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Stella by Starlight  By  cover art

Stella by Starlight

By: Sharon M. Draper
Narrated by: Heather Alicia Simms
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Publisher's summary

2016 Audie Award Finalist for Middle Grade

When the Ku Klux Klan makes an unwelcome reappearance in Stella's segregated southern town, bravery battles prejudice in this Depression-era tour de force from Sharon Draper, the New York Times best-selling author of Out of My Mind.

Stella lives in the segregated South - in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into. Some stores she can't. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn't bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they're never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella's community - her world - is upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. And she learns that ashes don't necessarily signify an end.

©2015 Sharon M. Draper. All rights reserved. (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

What listeners say about Stella by Starlight

Average customer ratings
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Great Book

I throughly enjoyed it but I wish the author told us about what happened when the Dr. Found out that Stella saved his daughter...

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1 person found this helpful

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Great story

Such a beautifully and tragic story of an 11 year old girl growing up with presence of the KKK and the impact it has on her African American family and community. My 10 year
Old daughter and I loved reading it together and opened up some great conversations. Must read for any middle grade reader and up!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Heartwarming!

Really enjoyed the narration.
story line was well arranged and easy to follow. especially appreciate that it was voud of cursing and sex! nice clean yarn.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful

A powerful story of a courageous going girl facing the Klan during the Depression era. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Hopeful about the future

This story’s main character is Stella coming to her own understanding about Southern life and her abilities. Some of the main themes are racism/injustice in the south, and bravery. The author does a fine job of keeping the reader interested in the story with descriptive language that allows the reader to feel as if they could imagine the story setting & character dilemmas. Stella’s raw vulnerabilities are revealed throughout the story . She is a brave girl! Many of the scenes and language helped me to remember my childhood in the South and be warmly connected to the story. Although racism is a theme, the characters are developed in such a way that the reader remains hopeful about the goodness of others and a brighter future. Quick read for anyone.
The audible version was quite good because Heather Simms was able to change her voice to sound like (I’d imagine ) the characters in this historical & geographical period! Well done!

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awsome

was sad but that is how life you to be Sharon M Draper captured the emotions of the character perfectly.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

beautifully written

this book was a great book.and Heather Alicia Simms is a great narrarator I really enjoyed this story

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  • Overall
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Stella by Starlight

This is a very “clean” story of life in the south during the segregation era. Completely appropriate for younger children, though not a fully realistic depiction of the treatment of African Americans in the south during this time. The reader of the audiobook was wonderful! I was happy to have my kids be able to listener to her while reading along for a more authentic experience.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Best Performance

I’m not sure if they give awards for audio book performance, but this deserves the Oscar of audiobooks. This will keep middle grade readers enthralled while engaged is a very historically important time story. The genius of Sharon M Draper’s writing and Heather Alicia Simms’ performance is perfection!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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unpleasant history told gently

An age appropriate description of the African American experience of the time,through the eyes of a young girl. It illustrates history while highlighting the importance of standing up for what you believe even when it is hard.

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