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brandypainter's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I waited all the way until February 1st to finish my first 5 star read of 2018. There was no need for me to wait that long. I had A Sky Full of Stars by Linda Williams Jackson in my house the whole month of January. But reader, sometimes I get scared about reading highly anticipated sequels to books I've loved. There was no need to worry though. A Sky Full of Stars is the perfect second half to Midnight Without a Moon.
Rose made the difficult decision to stay in Mississippi rather than go with her aunt to live in St. Louis. Now that the choice has been made, Rose must find the strength and courage to stand by her conviction that Stillwater is the place she needs to be. Her strength and courage become more difficult to find as reports of more deaths of black men at the hands of white men come in. Rose's best friend, Hallelujah, is ready to begin his own junior chapter of the NAACP and start peacefully protesting. Rose's first cousin Shorty has other, more violent ideas of ways they can fight back. As tensions rise in the community and in her own home, Rose has to find inventive ways to preserve the present and plan for the future.
The hard thing about sequels is that you already know and love the characters. There isn't that time you spend getting to know them because that work has been done. As a result, sequels are almost stressful from the beginning because of how concerned you are for the characters you already love. I felt that greatly reading this book. Rose and Hallelujah have become two of my favorite MG characters of all time and my concern for their continued emotional and physical well-being was high. They both do a lot of growing, changing, and learning in this book. The foundations of both their personalities were strong, and those foundations are built on in this book. Rose is told she is brave for staying behind in Mississippi, but she feels scared. She is terrified at the idea of risking herself even for a cause she knows is good and just. Hallelujah is full of fire and defiance, ready to take on the world. Through conflicts with each other, circumstances, and the greater society both gain perspective and learn a little balance. Shorty's character is fantastic addition to this mix. He acts as a foil and catalyst for both of them to learn things. He is fascinating in his own right as well and adds a new perspective on the events happening in the community. I also enjoyed getting to know Rose's Aunt Ruth and Hallelujah's Aunt Bertha better in this book. They are both great role models for Rose, though their lives are very different from each other.
The story follows events in Rose's life through the Fall of 1955 and ends at Christmas. There is a lot of history touched on. The Montgomery Bus Boycott starts, Rosa Parks becomes a name everyone knows, and there are references to Martin Luther King Jr. All of this is brought into the lives of the characters through other sources. Rose feels a world away and far removed from even in Alabama. In Rose's own community, tensions are still high from the acquittal of Emmett Till's murderers. Midnight Without a Moon didn't pull any punches with this history, but I feel like A Sky Full of Stars raised it a notch and was throwing fire on almost every page. And it is magnificent. I definitely cried harder during this book than any I've read recently. (And I cried hardest at a wonderful exchange between Rose and Hallelujah about faith and heroes.) As in the first book, the church community and Rose's faith play an important role in the story and her character development. Again, I loved how integral this was and that Jackson was able to fully explore it. Rose has doubts. She feels frustrated. She feels convicted. Her journey through all of that is a thing of beauty.
I was going to do a list of great quotes, but there are SO MANY. I couldn't choose. Just read the book. The underlying humor in these books plays a large part in why I like them so much too.
Fans of historical fiction should not miss out on these books. Whatever age you are, they are must reads.
I waited all the way until February 1st to finish my first 5 star read of 2018. There was no need for me to wait that long. I had A Sky Full of Stars by Linda Williams Jackson in my house the whole month of January. But reader, sometimes I get scared about reading highly anticipated sequels to books I've loved. There was no need to worry though. A Sky Full of Stars is the perfect second half to Midnight Without a Moon.
Rose made the difficult decision to stay in Mississippi rather than go with her aunt to live in St. Louis. Now that the choice has been made, Rose must find the strength and courage to stand by her conviction that Stillwater is the place she needs to be. Her strength and courage become more difficult to find as reports of more deaths of black men at the hands of white men come in. Rose's best friend, Hallelujah, is ready to begin his own junior chapter of the NAACP and start peacefully protesting. Rose's first cousin Shorty has other, more violent ideas of ways they can fight back. As tensions rise in the community and in her own home, Rose has to find inventive ways to preserve the present and plan for the future.
The hard thing about sequels is that you already know and love the characters. There isn't that time you spend getting to know them because that work has been done. As a result, sequels are almost stressful from the beginning because of how concerned you are for the characters you already love. I felt that greatly reading this book. Rose and Hallelujah have become two of my favorite MG characters of all time and my concern for their continued emotional and physical well-being was high. They both do a lot of growing, changing, and learning in this book. The foundations of both their personalities were strong, and those foundations are built on in this book. Rose is told she is brave for staying behind in Mississippi, but she feels scared. She is terrified at the idea of risking herself even for a cause she knows is good and just. Hallelujah is full of fire and defiance, ready to take on the world. Through conflicts with each other, circumstances, and the greater society both gain perspective and learn a little balance. Shorty's character is fantastic addition to this mix. He acts as a foil and catalyst for both of them to learn things. He is fascinating in his own right as well and adds a new perspective on the events happening in the community. I also enjoyed getting to know Rose's Aunt Ruth and Hallelujah's Aunt Bertha better in this book. They are both great role models for Rose, though their lives are very different from each other.
The story follows events in Rose's life through the Fall of 1955 and ends at Christmas. There is a lot of history touched on. The Montgomery Bus Boycott starts, Rosa Parks becomes a name everyone knows, and there are references to Martin Luther King Jr. All of this is brought into the lives of the characters through other sources. Rose feels a world away and far removed from even in Alabama. In Rose's own community, tensions are still high from the acquittal of Emmett Till's murderers. Midnight Without a Moon didn't pull any punches with this history, but I feel like A Sky Full of Stars raised it a notch and was throwing fire on almost every page. And it is magnificent. I definitely cried harder during this book than any I've read recently. (And I cried hardest at a wonderful exchange between Rose and Hallelujah about faith and heroes.) As in the first book, the church community and Rose's faith play an important role in the story and her character development. Again, I loved how integral this was and that Jackson was able to fully explore it. Rose has doubts. She feels frustrated. She feels convicted. Her journey through all of that is a thing of beauty.
I was going to do a list of great quotes, but there are SO MANY. I couldn't choose. Just read the book. The underlying humor in these books plays a large part in why I like them so much too.
Fans of historical fiction should not miss out on these books. Whatever age you are, they are must reads.
barefootbetsy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
apigonfire's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this story of Rosa Lee better than the first as is showed her inner emotions handling everything happening around her.
caseymarieagnes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
ssloeffler's review against another edition
4.0
This character, Rosa, and the people in her life are real people. I mean, they might as well be. The frustration, the fear, the rage, the joy, the love... it is all here.
danyell919's review against another edition
5.0
The sequel was just as good as the first. I really love Rosa!
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
I was super excited when I ran across these perfect-for-middle-school English class middle grade novels set in 1955, right before and after the Emmett Till murder.
These books are perfect historical fiction, full of empathy and feeling, to show students what it was like during the Jim Crow era in Mississippi. Both align well with 8th grade CC Social Studies and ELA standards.
I loved them both and wish they had free teaching guides to recommend to teachers, but at least Moon has some pay-for-materials (check out Teachers Pay Teachers).
I read A Sky Full of Stars first, not knowing it's the sequel to Midnight Without a Moon, until I visited the author's site.
There I found a teaching guide of sorts, for much younger grades (not something I'd use in a middle school school classroom), but it did have a great author interview.
Summary:
In this second book, Stars (which I liked better than Moon, actually), after Rose Carter's made her decision to stay in Mississippi, she has many an honest conversation with her 16-year-old cousin, Shorty, and the local preacher's son, Hallelujah, about why she's staying, and how to be courageous in these terrifying times. She acknowledges her fears, both about being killed and about failing to live up to others' expectations.
Through it all she finds ways to uplift her family -- planting the seed of Aunt Ruthie's cake business, protesting against segregation with Hallelujah, getting Queen out of Mississippi so she can raise her baby away from Ma Pearl's black strap of terror, and bringing her father back into her and her brother's lives.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
These books are perfect historical fiction, full of empathy and feeling, to show students what it was like during the Jim Crow era in Mississippi. Both align well with 8th grade CC Social Studies and ELA standards.
I loved them both and wish they had free teaching guides to recommend to teachers, but at least Moon has some pay-for-materials (check out Teachers Pay Teachers).
I read A Sky Full of Stars first, not knowing it's the sequel to Midnight Without a Moon, until I visited the author's site.
There I found a teaching guide of sorts, for much younger grades (not something I'd use in a middle school school classroom), but it did have a great author interview.
Summary:
In this second book, Stars (which I liked better than Moon, actually), after Rose Carter's made her decision to stay in Mississippi, she has many an honest conversation with her 16-year-old cousin, Shorty, and the local preacher's son, Hallelujah, about why she's staying, and how to be courageous in these terrifying times. She acknowledges her fears, both about being killed and about failing to live up to others' expectations.
Through it all she finds ways to uplift her family -- planting the seed of Aunt Ruthie's cake business, protesting against segregation with Hallelujah, getting Queen out of Mississippi so she can raise her baby away from Ma Pearl's black strap of terror, and bringing her father back into her and her brother's lives.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
gschwabauer's review against another edition
3.0
Strong prose and characterization, just didn't have any major stand-out elements for me. Still, I really appreciate this book's willingness to look at a lot of the less-discussed factors of historical racism in the U.S., such as jury corruption and pressure to be "good black people."
lrcartee's review against another edition
3.0
This book picks up where Midnight Without a Moon left off. Rosa is living with Ma Pearl and Papa (her grandparents) and a slew of cousins and her Aunt Ruthie. Ruthie has left her alcoholic and abusive husband and moved back in with her kids. Ma Pearl rules the roost with a ruthless and often mean disposition. They are sharecroppers for the Robinson's and life is hard for people of color in the Mississippi Delta region.
When things start to heat up after the murder of Emmett Till and the release of those who murdered him, Rosa begins to wonder what her place is in the upcoming battle for civil rights. Encouraged by her friend, Hallelujah, to become an activist, Rosa is torn between protecting her family and standing up for what she knows is the right thing.
This is a great book about the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. I think both this one and its prequel would be a good place to start to introduce middle grade students to the fight for civil rights. In this turbulent time in our history where we sometimes seem to be going backward in our fight for everyone to be treated equally, I feel that books like this one are important to expose our young people to so they can develop some knowledge and hopefully some empathy to what being treated equal under the law really means.
When things start to heat up after the murder of Emmett Till and the release of those who murdered him, Rosa begins to wonder what her place is in the upcoming battle for civil rights. Encouraged by her friend, Hallelujah, to become an activist, Rosa is torn between protecting her family and standing up for what she knows is the right thing.
This is a great book about the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. I think both this one and its prequel would be a good place to start to introduce middle grade students to the fight for civil rights. In this turbulent time in our history where we sometimes seem to be going backward in our fight for everyone to be treated equally, I feel that books like this one are important to expose our young people to so they can develop some knowledge and hopefully some empathy to what being treated equal under the law really means.
thepaperbackprincess's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know where to start with this book...
I read the first in the series, Midnight Without a Moon, earlier this year and while I liked it, I thought parts of it were a bit problematic. I think A Sky Full of Stars is a stronger novel than the first book, but I still think it had some issues.
Namely, Ma Pearl. What the hell is wrong with Ma Pearl?! I said this in my review of the first book, but I don't understand why Jackson decided to write Ma Pearl the way she did. She is a very harsh character and I keep waiting to discover why she is so mean, but Jackson gives us absolutely no justification. As far as I'm concerned Ma Pearl has no redeeming qualities and I think that's unfair to her character. She literally has no empathy. She doesn't seem like a psychopath to me, so I really don't know why she's so unyielding. Sure, she makes a great antagonist, but she's also not the main villain of the story (hello white people) and I think showing us a little bit more of her humanity would make such a better character.
But let's talk about plot, because I thought the plot of this story was stronger than the first book. Midnight Without a Moon takes place in Mississippi in 1955 and focuses on the murder of Emmett Till. Rose is shocked when the white men who murdered Emmett walk free of all charges and is desperate to see change. A Sky Full of Stars focuses on the murders of several other black men in the state for doing things like trying to register to vote, demanding to be paid a fair wage, and for simply making a mistake when pumping a white man's gas. So basically black people are being shot for daring to exist.
I found the plot structure a bit weak in Midnight Without a Moon, but it is much better defined in A Sky Full of Stars. Rose is disgusted that white people can kill black people without suffering any consequence and decides she wants to do something about it. Everyone has different ideas about the most effective ways to create change and Rose has to figure out where she fits in and how far she's willing to go to try and ensure a better future for her family. She struggles with turning down her Aunt Belle's offer to move to St. Louis and is afraid of what the consequences might be of speaking out against inequality.
Similar to the first book, I felt this book had no real climax to the story and it felt like it kind of just ends. I could easily see Jackson writing another book about Rose. Mostly I think she just needs to think more about her characterization. Rose has a great character arc, but the rest of the characters feel 1-dimensional. There's quite a lot of side characters but I feel like barely any of them had depth. The Shorty-Hallelujah conflict had so much potential, but never really came to a head and as such, didn't really feel that meaningful. There was so much potential for Queen's character too, but I don't think her character developed at all in this book.
I applaud Jackson for tackling some pretty tough subjects in a middle grade book, but honestly, I think this book can go so much deeper. I feel like Jackson is hesitant to get into the dark nitty-gritty of her characters. The character conflicts all feel very surface level and I think if Jackson went deeper into her characters, their fears and desires, this would truly be a fantastic series. Have your characters make mistakes and take risks - they live in a harsh world and sometimes they are going to make bad choices. How they react and grow from those challenges is what makes them inspiring.
Thank you to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read the first in the series, Midnight Without a Moon, earlier this year and while I liked it, I thought parts of it were a bit problematic. I think A Sky Full of Stars is a stronger novel than the first book, but I still think it had some issues.
Namely, Ma Pearl. What the hell is wrong with Ma Pearl?! I said this in my review of the first book, but I don't understand why Jackson decided to write Ma Pearl the way she did. She is a very harsh character and I keep waiting to discover why she is so mean, but Jackson gives us absolutely no justification. As far as I'm concerned Ma Pearl has no redeeming qualities and I think that's unfair to her character. She literally has no empathy. She doesn't seem like a psychopath to me, so I really don't know why she's so unyielding. Sure, she makes a great antagonist, but she's also not the main villain of the story (hello white people) and I think showing us a little bit more of her humanity would make such a better character.
But let's talk about plot, because I thought the plot of this story was stronger than the first book. Midnight Without a Moon takes place in Mississippi in 1955 and focuses on the murder of Emmett Till. Rose is shocked when the white men who murdered Emmett walk free of all charges and is desperate to see change. A Sky Full of Stars focuses on the murders of several other black men in the state for doing things like trying to register to vote, demanding to be paid a fair wage, and for simply making a mistake when pumping a white man's gas. So basically black people are being shot for daring to exist.
I found the plot structure a bit weak in Midnight Without a Moon, but it is much better defined in A Sky Full of Stars. Rose is disgusted that white people can kill black people without suffering any consequence and decides she wants to do something about it. Everyone has different ideas about the most effective ways to create change and Rose has to figure out where she fits in and how far she's willing to go to try and ensure a better future for her family. She struggles with turning down her Aunt Belle's offer to move to St. Louis and is afraid of what the consequences might be of speaking out against inequality.
Similar to the first book, I felt this book had no real climax to the story and it felt like it kind of just ends. I could easily see Jackson writing another book about Rose. Mostly I think she just needs to think more about her characterization. Rose has a great character arc, but the rest of the characters feel 1-dimensional. There's quite a lot of side characters but I feel like barely any of them had depth. The Shorty-Hallelujah conflict had so much potential, but never really came to a head and as such, didn't really feel that meaningful. There was so much potential for Queen's character too, but I don't think her character developed at all in this book.
I applaud Jackson for tackling some pretty tough subjects in a middle grade book, but honestly, I think this book can go so much deeper. I feel like Jackson is hesitant to get into the dark nitty-gritty of her characters. The character conflicts all feel very surface level and I think if Jackson went deeper into her characters, their fears and desires, this would truly be a fantastic series. Have your characters make mistakes and take risks - they live in a harsh world and sometimes they are going to make bad choices. How they react and grow from those challenges is what makes them inspiring.
Thank you to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.