The Star Shepherd

July 1, 2019
From Connolly (Shadow Weaver) and animator Haring, in his authorial debut, this middle grade fantasy follows a premise reminiscent of beloved titles such as Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle and Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. Once, the Seven Elders transmuted their hearts to the stars to protect humanity from dark creatures, such as the fire-breathing, spiderlike vritrax. Centuries later, though, their secrets have been lost, and Star Shepherds, who re-launch fallen stars back into the starlight net, are ridiculed. Tirin; his 11-year-old son, Kyro; and their terrier, Cypher, have lived on the fringes of Drenn society ever since Kyro’s mother died and Tirin began shepherding to honor her memory. After the Star Council disregards Tirin’s assertions that star clusters are falling and being stolen, he sets off alone to find the culprit. When he doesn’t come home, however, Kyro, Cypher, and Kyro’s friend Andra must separate truth from myth and shield civilization from coming horrors. Though nebulous worldbuilding, clunky prose, and a surfeit of telling slows the narration, young readers may find this an engaging entrée into fantasy, helped along by striking black-and-white illustrations and a satisfactory ending. Ages 8–14. Agent: (for Haring) Kathleen Ortiz, New Leaf Literary; (for Connolly) Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary.

Michael Crouch's narration makes the most of the authors' inventive premise of caring for the stars. A boy named Kyro seeks to find his father, a Star Shepherd who noticed that too many stars were falling from the sky for him and his colleagues to rescue. After setting off to find out what was causing their demise, he disappeared. Crouch voices the subsequent quest that the likable, determined Kyro and his friend, Andra, undertake with aplomb. Listeners will enjoy the children's bravery and the contrast between them and the members of the dour Star Council. The story's emotions sweep listeners along, smoothing over awkward world-building, especially the story's geography, as Kyro is driven to accomplish his mission. E.J.F. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine