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Under Shifting Stars

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

This heartfelt novel for fans of Jandy Nelson and Adam Silvera follows twins Audrey and Clare as they grapple with their brother's death and their changing relationships—with each other and themselves.

Audrey's best friend was always her twin, Clare. But as they got older, they grew apart, and when their brother Adam died, Clare blamed Audrey for the accident. Now, Audrey's attending an alternative school where she feels more isolated than ever. Tired of being seen as different from her neurotypical peers, Audrey's determined to switch to the public high school, rebuild her friendship with Clare, and atone for Adam's death . . . but she'll need to convince her parents, and her therapist, first.

Clare knows her sister thinks she's the perfect twin, but Audrey doesn't realize that Clare's "popular" status is crumbling—she's begun to question old friendships, dress in Adam's clothes, and wonder what feelings for a nonbinary classmate, Taylor, might mean. As she grapples with not only grief but also her gender fluidity, Clare wonders where she'll belong if she sheds her carefully constructed image and embraces her true self.

Will first crushes, new family dynamics, and questions of identity prove that Audrey and Clare have grown too different to understand each other—or that they've needed each other all along?

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    • Kirkus

      July 15, 2020
      Fraternal twins Clare and Audrey have always been together, but after the death of their older brother, Adam, a rift has grown between them. Clare explores her gender and orientation, weighing her identity and growing attraction to nonbinary student Taylor against her social life in public school. Meanwhile Audrey struggles to accept her neurodivergence and attendance at Peak, an alternative school for gifted students derided by her friends, who say it is for freaks. She tries to keep both facts hidden from her new friend and love interest, Calvin, who introduces her to the joys of LARPing. These two narratives are punctuated by bumbling attempts at a reconciliation between the twins; born 13 minutes apart, Clare is a Taurus and Audrey is a Gemini, a difference that is presented as symbolic of their contrasts. Latos' prose is highly relatable, giving an accurate and gut-wrenching depiction of the uncertainty of growing up and finding oneself. She emphasizes the pain that comes from knowing that someone you love has changed without you along with the fear of being left behind. Bullying of queer and neurodivergent students is shown in all of its bitter truth. At the same time, Latos reassures readers that these situations are not hopeless. Fourteen-year-old Clare and Audrey, along with the rest of the cast, are cued as White. A painful page-turner with heartwarming moments sprinkled throughout. (Fiction. 14-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      August 14, 2020

      Gr 7 Up-Twins Audrey and Clare have been growing apart for a while, and it doesn't seem like high school is going to bring them any closer. Audrey is at a new school that has a better program for neurodiverse students, while Clare is struggling to maintain her popularity despite finding having little in common with her friends. Both twins are also grieving in their own ways for their brother, who died in a car accident a few months ago. Audrey knows that his death was her fault, and that Clare blames her too. Audrey also knows that if she can just get back to "normal" school with Clare, they can reestablish their bond and Clare will forgive her. She just needs to find a way to convince everyone else that it's a good idea. Meanwhile, Clare's grief causes her to withdraw from her normal life, and she pulls away more when she begins to explore her gender identity. Latos's character-driven narrative carries the twins along parallel paths. They fall in love, discover new passions, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. As a second tragedy threatens, Clare and Audrey find their way back to one another. The straightforward writing allows readers to stand in the eye of a hurricane of issues, and depicts intersectionality so deftly that readers feel the chaos of Clare's thoughts and sympathize with Audrey's need to plan for every eventuality. VERDICT Highly recommended. Give this to readers who are looking for issues-based fiction and anyone who enjoys getting into a character's head.-Heather Waddell, Sargent Memorial Lib., Boxborough, MA

      Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
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  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:4.3
  • Interest Level:9-12(UG)
  • Text Difficulty:3

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This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Funding for additional materials was made possible by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.