Lord, Cynthia. A Handful of Stars. New York: Scholastic Press, 2015. Print.
This post is a long time coming. I read this one in the spring right before TLA 2015. I even took it with me on the trip. Not sure why-- I just knew I had to have it with me. Do you know that feeling? Do you carry around books you've already read just in case you want to share them?
First, the cover is quite distinctive! A blueberry on a dog's nose = Memorable and cute. And second: Cynthia Lord's Rules (Scholastic Press, 2006), Touch Blue (Scholastic Press, 2010),and Half a Chance (Scholastic Press, 2014) are already permanently part of any book list I send out when someone asks for middle grade recommendations. If you've been reading kidlit for awhile, you are probably familiar with Lord's work. Her books are a staple for my fourth grade teachers -- especially when it comes to book club titles.
Lily - the main character- lives with her grandmother and grandfather in Maine. Her dog Lucky is blind. One day Lucky runs off, in danger of being hit by a truck. But luckily, and for Lucky's sake, he is saved by Salma, the daughter of one of the migrant families that travel to Maine to pick blueberries. With this happenstance meeting, Lily and Salma begin a friendship. Though they live different lives and have different backgrounds, they are connected through a mutual love of art - and a hope that Lucky's vision can be improved with surgery. And when Salma decides to enter the Maine blueberry pageant, the story begins. Salma dreams of going to college, and since the top prize in the pageant is a savings bond, her goal is to enter and win.
One of the strength's of this book is Lord's style of bringing the reader into Lily's world. Lord describes the community and the people surrounding Lily in a way that makes the setting an integral - and rich - part of the plot. Maine, the blueberry barrens, the town where everyone knows everyone - where traditions are important.
And most definitely, this is a book about friendship. Lily becomes a friend to Salma and the two help each other. But Lily changes most from the connection. In Salma, Lily sees someone with confidence and purpose. As they prep for Salma's appearance in the contest, Lily learns a lot -- as we usually do from good friends.
Salma is an unforgettable character, and she gives readers a glimpse into the hard life of migrant farmworkers and their families. She becomes for me a sort of beacon character -- a character much like Hattie from Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson - a character that illuminates aspects of real life and shines light on our own. And definitely, Salma is a character readers will remember long after they finish the book.
This book was released in May, so it is available now.
I know I'll reread A Handful of Stars-- as I have done with all of Lord's other books.
Read more about A HANDFUL OF STARS here.