REVIEWED BY JOSHUA, 12, NSW
A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr, Penguin Australia, ISBN 9781760899547
Alphabet Soup provided a review copy of this book.
‘The hardest part is over. You made it.’
You find yourself in a new country, in a big city, in a big house. It’s all new and scary. You, Meixing, have been told you need to go to school as well. Everything is strange to you – the language, the people, the culture and the school. This is Australia.
Your home, Big Scary, is your friend and looks out for you. Big Scary keeps you safe and protected. Everything is ok.
But everything goes wrong when Ah Ma’s wedding ring, your grandma’s wedding ring, is lent to you for good luck at school. The problem is that your supposed friend tricks you and steals the ring. You don’t know how to get it back as you can’t speak the language fluently and your now ex-friend lies and says that her parents got it for her. Distraught, you go home.
What are you going to do? What other problems will you face?
Shirley Marr’s book, A Glasshouse of Stars, expresses big, strong emotions and feelings such as when Meixing loses someone close to her and is very torn apart. Later she finds the glasshouse’s secret and is exuberant upon her findings. Marr mixes Meixing’s imagination and brings it to life, causing the reader to visualise the scene before them. The way Marr uses second person helps the reader to understand and empathise with Meixing.
As an avid reader, I really enjoyed reading this book and every time I see the coloured cover of the book, I am compelled to pick it up and fly back to Meixing’s world. This book is very creative through the metaphors and images that connect the story together. It is also relatable as I have also faced some of the problems Meixing met. I encourage you thoroughly to pick up this book and find yourself in the shoes of a migrant girl.
I loved this book deeply and rate it a well-deserved 5 out of 5. Come read this exceptional book!
Take a sneak peek at the first chapter of the book.
Read our earlier interview with the author.
Joshua is a regular contributor to Alphabet Soup. Read his earlier review of Eddie Woo, Superstar Maths Teacher here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!
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