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The Silver Star  By  cover art

The Silver Star

By: Jeannette Walls
Narrated by: Jeannette Walls
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Publisher's summary

From one of the best-selling memoirists of all time, a stunning and heartbreaking novel about an intrepid girl who challenges the injustice of the adult world - a triumph of imagination and storytelling.

It is 1970. "Bean" Holladay is 12 and her sister, Liz, is 15 when their artistic mother, Charlotte, a woman who flees every place she’s ever lived at the first sign of trouble," takes off to find herself." She leaves her girls enough money for food to last a month or two. But when Bean gets home from school one day and sees a police car outside the house, she and Liz board a bus from California to Virginia, where their widowed Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying antebellum mansion that’s been in the family for generations.

An impetuous optimist, Bean discovers who her father was and learns many stories about why their mother left Virginia in the first place. Money is tight, so Liz and Bean start babysitting and doing office work for Jerry Maddox, foreman of the mill in town, a big man who bullies workers, tenants, and his wife. Bean adores her whip-smart older sister, inventor of word games, reader of Edgar Allan Poe, non-conformist. But when school starts in the fall, it’s Bean who easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz who becomes increasingly withdrawn. And then something happens to Liz in the car with Maddox.

The author of The Glass Castle, hyper-alert to abuse of adult power, has written a gorgeous, riveting, heartbreaking novel about triumph over adversity and about people who find a way to love the world despite its flaws and injustices.

©2013 Jeannette Walls (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about The Silver Star

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    440
  • 4 Stars
    269
  • 3 Stars
    150
  • 2 Stars
    36
  • 1 Stars
    18
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    452
  • 4 Stars
    182
  • 3 Stars
    109
  • 2 Stars
    22
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    30
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    377
  • 4 Stars
    222
  • 3 Stars
    138
  • 2 Stars
    38
  • 1 Stars
    19

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good Almost All the Way Through

That ending. Must have had a deadline? The story just stops. Doesn't hold a candle.to.her last books. Disappointing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed story but disliked narration

Love Jeannette 's writings, but will never listen to her narrate again. There's something about her voice and inflection that was wrong. Too bad, but I will "read" her next book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another good read from Jeannette

Great book. The only thing I didn't like was the southern accent on girls who grew up in CA.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Walls beautifully captures complexity of family.

What did you love best about The Silver Star?

Jeannette Walls never shies away from creating parental characters that you both love and hate. I think what I loved best was her focus on the sibling relationship and how protective that can be when you are dealing with parents who, for whatever reason, are unstable.

What aspect of Jeannette Walls’s performance would you have changed?

I found Walls' performance to be boring. In fact, I was shocked that as the writer if this story, there wasn't much inflection or emotion present during her narrating. It was definitely something I noticed within the first half hour but continued throughout the book. It may have seemed especially absent given the subject matter (particularly the alleged sexual abuse) as I felt using more emotion would've helped flesh out that scene. I also would suggest using different voices for the different characters. As a newbie to audiobooks (yet an avid reader) I find this helpful to get lost in the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not sure, but it would highlight the sibling bond and the resilience of the girls. And maybe mention the unique kindness of the uncle.

Any additional comments?

While I'm a huge fan of Walls, II didn't enjoy this as much as "The Glass Castle". I was thrown a bit when the story took a turn and the girls left for their uncle's home. Initially, I expected that the story would be about the journeys and obstacles of living alone while waiting for their mother's return. After completing the book, I see that the journey back to their mother's old home was integral in the direction of the narrative. I would still recommend this to a friend, but it wouldn't be my first recommendation.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Does not Measure up to Walls' Other Novels

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No--the plot is too predictable in many important regards.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Too pedestrian.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jeannette Walls?

I have read all of her other books--this is the first one to which I did not give 5 stars, but I am not sure I would try her next book after this disappointment.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Extremely Disappointing!

What would have made The Silver Star better?

I have read the two other books written by Jeanette Walls and was looking forward to this work of fiction. I could not have been more disappointed. The story and character development was lacking. The story mirrors many others about small towns and the stereotypes of its residents ("lint heads", old southern money, racial unrest...). Her other work was interesting perhaps because it was true and therefore was captivating.

In her next book, I hope she spends more time developing the characters and a more engaging story line. Good luck!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Bend Not Break

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Hire a narrator!

What did you like best about The Silver Star? What did you like least?

Jeannette Wall's is a good writer. I look forward to her books.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Hire a narrator!

What didn’t you like about Jeannette Walls’s performance?

Drab, too like her other books.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Maybe

Any additional comments?

No

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great story from Walls

What did you like best about this story?

The characters are so well developed. I also loved Jeanette's narration.

Have you listened to any of Jeannette Walls’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes. It's as good as the others. I didn't want it to end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Don’t mess with the little guy, girl, etc

The author has spun a tail we can all relate to on some level, everyone has encountered a bully at some point in life. It’s nice to see that even those with seemingly little power, can make a positive change in a community.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

superb book

loved the story and the narration. excellent and true to life plot. characters were so endearing.

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