Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 9781328778239

At first, Mara can’t believe it: her friend Hannah has accused Mara’s beloved twin of rape. Mara is torn between her loving family and her knowledge of her friend’s truthfulness…and her own hidden truth.

The fallout from Hannah’s accusation initially overshadows the sexual trauma Mara herself secretly endured a few years ago. Later, the two incidents seem to balance in awfulness, because as Mara–and everyone else–knows, people don’t believe girls. However, as Mara – and the author – point out, even when bad acts go unpunished, girls will survive and learn to hope and love and go on.

Gentle, powerful, and awesome. This book not only outlines the need for empowerment, but even shows on the page how consent between people works. Highly recommended for ages 12 to adult.

Bullying, cussing, diversity, friendship, gay friends, gender diversity, high school, homophobia, kissing, mental health, neurodivergence, off-page intimacy, parents, rainbow+, sexual assault, sexual situations, straight friends, teachers.