Made of Stars
Gr 9 Up—Told from alternating points of view, this story of friendship and mystery will draw readers into a lyrical and lush world. The two narrators are half-siblings, Ashlin and Hunter. All through their childhood, the two have spent their summers at their father's house, inseparable from their best friend, Chance. In Hunter's words, "Chance was strangeness and whimsy in human form. Chance was our friend unlike any other friend Ashlin and I had ever had. Chance was our summer." Through all those summers, the siblings never meet Chance's parents and know almost nothing about his home life. Now circumstances have changed; they've graduated high school, their dad is recovering from a debilitating injury, and a recent crime has Chance and his family under suspicion. Ashlin and Hunter begin uncovering the answers behind Chance's many mysteries. Secrets and lies create hardships and suspense, while love and friendship fuel self-acceptance and discovery. Made of Stars is part-mystery/thriller, part-romance and coming-of-age story. The three characters are portrayed with a mastery and authenticity sure to draw in teen readers. This LGBT novel is recommended for general purchase, especially for libraries with fans of York's Hushed (Entangled Teen, 2011).—Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library