And the Stars Were Burning Brightly

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So I wanted to emphasise this idea that there is nothing wrong with being ‘different’ (whatever that might look or feel like) and that there is great strength and power that comes from being who you really are. Nate has lost his brother to suicide- through the grief, anger and self blame he starts to dig into Al’s life in the hope of finding answers. I’m certain this will help others who might be in a dark place and show them that there is still hope and light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. This speaks to the quality of Jawando’s writing, which invokes the thought processes of someone with suicidal thoughts and how someone can appear fine from the outside but be in turmoil and pain on the inside.

You also see the impact that Al’s death has on all of his family members, and the different ways that they try to cope with this, which I think helped in terms of relatability. Unravelling the consequences and reasons behind his death leads Al’s brother Nathan and his friend Megan to one another. It covers a difficult subject that is so important to understand, the damage that bullying can cause is immense, the suffering horrific.I would definitely advise caution for some readers as it tackles heavily themes of bullying and suicide, but I would wholeheartedly recommend! Though he’s passed away before the book even begins, he feels like a fully fledged character and this only amplifies the sadness I felt at his loss.

You really shine a light on some of the pressures facing young people today, particularly bullying and the power of social media. She has also had several short plays performed at the King’s Arms in Manchester, and at Stratford Circus in London.From a multi-award-winning author, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Gayle Foreman, Jennifer Niven and Nikesh Shukla. This is in no way an easy read, it talks about loss, suicide, bullying and the impacts of social media in teenagers lives. This book is for teenagers but parents, teachers and anyone who works with young people should read it to see the immense pressures peer issues and social media have on young people.

The only time I had to suspend disbelief was the fact that everything was on social media, yet the perpetrators thought they were safe as long as no one grassed. Set against a backdrop that many find less than pleasant, this story covers so many emotional highs and lows.

I was badly bullied all throughout secondary school, and things became so bad, that I attempted suicide. The overall topic and the unfolding of the extent of Al’s struggle is a message that needs to be heard. It is such a beautiful, heartbreaking story that really has left me with tears rolling down my cheeks.

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly then goes on in these various mediums to show the audience the aftermath of Al’s suicide. Yet, because of the subject matter, especially if you have also had suicidal thoughts, it can feel incredibly hard to revisit those feelings, even through someone else. One of the things that Nate realises in the book, is that there is more than one way to grieve, and that it is often quite a messy process, which isn’t as clear cut as you may think.

As a young, straight teenager, Nathan is an example of the modern teen who doesn’t necessarily care about someone’s sexuality, but recognises that he is living in a world where the expectations put on him about masculinity do affect how he shows affection. Nathan butts heads with his older brother, has to deal with school bullies, familial expectations and opening up. Find out about the latest book in the 'Girl, Missing' series, Secret Sister, in this short video by author Sophie McKenzie. The result is a tragic and raw account of identity, relationships, teenage power games and bullying in the age of social media. The characters were very identifiable and I'm sure young people reading this book would see themselves.