Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake is a poignant and introspective young adult novel that explores the impacts of trauma. The story follows a loyal, value driven girl named Mara, a highschooler who’s life takes a sharp turn when her brother, Owen was accused of sexual assault, forcing her to question her trust and allegiance.
The novel delves into the effects of such claims, and the impacts it has on different people within a community. Blake focuses on the impacts of sexual assault rather than the act itself, leading to a more powerful story. Mara explores the nuances of hoping she can trust her brother, while wanting to believe her friend; conveying the push and pull within various types of relationships.
Something I love about all of Blake’s novels, especially this one, is that she refuses to simplify her characters, all of them remain nuanced, messy and flawed. The reader is forced into discomfort—to reflect on what society has taught us to think about and handle sexual assault. Girl Made of Stars shows the slow, hard and imperfect journey that one takes when healing, and displays the sliver of hope that remains during hard times.
Girl Made of Stars has become one of my favorite books. I love how it’s different from Blake’s typical sapphic romance, and the way it tackles hard topics in a way that young people can understand.