And the Stars Were Burning Brightly

Product Information

The last time Nathan spoke with Al it was to argue. Thereafter, he cut his call when Al called begging for help. After all, he was on the swings, messing about Kyle. Sometimes Al was just too much hard work, and Nate needed to draw breath. I like how Danielle Jawando explored difficult topics that are very important today and shows how hard it would be for family and friends to cope after someone died by suicide, and how bullying can cause someone to feel alone and scared, and could potentially lead them to suicide. I enjoyed how the story switched between the perspective of Nate and Megan, and through the story you got to see some of Al’s thoughts that led him to suicide while Nate tries to figure out what happened for himself. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Ultimately though, Danielle Jawando manages to make this uplifting and hopeful – a story of loss and love and finding your place in a life now off kilter – where possibilities like the stars, burn brightly. I think this story will definitely open a lot of eyes and I think this needs to be read by every young person. Al's story is not only important but something that happens to a lot of people. This book made me so angry and sad but I'm so happy that I read it because it just further reinstates the notion that books like this one need to exist. I loved this book from the beginning. It helped that I know the area where Al and Nate lived, so it became very relatable.

Advance Praise

Danielle Jawando is an incredible talent and an important voice in the YA space. Her writing weaves such strength, resilience, heartbreak and hope into this story.” An extraordinary novel about loss, understanding and the importance of speaking up when all you want to do is shut down, from an incredible new talent, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Gayle Foreman, Jennifer Niven and Nikesh Shukla. About This Edition ISBN: Saul's key turns in the front door, and I hear the sound of his footsteps moving towards the kitchen. There's the noise of pots and pans banging, the microwave going. And I can't help but feel all this anger inside me. It's like Saul can just forget about wot happened and move on. Pretend that Al never existed. Our brother's only been dead for three days and Saul's acting like he doesn't even care. When our dad left, Saul just said, 'Shit happens,' and we needed to get used to it. Well, maybe having your dad walk out is normal, but it's not normal for your brother to kill himself. Is it? Not when he's seventeen ... when he had all this stuff he wanted to do. Not when it's Al. year old Nathan’s life is torn about when he finds out his big brother Al has taken his own life. Al was a talented young man who was so full of passion, and Nathan wonders why he would have done this? Convinced Al was in trouble, Nathan begins to investigate meeting Al’s former classmate Megan on his quest, who like Nathan wants to keep Al’s memory alive. However, when Nathan eventually finds out the truth, sparks are set to fly.

The plot is well paced, nicely scattering character development and plot revelations to keep it moving along without ever feeling rushed or slow. It’s unflinching but searing in it’s portrayal of bullying, and to a large extent feels like it could be non-fiction, which is horrifying but also a rallying call to arms for all readers. I think it’s the kind of book that could really help some readers who might be struggling with similar situations of their own. When 15-year-old Nathan discovers that his older brother Al has taken his own life, his world falls apart. Al was a talented artist. Al was ambitious. Al was going places. So why did he do it? Convinced that his brother was in trouble, Nathan looks into Al's life and relationships. As he does, he meets Megan, Al's former classmate, who is as determined as Nathan to keep Al's memory alive. Together they start seeking answers but will either of them be able to handle the truth about Al's death when they eventually discover what happened? Megan’s having a hard time with Al’s suicide for a different reason. Her other friends never knew that she was close to Al, and, as the story unfolds, we see that they’re not all that supportive of Megan in general. She’s coping with the loss of, she is now realising, possibly her only real friend. As well as coming to understand just how terrible her usual friendship group is. This novel was one of my most anticipated reads for 2020 and man did it deliver. And the Stars were Burning Brightly is a book about Nathan and Meg who have to deal with the aftermath of Al's death. And while the plot may sound simple, it is anything but. The story is eloquently written and with so much heart. The characters are at the front of this story and every scene carries its weight. From a writer's perspective, this was just so amazingly written.It took me a while to work up the emotional courage to read this book and it was every bit as devastating as I thought it would be, but it was also incredibly beautiful.

When 15-year-old Nathan discovers that his older brother Al, has taken his own life, his whole world is torn apart. Al was special. Al was talented. Al had so many dreams ... so why did he do it? Convinced that his brother was in trouble, Nathan decides to retrace Al's footsteps. As he does, he meets Megan, Al's former classmate, who is as determined as Nathan to keep Al's memory alive. Together they start seeking answers, but will either of them be able to handle the truth about Al's death when they eventually discover what happened? And the Stars Were Burning Brightly is a tragic and emotional story about a 17-year-old boy called Al, unexpectedly dying by suicide and leaving his family to cope with the traumatic aftermath. The story is told from the perspective of Nathan, Al’s younger brother, and Megan, who was Al’s only friend. I want to turn away, but I can't. I just keep going, and then I hear it. A sound from somewhere above me, so faint that it's almost a whisper.LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. I think of how me and Al had had a row that morning. How he'd called me after school and I'd cut him off. Ignored his call, then turned my phone to silent. All cause I wanted him to stop bothering me and piss off. All cause I was having too much fun, drinking and smoking in the park. All cause I wanted to stay with Kyle and these two fit girls we were with. Just finished reading @DanielleJawando's 2020 debut #BurnBright & it reminded me of one of my fave of 2019 - @YasminwithanE's All the Things We Never Said #FindYourVoice @HotKeyBooks - Included it last year before it properly existed, it lived up to expectations. Both v powerful