stories, family ties, and a close look at the political and social background of Haiti to give readers a better understanding of the country’s layout. This book is insightful, emotional, and inspiring. It depicts the author's search for identity, and having found that identity, highlights his determination (mirroring his mother's own courage) to create positive change in his homeland. Anglade's detailed account also sheds light on other critical social issues like class differences, child labor, and colorism. The author avoids painting Haitians as helpless victims, instead showing their resourcefulness and inner strength. Reading this memoir feels like listening to an immersive journey across time (both past and present) as the author reflects on what progress really means for him and Haiti. Brilliant book. Highly recommended.