Connect the Stars

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 9, 2016

Review

Written by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague, this middle school novel is about Audrey Alcott who knows when someone is lying and Aaron Archer who remembers everything he has read or heard. Written in alternating voices, both teens have social issues because on their unique abilities and feel like they don't fit in. They both are going to a summer survival wilderness camp to deal with their issues that prevent them from having friendships. In camp, they are in a small group together, along with two others with similar circumstances and must face challenges in a brutal environment. They learn to depend on each other and turn the defects to assets, begin to feel good about themselves, trust and,finally, become friends. The camp begins as quite ordinary with youth that all have their own issues. They compete, learn to survive, and then a girl they all dislike goes missing. They work together to find her, and along the way, begin to fit in and find themselves. Very well done, however many characters are not well developed and the circumstances of the search and rescue are forced and not entirely believable but still well worth reading.

Overall Book Score: very good