The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Paterson
What can you say about a Katherine Paterson book? They are always warm, affirming stories about children finding hidden strength. And The Same Stuff as Stars is no different.
Angel and her brother have been abandoned, literally, in a supermarket carpark. Her father is in jail and her mother has just dumped her and walked away. The only place for Angel and her little brother to go is to her grandmother who lives in Vermont on a dying farm. Sound familiar? I thought for a long time I was reading Cynthia Voigt’s The Homecoming.
But Grandmother has a boarder living in a caravan on the property. This mysterious man is fascinated by the stars, and leads Angel into a world of wonder and imagination. However, their friendship must remain secret. For some reason Grandmother is always angry with this boarder.
So many books I read are about teenagers finding maturity and a strength they never knew they had. This book is in many ways the reverse, a young girl who has been forced to grow up far too early discovers the child within.
I found this book a pleasant read, but I guess I prefer to read something that is going to challenge my thinking. This was just too gentle and sweet for my taste.
