A special young girl you will fall in love with, as she learns at a young age the injustice of a cruel world of prejudice, race, and privilege. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors and I will honestly read anything she writes. I look forward to the release of a new book from her each year. I may like some more than others, but I always find something that I connect with in some way. It's obvious how much research goes into each of her novels and I appreciate it. Whether the book is about family, love, relationships, religion, cancer, medical emancipation, death, sexual assault, mental illness, addiction, even whales or elephants. I always learn something new, and I love that about her novels.

Ruth was a good student, the best reader in the class and loved astronomy. She was a good listener, a willing friend. They were studying about stars. The reason stars look so small in the night sky is because they’re so far away from us. Raimy Greenland, Readaraptor. I adored this book, its so unique in its style and its voice and blends a second, strong narrative voice in so seamlessly that I cannot understand why anyone wouldn’t feel the same way ... The story is incredible. Read the Review.I’m happy I received an ARC of this middle grade book from the publisher at BEA 2019. This first outing by JJ Grabenstein co-authoring with his wife did not disappoint. 12 year old Piper is now going to a prestigious school because her dad has been hired as the music teacher, but she doesn’t see herself as talented or as rich as the other kids. However, she has a passion for space and astronomy. Piper does make friends at her new school, but finds challenges around every corner. Now the school has a competition and all the kids are trying to be the winner. They are joining clubs, competing in sports, science fairs, talent shows and more. Does Piper have a chance of leaving a legacy at the school like her mom once did? Soon she finds others look at her different. Some do not like her color. They are mean and mistreat her. All her hopes and dreams are soon shattered. Ruth happened to be on the outskirts of the universe. This story follows Ruth, who we already adore, in a story from her childhood. I loved getting more of this amazing character from Small Great Things, which (if you weren’t aware) is one of my favorite books of all time. Piper is not sure how she feels about going to this new school, but she is eager to make her father happy. After she arrives, she learns that she not only has a bully in another student, but also a wonderful group of like-minded friends. When a teacher challenges them to think of who they want to be- now, not just when they grow up- Piper begins to think carefully about who she does or doesn't want to be.

I love Jodi Picoult for writing about topics that matter, issues that need to be focused on, and Shine was just what I always expect from her, a bunch of awesomeness.This ebook touches on race, friendship, and so much more. I highly recommend reading this and then reading Small Great Things. So dang good, and Jodi Picoult can seriously write. Jake Hope, Droplets of Ink: There is a deftness of touch in ‘Shine’, the writing is atmospheric and draws upon tropes of the ghost story but is elevated by modern fairy tale qualities which will feel familiar to readers of Gourlay’s debut, ‘Tall Story’. Woven from strands of science and mythology this is a moving story about family secrets and the importance of communication and connection. Read the review Rosa suffers from a rare condition that renders her mute. She lives on the strange island of Mirasol where the rain never seems to stop. Erzählt wird die Geschichte aus der Sicht der achtjährigen Ruth, die in den späten Siebzigern auf eine neue Schule wechselt. Dabei fällt sie direkt auf, denn sie ist die einzige schwarze Schülerin an der Schule, was zur damaligen Zeit leider noch oftmals ein Problem darstellte. Dies bekommt Ruth auch zu spüren, denn obwohl sie sich sehr um Anschluss bemüht, wird sie oftmals nur von ihren Mitschülern abgewiesen. Philip Ardagh, The Guardian: “ Gourlay has created something very special here; a precious and important novel that also explores exile from neighbours, family and country. The book is about reinvention and the faces we present to the world, whether it be in person, on a postcard or on the internet, all wrapped up in an exciting and perfectly paced story with a disturbing and dramatic climax.” View