The Same Stuff as Stars

Rating:
Summary: Don't judge a book by its cover
Review: Amazingly true to life of how some children feel who live in really tough family situations. The social worker in me likes to read to get away from the real life of work, but I love Paterson's work and the book was a Christmas gift (signed!!!) Once again, Paterson writes of difficult subjects and finds redemption. She is a glorious writer and makes us believe again and again that good can come out of pain.

Rating:
Summary: Same Stuff as Stars
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Katherine Paterson's book Same Stuff as Stars because it is an excellent example of realistic fiction. The themes that are present in this book are common to many children in today's society. Imagine being motherless and fatherless and having to rely mainly on yourself for support. Angel is eleven years old in this story and is trying to take care of her younger brother. She is desperate for a real home, unlike her current situation of living with her poor-grandmother. A stranger who is able to explain the night skies is truly all she has to make a difference in her life. Will this stranger's wisdom be enough to eliminate her loneliness and overcome her tragic circumstances she faces each day?

Rating:
Summary: Same Stuff as Stars
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Katherine Paterson's book Same Stuff as Stars because it is an excellent example of realistic fiction. The themes that are present in this book are common to many children in today's society. Imagine being motherless and fatherless and having to rely mainly on yourself for support. Angel is eleven years old in this story and is trying to take care of her younger brother. She is desperate for a real home, unlike her current situation of living with her poor-grandmother. A stranger who is able to explain the night skies is truly all she has to make a difference in her life. Will this stranger's wisdom be enough to eliminate her loneliness and overcome her tragic circumstances she faces each day?

Rating:
Summary: A very moving story
Review: I thought this story was a very powerful story about Angel and her little brother, Bernie who goes through hard times. It's touching and shows how some kids have to live. It showed me how hard Angel and Bernie had it, Their Dad in Jail and their mother who was negligent. Does have some bad language, but I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: my tirade on cover art
Review: OK, you would think that Katherine Paterson is famous enough to get decent cover art on her books. Haven't read this one yet--sounds intriguing, but the cover art is so pathetic I'm not sure I want to pick it up! What is wrong with publishers? Can't they tell that this cover art is just horrid?

Rating:
Summary: Loved it...
Review: Patterson's story of Angel will grab you from page one. She is a survivor, as she deals with one flaky mom and a convicted father.
Then when she befriends the starman, you see her find even more self-confidence. I loved the star metaphor in this book, and the relationships of brother, Grandma, and Angel. I plan to share excerpts with my middle schoolers.

Rating:
Summary: Empathetic!
Review: The Same Stuff as Stars is a realistic story of a child, Angel, struggling to keep her family together and find love for her lonely heart. In this struggle, Angel faces some of the most difficult circumstances a child can face. Her father is in jail and has a failing relationship with his grandmother and Angel's mother. Angel has to be the parent for her younger, defiant brother (the book starts with him starting a fire in the living room). Her mother is abusive and selfish. Angel and her brother have been shuffled around, including in foster homes, and end up at their great-granmother's. Angel, despite these circumstances, is committed to keeping her family together and stays true to the people that give her love...and even her mother.
Newbery Medal winning author, Katherine Paterson, does a wonderful job of writing a simple story about such complex issues. The various family member characters and their struggles are developed, so the family background that lead to Angel's life is revealed for the reader. As Angel works through the hardships your feelings are with her, hoping for the best as she does. The issues presented in the book help the reader understand the complexities of families, and what is seen on the outside does not always clue us in to what may be happening in a person's life. Paterson works in unforeseen events in the book that make you feel for Angel but also curious as to what the outcome will be. The characters do not always make the best decisions with the events, but even still a lesson emerges from each incident. The main lesson taught is to reach out to others. The characters that reach out to Angel give her love, someone to depend on, and hope. They teach the reader to also reach out to others. Among the sadness of this child's life are glimses of hope and love. The book ends with a glimmer of hope, making it true to life. Angel is not sure of the future, which is how life is, but with hope and love from others, life is much easier to handle.

Rating:
Summary: Whats the cover got to do with it?
Review: This is a compelling and complex read, what one expects from Paterson. Richly images allow the reader to understand the pain and conflict of the main character.

Rating:
Summary: The Same Stuff as Stars
Review: This is a story about two young kids who grow up together basically by themselves. Their mother still has plenty of emotional baggage since their father has been in jail basically the kids' entire life. The story captures you in its realism portrayed in our everyday world from the point of view of a young girl. She struggles to find hope in her world when everything conveniently goes wrong or everyone abandons her. A stranger she meets teaches her about the stars through a telescope and finds a glimpse of hope in her life. This is a remarkable story that is fun and entertaining for kids and adults.

Rating:
Summary: Hard reading
Review: When I say hard reading, I don't mean it was a difficult level or had challenging vocabulary. The story was difficult to handle- an 11 year old girl who feels compelled to make excuses for her drunk and irresponsible mother and her imprisoned father.
Paterson is an absolute master at breaking our hearts and yet making the situations mundane/ expected for her characters.
Her strength is opening up the readers heart and (subtly) cramming in the characters' emotions. From Angel's desperation at enrolling in school without being discovered, to her newly discovered passion for books and astronomy, all emotions ring true with the reader and our hearts soar and fall with her's. I plan on buying multiple copies for my nieces for Christmas. Katherine Paterson has yet another fantastic entry in her infallible collection.