Review: Stars We Steal

The Stars we Steal
by Alexa Donne

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: February 4th, 2020

Alexa Donne crafts stunning, three-dimensional characters and a thrilling plot in The Stars We Steal, somehow managing to fill every chapter with charming dialogue, sweet romance, and heart wrenching anguish all at the same time. While initially appearing simple, the story quickly unravels to reveal a gripping turn of events that leave the reader starry-eyed, if you will. Even the moon’s gravitational pull cannot tear Leo and Elliot apart as they battle every challenge in their rocky relationship – but will the crater between them eventually grow too large? Those of you who can’t get enough of sci fi romances, dream about outer space, and can’t wait to watch the next season of the Bachelorette ASAP are in luck, because this book is for you.

                                                          

Review: White Rose

White Rose
by Kip Wilson

Publisher: Versify
Publication Date: April 2, 2019

Author Kip Wilson has created a beautiful portrait of resistance in the face of grave danger with WHITE ROSE. Written in verse, this novel is a brilliant retelling of the boldness displayed by a young group of German students who put their lives on the line in order to fight for what they believed in. Told from the point of view of Sophie Scholl, the only known girl in the White Rose Nazi resistance group, the novel explores the concept of freedom and what the consequences of passivity are. 

If you couldn’t already tell, I loved this book. While I am typically wary of books that are not in prose form, I could not have been more pleased with the way WHITE ROSE was written. The poetry and negative space lend themselves so well to the telling of this story that, at times, I forgot I was reading poetry at all. Not only is WHITE ROSE a heartbreaking true story, the message it conveys also feels eerily modern. Sophie is constantly preaching the importance of standing out in the face of injustice. I was both deeply moved and deeply disturbed by this novel, and sincerely encourage any reader to give it a chance. After all, you might just finish it feeling inspired to spark change - much like Sophie Scholl.

Review: Lost Stars

Lost Stars
by Lisa Selin Davis

Publisher: HMH Books
Publication Date: October 4, 2016

LOST STARS by Lisa Selin Davis is a coming of age novel that demonstrates the close bond between siblings and the profound influence that death has upon adolescents. Davis thoughtfully incorporates a multitude of references to 80's music and pop culture into the plot, using song lyrics to highlight protagonist Carrie’s development throughout the novel. While this novel may seem cliched at first (the ever-present love interest, tyrannical father, absent mother, and teenage angst tropes are all featured in this novel), the story ultimately centers around Carrie’s attempts to cope with her elder sister’s death. I found this novel to be engaging and thoughtfully written, and thought that the well-placed astronomy metaphors were distinct without being the focus of the story.