Book 1 of 2019
Title: Girl Made Of Stars
Author: Ashley Herring Blake
Goodreads
Synopsis:
"I need Owen to explain this. Because yes, I do know that Owen would never do that, but I also know Hannah would never lie about something like that."
Mara and Owen are about as close as twins can get. So when Mara's friend Hannah accuses Owen of rape, Mara doesn't know what to think. Can the brother she loves really be guilty of such a violent crime? Torn between the family she loves and her own sense of right and wrong, Mara is feeling lost, and it doesn't help that things have been strained with her ex-girlfriend and best friend since childhood, Charlie.
As Mara, Hannah, and Charlie navigate this new terrain, Mara must face a trauma from her own past and decide where Charlie fits in her future. With sensitivity and openness, this timely novel confronts the difficult questions surrounding consent, victim blaming, and sexual assault.
My Review:
For how short this book is, it covered many topics that need to be discussed. I knew I was going to like this book but I definitely didn't think my first read of 2019 was going to be a five star read.
Mara is a twin. Owen and her are really close Gemini twins. They tell each other stories of stars while sitting on the roof at night. They are so close, and even closer when Mara breaks up with her girlfriend Charlie. That is, until Mara's friend Hannah accuses Owen of rape.
That is not a spoiler because it's literally in the synopsis. Don't throw me to the wolves.
This book goes through Mara's confusion of this. Do I believe my brother, a person I've known since the womb? Or my best friend, who I trust with everything and know she wouldn't lie about this?
Mara is a strong character. She figures this out on her own, who to believe, while also dealing with her own trauma. Her development in this book is phenomenal. She goes from not knowing what to believe, to realizing she knew all along who she believed. She faced her own battles and tries to overcome them by speaking out.
This book is so genuine and relatable to the real world and how people treat cases like this. Especially in high school, when everything is turned into something worse.
This book also holds LGBTQ+ representation. As I'm a straight person, I'm not entirely sure if the rep was good or not. I felt like it was done well and nothing about it felt demeaning. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
If you like reading books about serious topics, this is the book for you. This book is just amazing. It could change lives.
5/5 Stars
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