The Language of Stars - Hardcover

Hawes, Louise

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1481462415 ISBN 13: 9781481462419

Verlag: MARGARET K MCELDERRY BOOKS, 2016

Über diesen Titel

Críticas

"A tale of self-discovery well suited for art-inclined readers who feel themselves on the fringe."--Kirkus

"[Sarah's] struggle with the decision to be true to herself is one that many teens will recognize."--School Library Journal

"An excellent and witty plot with a different sense of style...weaving together the story, sounds Sarah hears around her, and poems."--School Library Connection

An act of vandalism revitalizes a small town. Sarah Wheeler, the novel's presumably white narrator, has hit a fork in the road. Though at heart from the nerdy, lit- and drama-loving "Untouchables," she's now dating Fry, the hottest surfer dude at Whale Point High. When Fry throws a kegger in a cherished local landmark, Sarah joins him, against her better judgment--and the seaside cottage, former retreat of famed poet Rufus Baylor, ends up in flames. The drunken escapade lands Sarah and most of the partiers in court, sentenced to restoringthe trashed cottage and taking a summer writing class taught by none other thanthe mythic and octogenarian Baylor. Baylor's return to Whale Point injects new life into the sleepy community, prompting Sarah's single mother and her largely absent "biological accident" father to re-examine their relationships with their daughter. At the same time, with Baylor's attention and poetic inspiration, Sarah begins to look more closely at herself. While the circumstances leading to such communal introspection may be a bit far-fetched, Hawes excels in crafting rounded characters with varied home situations teens can relate to, and poems infused throughout the narrative offer poetic points of attachment as well as examples of different writing techniques (group- and free-writing, donning blindfolds, etc.) budding writers might attempt. A tale of self-discovery well suited for art-inclined readers who feel themselves on the fringe. (Fiction. 14-18)--Kirkus Reviews "3/15/16 "

Hawes(Black Pearls: A FaerieStrand) transforms carelessness into redemption in a summer story that begins after a group of teens break into and throw a raging party at abeloved local poet's cottage, trashing it and nearly burning it to the ground. (A note explainsthat the story is partly inspired by a similar 2008 incident involving Robert Frost's summer home.) Sarah, Hawes's wide-eyed narrator, has an innate poetic bent and only reluctantly took part in the break-in because of her popular boyfriend, Fry. Though Sarah's relationship with Fry is central to the plot, the real romance is one of words. The teens are sentenced to restore the cottage and take a poetry course--taught by the house's elderly owner, Rufus Baylor, who becomes a mentor to Sarah. Full of poetry and ideas, Sarah'snarration has an exuberant innocence, bringing a fresh and joyful quality to astory about a girl learning to love the possibilities that come with independence: the chance to discover one's true self and desires, while forging a path forward that might fulfill them. Ages 12-up.--Publishers Weekly "March 7, 2016 "

For years, poet laureate Rufus Baylor spent his summers renting a cottage in the resort town, Whale Point, and now the cottage-turned-museum is a beloved landmark. When high-school students break in and throw a party, causing thousands of dollars of damage, the judge sentences them to a summer of poetry classes taught by the legendary poet. Sarah is ashamed of her role--her boyfriend Fry was the leader, but she followed, afraid of losing her newfound popularity--but the class doesn't feel like punishment. Instead, Baylor's passionate teaching reminds Sarah of who she was before she starting dating Fry and gives her a way to express herself. Though often sentimental and low on conflict, this is a rewarding character study of an elderly mentor and a young student who each rediscover the power of creative expression. Hawes' simple, lovely poetry illustrates Sarah's inner journey as her rocky relationships with estranged parents, friends, and boyfriend change. This is a tale of forgiveness, listening to the world, and looking beyond the surface. -- Krista Hutley--Booklist "April 20, 2016 "

Sarah is a high school student who ditches her old friends and begins hanging out with the popular crowd and a new, popular boyfriend. One day, after drinking one too many beers at a party, things escalate and famous poet Rufus Baylor's house is burned and trashed. Fortunately, Sarah and her friends aren't sentenced to jail, but instead a poetry appreciation course taught by the famous poet himself. Rufus becomes somewhat of a mentor for Sarah while she is battling with her new life, her pushy mother who wants her to be someone she is not, and other family issues. Eventually, Sarah begins to find out who she really is and who she wants to become. Hawes has created an excellent and witty plot with a different sense of style that is a bit like a montage, weaving together the story, sounds Sarah hears around her, and poems. Sexual references and profanity make this title suitable for high school students.--School Library Connection "08/01/16 "

Full of poetry and ideas, Sarah's narration has an exuberant innocence, bringing a fresh and joyful quality to a story about a girl learning to love the possibilities that come with independence: the chance to discover one's true self and desires, while forging a path forward that might fulfill them.--Publishers Weekly

"A rewarding character study [about] the power of creative expression. This is a tale of forgiveness, listening to the world, and looking beyond the surface."--Booklist

"Readers will find much to savor in this book, an inspiring redemption story and an ode to the transformative power of verse."--Horn Book

Reseña del editor

Sarah is forced to take a summer poetry class as penance for trashing the home of a famous poet in this fresh novel about finding your own voice.

Sarah’s had her happy ending: she’s at the party of the year with the most popular boy in school. But when that boy turns out to be a troublemaker who decided to throw a party at a cottage museum dedicated to renowned poet Rufus Baylor, everything changes. By the end of the party, the whole cottage is trashed—curtains up in flames, walls damaged, mementos smashed—and when the partygoers are caught, they’re all sentenced to take a summer class studying Rufus Baylor’s poetry...with Baylor as their teacher.

For Sarah, Baylor is a revelation. Unlike her mother, who is obsessed with keeping up appearances, and her estranged father, for whom she can’t do anything right, Rufus Baylor listens to what she has to say, and appreciates her ear for language. Through his classes, Sarah starts to see her relationships and the world in a new light—and finds that maybe her happy ending is really only part of a much more interesting beginning.

The Language of Stars is a gorgeous celebration of poetry, language, and love from celebrated author Louise Hawes.

Über diese Auflage

• Verlag: MARGARET K MCELDERRY BOOKS
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1481462415
• ISBN 13: 9781481462419
• Einband: Tapa dura
• Anzahl der Seiten: 368