A Glasshouse of Stars

A Glasshouse of Stars

By Author / Illustrator

Shirley Marr, Kathrin Honesta, Elisa Paganelli

Genre

Representation & Inclusion

Age range(s)

9+

Publisher

Usborne Publishing Ltd

ISBN

9781474991087

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

10-06-2021

Synopsis

Meixing Lim and her family have arrived in the New Land to begin a New Life. Everything is scary and different. Their ever-changing house is confusing and she finds it hard to understand the other children at school. Yet in her magical glasshouse, with a strange black-and-white cat, Meixing finds a place to dream.But then Meixing's life comes crashing down in unimaginable ways. Only her two new and unexpected friends can help. By being brave together, they will learn how to make the stars shine brighter.


A Glasshouse of Stars is based on the author's childhood and beautifully illustrates the importance of friendship, kindness and love.  "A rare and beautiful masterpiece; deeply heartfelt, dreamily magical, and glitteringly hopeful. I adored it!" Sophie Anderson, bestselling author of The House with Chicken Legs

Reviews

Louisa

A Glasshouse of Stars is the story of Meixing arriving in the New Land with her family to begin a New Life. Everything is different and scary: their new house, school and even her parents' behaviour. When disaster strikes, life becomes scarier still and yet Meixing finds friends in unexpected places and reserves of resilience she didn't know she had. Throughout it all, her imagination becomes a refuge and strength. In a run-down old glasshouse, with an odd black and white cat for company she finds the healing power of dreaming.


Shirley Marr writes deliberately in the second person to give the reader the opportunity to walk in Meixing's shoes - which are really hers (the book grew from Marr's own experiences as a child immigrant). It takes a bit of getting used to but then creates a powerful sense of connection between the reader and the story. At one point, Meixing describes things as "Heart-breaking and heart-mending all at once". It's a good description for the book as a whole. At points it is horribly sad but there is always hope; and it ends on a note of courageous optimism.


A Glasshouse of Stars is a great book for Upper Key Stage 2 to help tackle issues of immigration, racism and belonging. It could be used to build empathy in those who haven't had to leave a home, language and country behind, and to help those who have lost all these things to know that they aren't alone.


272 pages / Reviewed by Louisa Farrow, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

 

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