A Galaxy of Sea Stars

December 15, 2019
In sixth grade, Izzy Mancini's cozy, loving world falls apart. She and her family have moved out of the cottage she grew up in. Her mother has spent the summer on Block Island instead of at home with Izzy. Her father has recently returned from military service in Afghanistan partially paralyzed and traumatized. The only people she can count on are Zelda and Piper, her best friends since kindergarten--that is, until the Haidary family moves into the upstairs apartment. At first, Izzy resents the new guests from Afghanistan even though she knows she should be grateful that Dr. Haidary saved her father's life. But despite her initial resistance (which manifests at times as racism), as Izzy gets to know Sitara, the Haidarys' daughter, she starts to question whether Zelda and Piper really are her friends for forever--and whether she has the courage to stand up for Sitara against the people she loves. Ferruolo weaves a rich setting, fully immersing readers in the largely white, coastal town of Seabury, Rhode Island. Disappointingly, the story resolves when Izzy convinces her classmates to accept Sitara by revealing the Haidarys' past as American allies, a position that put them in so much danger that they had to leave home. The idea that Sitara should be embraced only because her family supported America, rather than simply because she is a human being, significantly undermines the purported message of tolerance for all. A beautifully rendered setting enfolds a disappointing plot. (Fiction. 10-12)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2020

Gr 4-7-Sixth grader Izzy's life is changing. Her family has moved from the cottage she grew up in to the marina, her dad has returned from a deployment to Afghanistan with injuries and post traumatic stress disorder, and her mom is spending the summer on Block Island helping with her family's restaurant. In addition, her dad has invited Dr. Haidary and his family, including Sitara who wears a hijab and goes to her school, to move into the apartment upstairs. Even though Dr. Haidary saved her dad's life in Afghanistan, Izzy is initially resistant to welcoming the family. At least she has Piper and Zelda, the other two members of the Sea Stars, who have been her best friends since kindergarten. But this year is different; as Izzy starts spending more time with Sitara, she sees the racism and bullying she faces at school, and starts to question her friendship with Piper and Zelda. Numerous issues are addressed including changing family and friend dynamics and bigotry, however Izzy learns to use her voice to speak up for herself and others. While the characters and setting (a quaint coastal town) are strong, the message of tolerance does not totally resonate as Izzy has to reveal past secrets in order for her classmates to embrace Sitara. VERDICT A solid choice for libraries where titles exploring xenophobia and immigrant experiences circulate well.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.