The Silver Star

by Jeannette Walls

Two motherless sisters--Bean and Liz--are shuttled to Virginia, where their Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying mansion that's been in their family for generations. When school starts in the fall, Bean easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz becomes increasingly withdrawn. Then something happens to Liz and Bean is left to challenge the injustice of the adult world.

• ISBN10: 1451661509
• ISBN13: 9781451661507
• Publish Date: 11 June 2013 (first published 6 June 2013)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Scribner Book Company
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[Cocktails and Books]

I have read all of Jeannette Walls' books. I can't necessarily say I ""enjoy"" them. They are not light-hearted. They deal with neglect and what I would classify as abuse, as well as other heavy, real-life issues. However, they are so well written and the characters are so well-developed that I consistently find myself lost in her books in no time. The Silver Star was no exception. I had a hard time putting this one down once I started it.

In The Silver Star, we face another neglectful mom with two amazing daughters. I couldn't stand Charlotte (mom). She was spoiled and selfish and I had a hard time with the fact that she was constantly putting her needs before those of her children. Upon reading though, I couldn't help but feel that her actions almost made her girls stronger. Liz and Bean were street and book smart, strong, independent, and hard-working.
Luckily, when they needed it the most, they found family and a town that (eventually) accepted them. Like the characters in The Glass Castle, the girls have to fight to survive and face many unbearable hardships. They do prevail, but they are forever changed.

In addition to the girls, readers will come to love and care about the relatives they encounter on their journey. I don't want to give too much away, but even those that don't seem too accepting of Liz and Bean at first end up sacrificing a lot to help them out.

I LOVED this book--Ms. Walls, if you're out there somewhere, please write a follow-up to this one! I didn't think I could like this book more than Half Broke Horses, but I do and I want to know what becomes of the girls and the rest of the people of Byler. This was one of those books that sent me into a depression once it was over because I just didn't want it to end...

Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books