Bern's Bookcase: Girl Made of Stars Book Review

4.5 Poignant, Emotional & Thought-Provoking Stars for Girl Made of Stars! 

This book was beautifully written. Rape, abuse, and sexuality are not easy topics. Blake did an amazing job of telling this all too important story. It was told with hope, love and healing. It doesn't sugar coat life after abuse. Yet, it was powerful in its message that victims are worth the telling. That despite a culture that often places blame on the victim they are worth believing. That there are people who will listen. That they are not simply victims - they are survivors.

This is the story of Mara. Mara is such a complex character. There was simply no way I could not adore her. She was both broken and brave, scared and strong. Mara is struggling with trauma. A secret she has kept for years that is eating away at her. It causes panic attacks, PTSD and anxiety. The silence, shame and trauma she suffered were heart wrenching to read about.

Mara is a twin. Mara & Owen are as close as twins can be. That makes it all the more complex when one of her best friends, Hannah, accuses Owen of rape. Hannah and Owen were dating. They had been sexually intimate in the past. Hannah said no, in the heat of things. Owen didn't stop. What I truly appreciated was that Blake didn't sugar coat how difficult this was for Mara. She struggled with her belief. This was her brother. How this rape affected her family, her friendships and ultimately her own truth were written with such honesty and vulnerability that it made my heart ache.

"Some parts of me are gone. Some others have come alive, woken by the need to fight, to matter, to be heard. Some parts are wary, others angry, others heartbroken. But I'm still me. I'm still moving. We all are, in some way or another." 

This is YA that transcends its label. It's a book that should be read, experienced and felt by all ages and genders.