Search This Blog







2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (6)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana (1)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (2)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio (2)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee
- Texas (2)
- Utah (1)
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (2)
- Austria (1)
- Canada (2)
- England (10)
- Ireland (1)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Bahamas (1)
- Vatican City (1)





2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge








Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo



2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge





Wednesday, December 23, 2020
MG Sisters Novel Warm and Hopeful
5:34 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Twelve-year-old Libby Monroe is great at science, being optimistic, and talking to her famous, accomplished friends (okay, maybe that last one is only in her head). She’s not great at playing piano, sitting still, or figuring out how to say the right thing at the right time in real life. Libby was born with Turner Syndrome, and that makes some things hard. But she has lots of people who love her, and that makes her pretty lucky.
When her big sister Nonny tells her she’s pregnant, Libby is thrilled—but worried. Nonny and her husband are in a financial black hole, and Libby knows that babies aren’t always born healthy. So she strikes a deal with the universe: She’ll enter a contest with a project about Cecilia Payne, the first person to discover what stars are made of. If she wins the grand prize and gives all that money to Nonny’s family, then the baby will be perfect. Does she have what it takes to care for the sister that has always cared for her? And what will it take for the universe to notice? (Plot summary from publisher)
When her big sister Nonny tells her she’s pregnant, Libby is thrilled—but worried. Nonny and her husband are in a financial black hole, and Libby knows that babies aren’t always born healthy. So she strikes a deal with the universe: She’ll enter a contest with a project about Cecilia Payne, the first person to discover what stars are made of. If she wins the grand prize and gives all that money to Nonny’s family, then the baby will be perfect. Does she have what it takes to care for the sister that has always cared for her? And what will it take for the universe to notice? (Plot summary from publisher)
What Stars Are Made of, a debut middle-grade novel by Sarah Allen, tells a warm, uplifting story about one girl's quest to help the person who's always been there for her. There's a lot to love about the tale. As a Type 1 diabetic, I'm always excited when I find books that deal with medical conditions, especially when they're geared toward young people. I love that these stories educate readers about these conditions while also teaching empathy and understanding. Because Allen has Turner Syndrome, Libby's experience with the disease comes across as very authentic. Libby is also a kind, compassionate heroine, which makes it easy to root for her success. I especially like her obsession with science and hope it encourages more girls to study STEM subjects. The plot of What Stars Are Made Of is compelling, the prose is assured, and the characters are likable. Although I didn't end up loving this one, I definitely liked it. I'll be on the watch for more from this debut author.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
1 comment:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)

Readin'
Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee
Listenin'
The Daisy Children by Sofia Grant
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
April 2026 Reading Wrap Up6 hours ago
-
Young World6 hours ago
-
Sunday Salon: May 10, 20266 hours ago
-
Holiday Hideaway: A Short Story9 hours ago
-
The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr9 hours ago
-
Cross Her Heart15 hours ago
-
Holy Island by L J Ross15 hours ago
-
Odessa By Gabrielle Sher17 hours ago
-
Book Lust18 hours ago
-
Week in Review #191 day ago
-
Buckeye (2025) - Patrick Ryan1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Go Gentle by Maria Semple2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
A Review of Mayday Mayday Mayday3 days ago
-
-
-
-
May TBR1 week ago
-
Books read in April1 week ago
-
-
-
Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney3 months ago
-
10 Book Covers with Unique Typography3 months ago
-
-
-
Sunday Post #5681 year ago
-
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus1 year ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?2 years ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?3 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ▼ 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction






I didn't know what Turner Syndrome was, so this book has already spurred someone to learn something. Too bad it was a stellar book.
ReplyDelete