Every Soul a Star

Bree, Ally, and Jack are young teens who are confronted with big challenges as their lives intersect at a solar eclipse. The story is told from three points of view and narrated accordingly. Jessica Almasy, Ali Ahn, and Mark Turetsky splendidly present totally realistic young people. Ahn portrays Bree, who wants to be a model. Ahn makes her dislike of the wilderness come through loud and clear. Almasy enthusiastically plays Ally, who loves living in the campground with no TV or computer and hopes to spot a new comet. Turetsky portrays Jack, an introvert who signs on to help his teacher guide the eclipse tour. Turetsky projects Jack's joy as he discovers new skills and talents while exploring astronomy. Audio is perfect for this multivoiced story. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

October 13, 2008
Confirming her mastery of the middle-grade novel, Mass (Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
) combines astronomy and storytelling for a well-balanced look at friendships and the role they play in shaping identity. Three narrators take turns: Ally, who lives with her parents and younger brother at the Moon Shadow Campground and loves every tree and every rock on it, but most especially the stars above it; glamour-loving Bree, who announces to readers that she must have been “switched at birth” to explain her presence among physicist parents and a geeky younger sister; and Jack, who is helping his science teacher lead a solar eclipse tour to the Moon Shadow to make up his failing grade. The trio's paths converge because Ally's parents have sold the Moon Shadow to Bree's, and everyone meets up at the campgrounds during a major eclipse. The voices reflect the distinct personalities, and while the outcome is never in doubt—each character discovers unexpected powers of adaptability and new talents—Mass keeps the developments believable. Information about solar eclipses and astronomy is carefully woven into the plot to build drama and will almost certainly intrigue readers. Ages 8–12.