A Handful of Stars

Written by Cynthia Lord

Narrated by Maria Cabezas

When Lily's blind dog, Lucky, slips his collar and runs away across the wide-open blueberry barrens of eastern Maine, it's Salma Santiago who manages to catch him. Salma, the daughter of migrant workers, is in the small town with her family for the blueberry-picking season. 

 

After their initial chance meeting, Salma and Lily bond over painting bee boxes for Lily's grandfather, and Salma's friendship transforms Lily's summer. But when Salma decides to run in the upcoming Blueberry Queen pageant, they'll have to face some tough truths about friendship and belonging. Should an outsider like Salma really participate in the pageant—and possibly win?

 

Set amongst the blueberry barrens and by the sea, this is a gorgeous new novel by Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord that tackles themes of prejudice and friendship, loss and love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490683881

Cynthia Lord

Cynthia Lord is the Newbery Honor author of Rules and other middle-grade novels. Her first picture book, Hot Rod Hamster, inspired a bestselling series about a speed-loving hamster that also includes early reader books. Her chapter-book series, Shelter Pet Squad, appeared on the American Booksellers Association’s ABC Best Books for Children list. Cindy lives in Maine with her husband, John Bald, their children, and a collection of beloved animals, including three rabbits (so far!).

[lou_intheberkshires · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightfully rich story set in Maine about a local girl who is sometimes still living in the past. A migrant blueberry picker helps her see her life in a beautiful new way. I even learned more about blueberries.

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A sweet book that nonetheless tackles quite a few larger themes thoughtfully -- the blindness of a beloved pet, the difficulties of being a migrant worker and also being part of the settled community, the way waves of immigrants treat each other/ learn the same lessons (first french-canadian and then latinx), blueberry culture/ the challenges of living in a primarily rural and tourism economy, grief at missing both beloved pets and parents.

Mostly, however, I'd say it's a story about being a kid in Maine and negotiating friendships, and a really touching story at that. Enjoyable.

[robinsonstef · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ever since her mom died when she was little, Lily's been raised by her grandma and grandpa. They live right above their store in Maine. It's a bustling town during blueberry season when workers come to help with the harvest and the tourists buy blueberry products. This summer, Lily has been feeling distant from her best friend, and wishes things could go back to the way they were. Thank goodness, for her dog, Lucky. Unfortunately, he’s having trouble with his vision and can't see very well. Lily’s hoping to afford an expensive operation that might help Lucky. He's one of her last connections to her mom. After her dog gets loose and runs to the blueberry fields she meets Salma, a girl her age, who is helping with the picking. Lily and Salma become fast friends. Together they work to raise money to get Lucky the surgery he needs. Now the Blueberry Festival preparations are beginning and soon the pageant for Blueberry Queen will take place. This year her former best friend will be running against Salma. There's more than just the crown at stake, there’s money and a sense of belonging. No matter what Lily expected from the pageant there was no way she could've guessed the events that would unfold. Will the girls raise enough money for Lucky’s surgery? Who will be crowned the next Blueberry Queen? How will Lily deal with her friendship issues?


I have read many books by Cynthia Lord and I was pleased to read A Handful of Stars. I heard her speak about the book at the Connecticut Children’s Book Fair this past November. It was great to dive into the story knowing a little bit more about the background of the migrant workers who go to Maine, and I remembered Ms. Lord talking about how the cover was designed. This is a wonderful story about family and relationships. It helps kids learn about old and new friends. Another important theme is going outside of the box and learning to believe in yourself. It was also a good lesson for Lily that sometimes what we wish for most isn't what's best, so we shouldn't close our minds off to other ways our hopes can be answered. I recommend this book to kids in fourth grade and up who like realistic fiction. A definite treat for any dog lovers out there! There are great things throughout the book that make the story stay with you long after you turn the last page. This is a book that made me laugh and I even shed a few tears. I've thought about the characters a lot and that tells me something about the book.

[donnamariemerritt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A sweet and simple story about the power of friendship, what's best for a person (or dog), and being open to new ideas. The tension was just right for grades 3 to 6 (and for this adult, too!). As a bonus, I learned more about Maine's blueberries and those behind the bountiful harvest. A definite add to our school library.

[joanechasse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord is my favorite Nutmeg 2019 Intermediate Nominee. Two young girls, Lily, a local Maine resident, and Salma, a migrant worker, become best friends as they try save the eyesight of Lucky, Lily’s dog. I think students would enjoy reading this believable book since children love animals, especially dogs. At the library, where I work, our most popular programs feature creatures. One of our current programs is having the children read to a dog.

Lily and Salma work well together as a team and share their love of art while painting bee houses to sell. They quickly become close friends. Both girls share a common sense of loss. When Lily was young, her mother dies in a car accident. Salma’s dog, Luna, also died. At the end of the story, Lily imagines her mama looking down from heaven. She is smiling at Salma’s painting of three dogs running under the stars near a patch of tiger lilies for which Lily is named.

Who knew that by reading a children’s Nutmeg book, a reader could learn so much about how wild, lowbush blueberries are harvested with a metal rake? Blueberries also come in many colors – red, pink, purple, black, blue, white, and even some with stripes. At the top of each blueberry is a flared crown that the two girls call a star.

[ewyatt_16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lily's dog Lucky has gone blind. She runs off in the blueberry fields. Salma helps catch her and a friendship blooms. Salma's family is working on the blueberry farm, part of their work as migrant workers. Lily and Salma spend the summer working on painting bee houses to try to raise money for a surgery for Lucky. And Salma enters the local beauty pageant.
Lord's quick read is touching and explores many issues in the short book.