The Star in the Forest Book Review

The Star in the Forest
By Helen Kellock
Published October 2019

Premise: Two sisters follow a light into the forest behind their grandparents' home one night and discover a fallen star.

Son's Review:
What it's about:
It's about kids finding a meteorite in the forest, but first thinking it's kinda not cool.

What he likes:
The owls. I like the bunnies. They look like babies. In fact, they are babies.

What readers should know:
They should know that the book is cool.

How he would feel in the girls' place:
I wouldn't be scared because I know our forest. I've even igventured [sic] to the back of our forest. I would be grumpy if I didn't see yellow, but when I saw the yellow [of the star], I would be happy.

What he would do if he could meet the girls:
If they came to my house, I would take them to the water tank*, but I would tell them not to go close.
*Someone dumped a huge water filtration tank deep in the woods behind our house. It has become a landmark for us, albeit a displeasing one.

Mom's Review:
There is much to recommend The Star in the Forest. I am actually finding it hard to characterize because Kellock manages to communicate effortlessly soooooo many positive concepts at once. I started to brainstorm what I wanted to write about, and wound up with a longer list than I expected, so I thought I might share the highlights of my list with you.

Here is what left the biggest impact:

-the girls' support of each other
-the adventurousness of the younger sister
-the bravery of the older sister
-the validation of both reserved and outgoing personalities
-the independence and self-reliance of each sister
-how the animals are drawn

Kellock depicts both girls' personalities as equally legitimate; one is content to watch the stars come out while the other wants to race after possible alien visitors. Each sister is comfortable in her own skin. Kellock also shows how the the older sister, despite misgivings, follows her younger sister into the dark forest. At first the older sister is fearful, the younger foolhardy. As the girls progress, the older sister becomes accustomed to the forest and begins to enjoy its different nighttime beauties, while the younger experiences some trepidation at her sudden aloneness. Each has a moment of loving reassurance from the other. The sisters complement one another during their nocturnal expedition. I do wonder where the grandparents are, and I have to imagine that the girls are trusted to make safe choices and do not need hovering supervisors. It is good to see the implication that the children are granted independence and know what to do with it.

The Star in the Forest is a delightful example of exploration and imagination.


Note: A review copy was provided by Thames and Hudson in exchange for an honest review.