Description
Things have changed in Aster’s life, and she’s really not okay. Her dad is the one person who has always been there for her, but now Aster feels like she’s being pushed out—like the space that used to be hers is getting smaller and smaller. The good, right things – she did them because she was scared of not being seen, of being left, but they don’t work anymore. Instead of waiting for someone else to do the leaving—like her mum did—Aster decides she’ll be the one to make that change.
Overwhelmed, she makes a decision that could have awful ramifications for two families, not just hers. Facing up to what she’s done is hard—but doing the right thing is very different to doing the easy thing. Change can be scary and family life can be tough. But as Aster discovers, the very thing you fear may actually be the gift that brings love and light into your world …
Review
This is the next wonderful instalment in the Aster series. I always have trouble placing the books in this series. The first won the Younger Readers at the CBCA Book of the Year awards, but I find that there is so much in them for those in the lower secondary years too.
In this story, we return to having Aster as the main character. She still suffers from anxiety, and this is not helped by her Dad moving his girlfriend, Nella, in with them. Nella is good to Aster, but Aster can’t throw off the feeling that she is slowly vanishing. These feelings are heightened with the announcement of a new baby. Surely, Aster will not be needed at all now.
Then Aster befriends Armelle, a six-year-old girl who has similar problems to Aster, when she is constantly bullied at school. The care and understanding that Aster has for Armelle is simply lovely.
As with all of these stories, they leave you with a sense of hope. They always deal with young people’s problems, particularly mental health issues, gently and really quite beautifully.
Maybe the thing that Aster fears most could be the thing that brings her the most joy? This is a wonderful book, that I highly recommend for readers aged 11 to 14 years.
