'Star': Young adult fiction novel highlights dyslexia, adopt-don't-shop, friendship
'Star': Young adult fiction novel highlights dyslexia, adopt-don't-shop, friendship
BOOK REVIEW: 'American Dog' series is full of Lucy Ricardo antics (read: terrible plans)
I was unsure if I would enjoy "Star" after trying to read "Brave." I was ecstatic about "Poppy" but noticed the author loves to have a Lucy Ricardo scene (read: a super bad plan that makes sense to no one but the main character). In "Brave," two plans were so infuriating to the point I could not even finish the book. (And they are even more annoying to me to recall on the Fourth of July. Hint: Fireworks.)
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But "Star" was more along the line of "Poppy," a painfully naive plan but not initially dangerous. You can tell Julian (the main character) and Bryan (his friend) meant well. They’re just two pre-teen boys with a terrible master plan.
As with most young adult fiction books (and sadly, adulthood, usually at a job), there is an antagonist. In "Poppy," there was a mean girl (Sophia). In "Star," there are what I would consider to be three bullies: Julian's brother (Henry) and two idiotic classmates (Hunter and Isabelle).
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“Star” is a totally different book from “Poppy” outside of that. “Star” is about a 12-year-old boy with dyslexia (Julian) who was sent to Ms. Khan's pet shelter to get more focused. Considering how much he loves dogs, his parents saw the potential in helping his grades and overall discipline. And as eclectic as his classmate/fellow volunteer Bryan is, maybe Julian would find a potential friend.
Whenever I think of dyslexia, I think of Theo Huxtable (from “The Cosby Show”) so I already had a general idea since the ‘90s about the learning disability. This book explored it more for those who do not know.
And whenever I think of Australian Shepherds, I think of how the only one I could never win over — after walking 99 dogs in the past five years — was this breed. That dog just would not let me touch nor leash him. All I could do was leave treats on the floor. I have, however, walked and dogsat a deaf dog (Golden Retriever), who was also initially hostile because he always felt like I was sneaking up on him. So the idea of trying to train a deaf Australian Shepherd is a lot to imagine. I was rooting for Julian (and Bryan) though.
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I will not spoil the climactic scenes nor ending, but I will say the following:
The author has a common theme about the power of forgiveness. I, on the other hand, am a grudge holder so bullies are NEVER going to be OK to me, especially ones who magically become nicer after you do something that benefits them. Hard pass.
If there has been a treasure for hundreds of years, best believe many others have already tried to get it.
Without a will or an estate plan, walking into Mrs. Winderhouser's home for any reason without permission is breaking and entering. In real life, attorneys and the police would have almost certainly been a factor in one specific scene.
But fiction is what it is, and I am an adult reading this book, so my perspective is a bit more skeptical. I still cried tears of joy at all the end results so I eventually came around. Overall, great read.
Shamontiel is a dog lover to her core: 592 completed walks with 99 dogs, eight dog-housesittings and six dog boardings at the time of this publication.
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