These Unlucky Stars

An accident-prone middle schooler blames her lot on an unlucky star in McDunn's (The Queen Bee and Me) endearing contemporary novel. When an attempted doorbell ditching ends with a broken arm for elderly neighbor Gloria Crumb, rising seventh grader Annie P. Logan spends the summer assisting the stubbornly independent woman with her clutter. She also helps the residents of her North Carolina town prepare for their first festival, which they hope will put the struggling town on the map. Caring for Gloria's beloved hound helps Annie overcome her longtime fear of the creatures, sparked by a dog attack, and as the two unearth old pictures--of Gloria's siblings, travels, and surprising talents--Annie begins to wonder about these changing versions of the now frail woman she visits daily, and the choices and experiences that define who a person becomes. Annie's journey to break free of the guilt she carries, about Gloria's accident and her own mother's leaving, and to embrace her true self--including the wild imagination and creativity she shared with her mom--offer quiet triumph through a tenderly drawn intergenerational relationship and Annie's expressive voice. Ages 8-11. Agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Mar.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-7—Annie feels like she has no control over her life because she was born under an unlucky star, or so her mother said before she left. So it makes sense that when she dares to play ding dong ditch on an elderly lady's door, Annie causes the woman to fall and break her arm. It figures that she'll have to help take care of her throughout the summer, when all she really wants is to help design the float for the family store in the town festival. And, of course, her dad and brother don't want her help. What starts out as an unlucky break turns into a summer of healing, as Annie and Gloria gain new insights into what makes good life. McDunn includes illustrations drawn by Annie to transition throughout the book, which provide a glimpse into Annie's thoughts. Annie eventually realizes that luck cannot dictate her life, but it grows tiresome watching her blame her poor decisions on bad luck, though the chapters are short enough for reluctant readers. Annie does show spunk, and readers will appreciate her insights: "Ugh. This is so typical. When girls do something nice, it's an expectation. When boys do something nice, it's a celebration." Annie and her family are white, her friend Faith is described as having brown skin, and there is an LGBTQ+ couple. VERDICT A fair realistic fiction read, but there are others that do the job better. A secondary purchase.—Kerri Williams, Center Moriches Free P.L., NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A tenderly drawn intergenerational relationship. - Publishers Weekly, starred review

McDunn offers a warmhearted, nuanced look at a slightly lonely child. . . . genuine and engaging. . . . Heartfelt and appealing. - Kirkus Reviews

McDunn capably captures the voice of a preteen while sharply observing her protagonist's emotional dynamics. - BCCB

These Unlucky Stars is a warmhearted story about learning to make your own way, in luck and in life. - BookPage

[A] satisfying novel. - Booklist

"McDunn portrays the intertwined emotional lives of middle-school kids with sensitivity and precision. . . . An insightful story of friendship and change." —Booklist, starred review, on THE QUEEN BEE AND ME

"Meg's first-person narration is emotive and candid. . . . Refreshingly genuine." —Kirkus Reviews on THE QUEEN BEE AND ME

"McDunn deftly sketches Meg's struggles amid seventh grade's unspoken social order. . . . Readers will identify with the pitch-perfect middle school dynamics." —Publishers Weekly on THE QUEEN BEE AND ME

"An engaging, honest book—I love Cat, and you will, too!" —Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor-winning author of THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE on CATERPILLAR SUMMER

"I could almost smell the ocean air as I read Gillian McDunn's Caterpillar Summer. What a beautiful story of family, forgiveness, life on an island, and growing up." —Kate Messner, author of BREAKOUT and THE SEVENTH WISH on CATERPILLAR SUMMER

"An engrossing, heartwarming, beautifully written debut about building and rebuilding family ties." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on CATERPILLAR SUMMER

"McDunn's poignant, gratifying debut about friendship and family encourages both empathy and hope." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on CATERPILLAR SUMMER

"Fans of the books Rules by Cynthia Lord and Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine will enjoy this well-written book about the struggles of a fractured family." —School Library Connection on CATERPILLAR SUMMER

"Readers will find Cat to be an admirable and fully credible heroine . . . and the idyllic island setting makes for a wistful summer escape." —BCCB on CATERPILLAR SUMMER

"A sweet summer story that middle grade readers will appreciate." —School Library Journal on CATERPILLAR SUMMER