A novel about three very different teenagers finding their place in the universe
12-year-old ALLY likes the simple things in life—labyrinths, stargazing, and comet hunting. Her home, the Moon Shadow Campground, is a part of who she is. She refuses to imagine it any other way.
13-year-old BREE is popular, gorgeous (everybody says so), and a future homecoming queen for sure. Bree wears her beauty like a suit of armor. But what is she trying to hide?
13-year-old JACK, overweight and awkward, is used to spending a lot of time alone. But when opportunity knocks, he finds himself in situations he never would have imagined.
If you've never had the chance to look at the rings of Saturn through a high-powered telescope, I highly recommend it. I loved learning about astronomy while researching this book and my goal was to bring the far reaches of the universe alive for the reader, too. Ally, Bree, and Jack are forever changed when they witness a total eclipse of the sun, considered to be nature's greatest miracle. I promise the book isn't all about science-stuff, but beware, you might learn something. :o)
Nominated for the:
- South Carolina Children's Book Award, 2011
- Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award, 2010-2011
- Iowa Children's Choice Award, 2010-2011
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award, Minnesota, 2010-2011
- Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Maryland, 2011
- Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2011
- William Allen White Award, Kansas, 2011
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2010
- New Hampshire Great Stone Face Book Award 2009-10
- Chosen as a CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) Choice Selection
Book Excerpt
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Click here to hear me read the first chapter of Every Soul a Star. |
See Resources Page for astronomy-related links.
Reviews
“The astronomical details are fascinating and lyrically incorporated into the narrative. Readers who like quietly self-reflective novels like Lynne Rae Perkin’s Criss Cross or Jerry Spinelli’s “Stargirl” books will also enjoy this compelling and thought-provoking story.”
—School Library Journal *starred review*
"Confirming her mastery of the middle-grade novel, Mass combines astronomy and storytelling for a well-balanced look at friendships and the role they play in shaping identity."
—Publishers Weekly
“Ally, Bree and Jack, three very different souls, converge at the Moon Shadow Campground to witness a solar eclipse. Mass has crafted a beautiful tale of preteen angst and growth under a glorious sky. The planetary research into our universe and the world of eclipse chasers is not only impressive but woven together in a way that makes this book hard to put down.” —Modesto Bee
"In Mass’s skillful hand, the writing never becomes clichéd. From Ally’s parents and brother to the cool older boy and his grandfather, her characters ring true. And whether you know or care that Cassiopeia’s bright stars spell out the letter M, you’ll be swept away by the science in this book.
The pull of the three distinct voices and their layered stories make this novel perfect for young teens not quite ready for edgier fiction. “Every Soul a Star” is a humorous and touching novel of friendship. This is the kind of book that kids should still be reading in August 2017, the next time a solar eclipse will be on view in the US."
—Christian Science Monitor
"Mass succeeds in making the eclipse a truly moving experience for her protagonists and her readers."
—Horn Book
