The Healing Star

By A. Kidd

Stars with healing powers are falling from the sky.

Feisty fourth-grader Julia's best friend in the entire universe is her grandmother. Julia and Grammu share secrets while cooking soup together, stay up late eating junk food and watching scary movies, and go stargazing on Blackberry Hill. They even wish on the same star every night.

But everything changes when Grammu catches the disappearing disease: little by little, she's turning invisible. If Julia can catch a falling star, then her wish to save Grammu will come true. All Julia needs to do now is find the legendary ladder to the stars…

Advance Praise for The Healing Star

"Julia's fantastical adventure will make your eyes twinkle. Readers will root for Julia on every step of her journey." –Kristin Bartley Lenz, author of The Art of Holding On and Letting Go

"This magical tale of the love between a girl and her grandmother will draw you in and warm your heart." –Jill Webb, Children's Librarian, Farmington Community Library

"An outstanding debut novel. Julia is a spunky heroine who will capture your attention as she embarks on a star-catching mission to save her grandmother." –Susan Dion, Library Specialist, Youth Services, Baldwin Public Library

"A. Kidd cultivates a special sense of magic in following Julia's struggles against the odds." –D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

You can email the author at: [e-mail]

• Language: English
• Publisher: Quiet Storm Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Jul 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733899222

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The Plan

Grammu was disappearing, just like the stars, but Julia wouldn’t allow it. She dug around in her bedroom desk for her special pad of paper reserved specifically for making lists. Her shiny, black hair fell in front of her face, so she quickly pulled it back in a lopsided ponytail and continued searching. Her hands moved faster at the sound of her grandmother coughing in the other room—a star-shattering, lung-cracking cough. Julia held up the pad of paper in triumph.

She wanted a star so bad her palms itched. She couldn’t let her grandma suffer like that—lying in bed all the time, feverish, maybe even dying. Unacceptable! Grammu wasn’t just her grandmother; she was her cosmic twin—like the stars Castor and Pollux. And how often did you find that?

Luckily, there was a rumor in Windmore that an old star would drop tomorrow night. The starologists predicted it based on the rising tides of the northern lakes. Mrs. Wiles said a falling star affected the growth of apples. Grammu felt it like a tickle behind her knees. Julia smelled it in the air, the scent of raspberries. And the adults had a mysterious taste for rum.

Kids all over town were getting ready, just like Julia, so she needed to be prepared. Luckily, adults weren’t allowed to enter the star-catching contest, but some of the kids were trained Catchers who collected and bottled the stardust for profit. Others were just in it for sport. The ultimate goal: catch a star and have your deepest soul wish come true. But most of the town would settle for a little bottle of healing stardust sparkling in their pockets. Grammu called stardust a hot commodity—hard to come by and worth losing a hand over.

Julia grabbed her favorite pen, the light blue one with the blinking star on top, and began to make a list of what she thought she might need to catch a falling star.

•Net. But not that wimpy butterfly kind. She’d have to borrow grandpa’s old fishing net. First she’d have to fix the hole in it she’d accidentally made last summer trying to catch a turtle. Blasted thing bit right through it and slipped away. Whoever said turtles were nice and quiet never tried to catch one.

•Mom’s gardening gloves. The heavy ones with the daisies on them. She’d have to be real careful with those because they were her mother’s favorite. But from what the Catchers said, a star was super hot right after falling. Julia imagined it was like trying to grab a hot waffle as it popped out of the toaster.

•Flashlight. So she could see her way in the dark after the starlight faded.

•Snack (preferably chocolate). Star-catching was serious business with a lot of waiting. She needed to keep up her strength.

•Knapsack. For lugging the star home. It would be heavy. She might even have to drag it. And she sure didn’t want anyone else setting their eyes on it. This was her star. Her wish. For her grandma.

•Red sweater (for good luck). Because Grammu had made it for her, the patch pockets cut from leftover fabric squares used for Grammu and Grandpa’s wedding quilt.

ETA: Eight o’clock sharp. One hour before nightfall. She would get there early. Catchers arrived at nine. They always spread out over Miller’s Wheat Field. Only a portion of it held crops, and they had been harvested already. The rest of the field was a wide-open space—perfect for running and diving—and a well-known spot for star-fall. But Julia planned to wait on Blackberry Hill just on the edge of the field. She figured she’d have a closer view of the sky, increasing her chances. Plus she was the fastest girl in the fourth grade. Everyone knew it. She’d make it down into the field before anyone even knew a star was falling. And so what if only one person had actually caught a star before? She’d be the second!

Julia rubbed her hands together as she looked over her list. She was good at lists. Her grandmother said making lists was a sign of stellar intelligence, but to her, lists simply meant being prepared. The difference between catching a falling star and trailing behind in a wake of ground stardust. Unacceptable.

Stardust was not enough. Sure it had healing properties, but its effects didn’t always last forever. And when it came to her grandma, Julia wanted a guarantee. If she caught the star, her wish would be granted, and then her grandma would become well again.

She looked over the list once more. A teardrop fell onto the page, smudging the word luck. Not a good sign. But as long as she wore the red sweater and thought of Grammu, everything would turn out all right. Julia punched the air with a quick jab cross—a move she learned in kickboxing class—and felt much better.

Tell me the one about catching the first star, begged Julia as she crept like a cat over to Grammu’s bed—which was really the pullout couch in the living room of their apartment—slipping into it and snuggling down next to her. Her grandma almost never left the bed now.

You’re like a— Grammu began.

Cat, I know. That’s what Momma always says.

Julia’s mother clucked her tongue as she washed dishes at the kitchen sink. She turned. Be careful, Julia, she said, grabbing an empty spaghetti plate from the table. Grammu is weak. You mustn’t crowd her.

I know, said Julia, secretly wishing there was a wall between the kitchen and living room instead of just a counter, so she could ask her grandma some questions about the best way to catch a star without her mom overhearing. Julia’s mom didn’t exactly approve of star-catching. Asking about the old star stories—which Julia had heard a million times before—was a cover to get more information.

I’m fine, Samantha, said Grammu. She coughed a little, but tried to cover it up by clearing her throat. Then she turned to Julia, pulling the wedding quilt she had sewn herself up to both their chins. Julia caught sight of Grammu’s hands before they disappeared under the covers. Her left hand was pale in comparison to her right—a warning sign that the illness was spreading. According to the doctors, Grammu would turn invisible, limb by limb—like a living ghost—until she completely disappeared. There could be no worse way to die than that—going out like a light bulb. Julia bit her lip, determined to keep that from happening.

"Actually, I was going to say cat burglar, said Grammu with her signature double wink. You would make a stellar thief, you know."

Mom! said Julia’s mother. "Don’t encourage her. She needs to study more and learn to earn her keep. That’s the honest way."

The boring way, whispered Julia into Grammu’s ear. Grammu chuckled.

I heard that, Julia’s mother said. Come help me dry these dishes.

But I want to hear the story, said Julia, sitting up in bed.

Mind your mother, said Grammu. She’s the only one you’ve got.

Okay…but story first.

You know I don’t believe in all that stuff about stars, said her mother. Julia put her head on Grammu’s shoulder, trying for some sympathy points. Fine, said her mother with a sigh. But only one. Grammu needs her rest, and you still have homework. Julia grinned, unable to hide her triumph.

Stars started droppin’ when I was about your age, said Grammu, or at least that’s when people started noticing them. Felt like the sky was losing its teeth. The very first Catcher was a handsome young man named Jacoby. Julia giggled at the thought of her grandma having a crush on someone other than grandpa. His family was poor as dirt, continued Grammu. Julia frowned at that part.

"I was bringing back some apples from Wiles’s Orchard for my mom’s apple walnut pie. Passed the wheat field on my way. The apples smelled so sweet I decided to stop and have one. But I wasn’t alone—Jacoby stood there in the middle of the field holding a football, practicing his Hail Mary pass. I loved to watch him throw but didn’t want to intrude, so I hid behind some bushes.

He lined up his fingers, but just before he stretched his arm back, I heard him whisper something. It sounded like a wish. A wish no one was supposed to hear. I accidentally bit my lip along with the apple. Luckily the juice made even my blood taste sweet.

But you heard it, didn’t you? asked Julia.

Sure did, said Grammu, nodding. He wished for money—buckets of it. But not for himself. No, this money was to help his family. That’s key. A pure wish is much stronger than a selfish one.

Julia sure hoped her wish was pure enough for the universe to respond in kind. Even though she wished for her grandma’s health, a small part of her felt selfish for wanting to keep Grammu around.

Even though he couldn’t see me, Grammu continued, "I felt myself blush at the private words he spoke. Then he took a step back on his right foot—for added power—and led with his left leg.

Whoosh! said Grammu, making an arc with her hand. That ball sliced through the night like a butter knife in a fresh pie.

When did you see the shooting star? asked Julia. She didn’t usually pressure her grandma for details, letting the story unfold naturally, but tonight she needed answers.

First I heard a poppin’ sound, said Grammu. Then the whole sky lit up like a lightning bolt. Julia clapped her hands together, rubbing them with excitement. When her mom looked over at her, she hid them under the quilt.

I thought Jacoby would run—I know I wanted to, said Grammu, but instead he held out his bare hands. Meanwhile I was quaking like an aspen leaf.

I guess I better use the gardening gloves instead of the net, thought Julia, who wanted to be brave like Jacoby.

He caught the star like a football and never let go. Ran all the way home with it in his arms. The sky howled in the wake of its loss…or maybe that was Jacoby. The blasted star nearly burned his hands off.

Mom! Julia’s mother called out to Grammu. You know I don’t like you using that word around Julia.

It’s a harmless word, said Grammu in her sweetest voice. Besides, Julia doesn’t use it, do you? Grammu turned to Julia for confirmation.

Julia looked down at the quilt and slowly shook her head no, not wanting to lie, but not wanting to get Grammu in trouble, either.

Finish up the story, is all her mother said as she returned to washing dishes.

Grammu nodded but then winked twice at Julia. His injuries turned out to be well worth it. The next day, the lawyer for their Aunt Zelda’s estate showed up. Handed them a fat check. After that, they had money comin’ out their ears—enough to fix his melted hands.

Julia hummed with contentment, grateful for star-catching. But then her face turned serious. Are you sure no one else ever caught another star like that, before it landed on the ground? She had asked this question many times before, but this time she was hoping for a different answer. If even one more person had successfully caught a star, then that would increase Julia’s chances of catching one herself.

Grammu shook her head. I think some were a little afraid to. Jacoby had sacrificed his hands for it. Even the Catchers he trained himself kept their distance, waiting until the star fell to scoop up the healing stardust and sell it for a tidy profit.

Julia looked down. Would she have to sacrifice her hands, too? She fiddled with a loose thread on the quilt.

I guess if anyone had a mind of his own, said Grammu, nudging Julia with her shoulder, he’d come up with a scheme to catch a star without gettin’ burned.

Julia remained quiet, her own plan cooking in her mind. Should I use the gardening gloves or the fishing net? Maybe she could ask Grammu later, after her mom went to bed. The starologists say another one will drop tomorrow night, she whispered.

I know, said Grammu. You goin’ out for the festivities?

She has too much homework, Julia’s mother chimed in.

Pete, Julia’s beagle, farted under the kitchen table, as if to disagree.

Pew, said Julia’s mother, waving her hand. Julia, have you been feeding him cheese again?

Come here, Petie, said Julia, lifting the blanket on her side. Pete bounded over and jumped in next to her.

Like three peas in a pod, said Grammu, who liked dogs, even smelly ones.

I’ll finish my homework tonight, Julia promised, but she had her fingers crossed. Homework did not make her list of ways to save Grammu. Not even close!

We’ll see about that, said her mother, wiping her wet hands on a towel. She grabbed the laundry basket. You best get to it then, she said as she walked down the hall.

But Julia wasn’t ready to leave her snuggle-down spot next to Grammu yet. Just a little more time with Grammu? Julia called and then waited for a response.

Homework time, said her mother, as she returned from the laundry room with a pile of clothes.

Julia’s shoulders slumped, but she did not object.

Let’s make a wish on our wishing star, said Grammu. Then maybe you’ll feel ready to tackle those books.

Julia perked up. With all the excitement about tomorrow, she’d almost forgotten about their nightly ritual. She and Grammu had been making wishes on the same star ever since she was little. Grammu might have been the only one in town other than herself that still believed in the magic of wishing on stars that weren’t actually falling, but Julia liked that about her. As long as Grammu believed in the power of stars, Julia