Book Review: Island of Stars
It’s always a bit difficult to read the books of people you know, or even know sorta second or thirdhand. There’s always the fear that you might not enjoy their book and that uncomfortableness might ensue. I don’t know Carrie Brownell, but I do know the Sarah Gabriel mentioned in the Acknowledgements. As Sarah edited this book, she told me again and again that I needed to read it and that I would like it. I trust Sarah. If she tells me to read something or watch something, I know I’m going to like it, but there is still that little bit of discomfort because what if I don’t like this one? Silly fears. Silly, silly fears.
As I snuggled in to read this middle-grade historical fairy tale, I wondered to myself at what point I would get hooked, what line would be the moment I thought, “Yes, this is it, this is a good book.”
Well, it was the first line.
As soon as I sat down and read “The Rainbow was an extraordinary clipper ship.” I was hooked and happy. Few things fill me with absolutely sheer delight and all the childhood feels like ships from the Golden Age of Sail. They always bring the right cocktail of romance, elegance, imagination, and terror. Ships like the Rainbow so often end up being characters in their own right, which is why this still happens today in Star Trek, Firefly, and Stargate. “And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” (Sea-Fever by John Masefield)
I’ve been reading books about ships my whole life and I always want to read more. This book weaves the high seas adventures of the Golden Age of Sail with Irish folklore, and then brings it all into a modern setting. I could not have been happier with this combination because it is what I desired in childhood. I read folktales and I read history and I read fairy tales and longed for my own adventures. I don’t know about other kids, but I feared the time of adventure, real adventure, was long past, that I had missed it by being born in a more modern era. This book allows a kid like I was to find the adventure I longed for.
The book is beautifully written. I underlined many wonderful descriptions that captured my imagination. Description of trees, the sea, the sand, and stars were all painted into the imagination without becoming heavy-handed. Not only was my inner child being fed, but so was my inner writer. Nothing pleases me more than a wonderful description, even one line, about the beauty of trees. (I am not channeling Tolkien…right?)
What I found most refreshing about this book was the children. They were respectful and obedient. Not perfect by any means, and certainly not dull or lacking in imagination and adventure, but they reminded me of how I and my siblings would have behaved, of how we were raised. They felt real. They did not need disrespect and disregard for the adults to have an adventure and save the day. I loved that. I think if I had read this book as a 12-year-old tomboy, I would have disliked Betty and loved Bert. (I still loved Bert.) I would have felt that Betty was too soft and frightened and cried too much. But looking at her through the eyes of an adult, I feel like she is true to form. My nieces, who aren’t growing up with a bunch of boys like I did, are very much like Betty, and that is a good thing. I would have found her a kindred spirit when it came to imagination and fairy tales. Her feeling when she sees the stars is exactly how I felt. I loved that. I adored Bert. What a boy. What a real boy. I loved how the book unapologetically had Bert look out for the girls, lead the way, and join his father up front. I love how none of the girls felt insulted by this. The men in this book are protective and leading, and the girls let them be. No girl bosses to be found. What a drink of cool water in a parched land. The sibling aspects were so well done. I laughed so hard at some points and nodded at how familiar others felt. This is how siblings behave. It felt so very real. I loved that. The scene where they are at Oak Lair collecting acorns and preparing to be stormed by pirates felt like it had been pulled from my own childhood. That was magic.
I appreciated the parental insight this book included. We got little snippets of how the children’s parents were dealing with things and a realistic reaction from the parents at the end. I also appreciated Cordy’s understanding of the parents even as a woman without children. I loved Cordy so much because she was such a mother to the children, especially the twins. I think it is great for children to read that their parents aren’t always sure of what they’re doing and that they have to wrestle with their decisions. This is a good age to give kids the opportunity to see their parents in a new light as people, not just mom and dad. I love the choice the twins' father made to be a father first always. This made me love him immediately.
There is a wholesome air in this book that is like visiting the sea on vacation after you’ve been in the city far too long.
As for the plot twist… I’m going to try not to give spoilers, but I will say I was so pleased with the plot twist. I was getting nervous as I went along because if there wasn’t a plot twist, I was going to be very disappointed. Then it came! Huzzah!
I think this book gives parents and children lots to talk about. It not only can be used to introduce your kids to certain points in history but also to different folklore and fairy tales. It gives you a chance to develop the idea of the Perilous Realms. That fey and faerie are beautiful but not safe. It provides good platforms for discussing choices. This book won’t teach your kids bad behavior or to cut the grownups out of their lives, but it will let you talk to them about how not everything is what it seems and to be discerning and careful. It will also provide parents an opportunity to talk about life and life ending. All in all, a safe book, but not a stale, boring, or bland book.
“It is said to be a reminder that women have the power to change the world through seemingly small acts of heroism when they stand on the side of truth.” This line literally gave me chills.
