The Constellations Inside • Girl Made of Stars

I’ve been trying to figure out how to write my review for Girl Made of Stars for some time now. (I’m almost tempted to just direct you to my friend Mishma’s review, because it’s so, so good. Please go and read it.) I really loved this book, but it’s also one of the most difficult books I’ve read this year solely because of the story. (Before anything else, I want to mention trigger warnings for rape and sexual harassment.) 

Girl Made of Stars about Mara, who is forced to confront a very difficult situation when her friend Hannah accuses Mara’s twin brother Owen of rape. As Mara navigates the emotional strain of this scenario, she’s also forced to deal with her own feelings - about her past, about her future and about the people she loves. 

From the premise alone, readers will know that this is not meant to be an easy read. It isn’t. Mara is pushed to the limits as she tries to make sense of this new world she’s now in. It’s sad. It’s complicated. It’s messed up. It’s intense. And it’s no surprise that Mara herself is struggling, and doesn’t always makes the best decisions in the wake of all she’s dealing with: the rape accusation against her twin brother, her empathy for her friend, the community response, the complicated family dynamics, her complicated feelings for her ex, and her bisexuality, to name a few. 

I was swept up in Mara’s story, and I was right there with her as she went through the highs and lows of her emotional journey .Ashley Herring Blake really managed to capture the nuances of the complex situation Mara is in with her prose, no holds barred, and it really made Girl Made of Stars such a powerful story. Well-written, emotionally gripping, thoughtful and compelling, I would certainly say that Girl Made of Stars was worth the read.

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers | Publication Date: May 15, 2018

Source: ARC received from the publisher (Thanks!)