Truesight by David Stahler, Jr. has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. It is the first book in the “Truesight” trilogy.
Truesight by David Stahler, Jr. has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. It is the first book in the “Truesight” trilogy.
Jacob lives in a futuristic colony called Harmony Station. Like all of the inhabitants, Jacob is intentionally blind due to genetic engineering. Many years earlier, a blind couple developed the philosophy of Truesight, which now governs Harmony. They believed humans were happier and less distracted by worldly wealth and physical beauty without their eyesight. Truesight proponents created a colony based on Eastern spiritualism and puritanical principles where people lived simple, sightless lives.
The people of Harmony use sounder devices that give off unique pitches for each individual. This allows them to move about with ease and know who is nearby. Jacob’s mother is a musician, and his father is a laborer. Each person is assigned a career path at the onset of adolescence, and Jacob is nearing age 13. He would like to be a musician like his mother, but she urges him not to get his hopes up.
His mother tutors a promising young musician named Delaney, the high councilor’s daughter. Delaney is like an older sister to Jacob. She talks to him and others about her desire to leave Harmony, but everyone is convinced she’s depressed and doesn’t mean it. Jacob runs into her one night when both are out after curfew. A delivery is being made from another planet, and Delaney wants to escape on the transport vehicle. The next day, Jacob hears Delaney is dead. Everyone calls it a suicide, but Jacob isn’t convinced.
Jacob begins to feel strange pains and flashes around his eyes. Over time, he develops the ability to see. He’s afraid to tell anyone, but he’s in awe of the shapes and natural wonders he can experience. He questions whether his sight is a gift or a curse, however, when he starts learning things he wishes he didn’t know about his family and community.
He’s surprised, for example, to see his parents’ angry body language toward one another. Jacob later sees his father and other workers eating the food they’re supposed to be harvesting for the townspeople. He watches another man steal food from the community storehouse. He’s most devastated when he sees his mother embracing and kissing another man.
Jacob finally tells his friend, Egan, about his sight. Egan reports Jacob’s confession, and the council brings Jacob in for questioning. The high councilor orders Jacob to undergo a surgery that will restore his blindness.
Using a device called a finder, Jacob detects Delaney’s signal and realizes she is not dead. He privately tells the high councilor he knows Delaney is alive and accuses him of deception. The councilor grows angry and indicates Delaney will get what she deserves. He also says, with a malicious wink, that he hopes there won’t be any complications with the boy’s surgery.
Jacob realizes the councilor has only pretended to be blind all these years. Jacob makes a quick escape before the high councilor can harm him. After gathering a few supplies, Jacob runs for the territory outside of Harmony. He hopes to locate Delaney.
Truesight philosophy is partially based on the beliefs of the Puritans.
Truesight philosophy suggests that anyone who is physically sighted is blind to the truly important aspects of life. Sighted people are considered arrogant in their search for ease of life and their obsession with material things. After Delaney’s alleged death, her father suggests that she’s better off. He says she’s gone deep into the darkness and now understands Truesight in a way she never did in life.
The high councilor physically harms his daughter and puts his status above her safety and well-being. He lies to his community about his daughter’s death and about being blind. Jacob’s parents keep secrets from him and each other.
The Lord’s name is used in vain a few times. The words h— and p— also appear. The high councilor slaps his daughter across the face when she tells him she wants to leave Harmony.
Jacob sees his mother embrace and kiss a man who isn’t his father.
Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books.
Lying: Harmony Station law strictly forbids lying or keeping information from others. Jacob’s mother lies for him a few times when he forgets to carry his sounder device. When Jacob gains his sight, he discovers many people are lying or keeping secrets, including both of his parents.
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