Starry, Starry Night

by Lurlene McDaniel

The star that led the three wise men could be the same star wished upon by those longing for a wish to come true. In the opening novella, "Christmas Child," 15-year-old Melanie feels cheated when her baby sister, born at Christmastime, lives only a few days. But the brief life of her sister shows Melanie the lasting value of love. Brenda struggles between noble intentions and real desires when she becomes the last chance for happiness for a dying boy in "Last Dance." The final story, "Kathy's Life," describes a girl who appears to have it all. Kathy is beautiful, intelligent, and has the perfect job as a live-in caregiver for a couple's baby boy. But not everything is as perfect as it seems: Should Kathy give up the one person she loves most in the world?

Genres: Young Adult, Christmas, Short Stories, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Holiday

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 13, 1998

About the author

Lurlene McDaniel (born c. 1948) is an author who has written over 50 young adult books. She is well known for writing about characters struggling with chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and organ failure.


Other places to find her are...
https://www.facebook.com/lurlenemcdan...
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/aut...
http://www.youtube.com/user/LurleneMc

Reviews

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as great as some of Lurlene McDaniel's other books but still good.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, if cheesy holiday stories.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three novellas, about 90 pages each, but boy did they pack a punch!

Christmas Child - SO SAD but I liked the message. Melanie was a really sweet girl who really matured a lot and I loved how supportive her friends were. Absolutely heartbreaking though. 4 stars

Last Dance - my least favorite of the three but still was cute. Doug was likable enough, but it wasn’t as deep or meaningful as the other two. 3 stars

Kathy’s Life - a sweet story with another really good message. Ellie was a good friend to Kathy and Kathy helped Ellie too. 4 stars

[Stephanni Thyng · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first story of this book had me in tears, it was so moving and heartbreaking. The second and third stories were heartwarming and kept me captivated. McDaniel does a great job engaging her readers with her heartfelt stories.

[Madison Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn’t exactly put me in the Christmas spirit, but it touched my heart and gave me exactly what I wanted. Christmas Child was easily the saddest story of the bunch, and is also the strongest one. Last Dance was weaker, but the ending painted a sweet picture. Kathy’s Life was a little heavy-handed, but I admit, the ending surprised me. I became way more invested in these stories than I thought I would! I may need to look into McDaniel further, this semi-religious teenage drama fiction scratches an itch unlike anything else.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found these three stories, although not read during the holidays, sweet and touching. Although I have to admit, it wasn't Lurlene McDaniel at her best. Since there were three stories made to fit into a 255 page, each story was at least 80, which didn't leave much room to elaborate.

My favorite story was "Kathy's Life." I felt that was the most touching of all--to give up your son so he could have a better life, no matter how much you want to keep him. The other two stories were just okay for me. For "Last Dance," I was so sure that Doug was going to die, because I looked for a deeper meaning in Brenda's wish on a star. But I was wrong. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want the guy to die, but I felt that the ending for "Last Dance" was too sudden, and nothing really happened.

I will most likely pick up this book again during the holidays, just for some holiday hope. It was a great and fast read.

Rating:

93/100

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book. I enjoyed reading all three Christmas stories. Each of them were very well written and had great messages.

[Vicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughter has loved this author's books for years. We found this one and decided to read it aloud together. I realize that a lot of her books have sad themes, but this one was a horrible book of 3 stories centered around Christmas. Maybe if I had read this when I was 12 I would have liked it. I kept wanting to tell the characters to wake up and realize there are some people and situations a girl should stay away from. Not a keeper on our shelves. If you want to take the joy out of Christmas, read these 3 stories.

[Danisa Retamales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy grato es leer libros de festividades como lo es navidad. Tres historias que conmueven el corazón. Lurlene McDaniel es una gran escritora que te invita a ponerte en los zapatos de otro y vivir la alegrías y tristezas de sus personajes, es todo un viaje de emociones para luego terminado el libro volver a la realidad y valorar la vida.

[Ginger Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a waste of my time. The stories were too short and lacked anything to hold my attention. All 3 stories had potential if they had been written better with more thought and feeling. The stories left me wanting to know more because the endings just drop right off. Author missed the mark by a mile

[D.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing says Christmas like a baby born with no brain. Sheesh, Lurlene, Grinch much? These stories were so all sad but the first one was just unbearably depressing. I know Lurlene likes to work the heart strings but this was just too much. Where was the hope?

I admit I did like the third story though. I thought the character Kathy was strong and sweet.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always Tear Jerkers!

[Mps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book more times than I can remember, and each of the short stories is a nice little dose of Christmas spirit.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgia 101. Easy read, but I will probably let the (read) books from this author live in my memories. Still, it was a nice walk down memory lane.

[Nizan Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories were beautifully written and showed that even though life can seem tough sometimes, all you need is to believe and hope. I feel like I really needed to read these right now. Loved them.

[Holly Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked it. I'm not that big of a fan of it being chopped into 3 different stories. However, I enjoyed each story individually. Each one had characters that a reader can empathize with.

[Traceylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why

This was there different books in one and all you can tell written by Lurlene McDaniel if you have read her books

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

YA love story collection. Lurlene McDaniel was the John Green of the 90's. She has the teen tragic love stories without the quips and comic relief. For younger teen who love angst this is a must.

[Sarah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Child (15-16)
Last Dance (16-17)
Kathy's Life (17-18)

[Rachel DiSanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three good good short stories, just seem to end a bit abrupt.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book. I liked how the chapters were short and sweet too. I think the characters all did an excellent job in the whole book.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these three stories I wish there was more to all of them.

[Annalicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it has three stories that keep you intertained.

[Lizzy W · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the novel Starry, Starry Night, Lurlene McDaniel restores the true meaning of the holidays through 3 stories about teens rising to help one another, and be different than the norm. She evokes emotion throughout the story using diction, and ties together the three books by unique themes that intertwine in some sort of way.McDaniel demonstrates the themes at the end of each story through a passage explaining what the individual has learned. Each book has a different twist to the theme, but generally speaking the overarching theme would be: challenges teens face have the ability to restore the true meaning of Christmas: love, hope, family, and selflessness.

In the first story Christmas Child, the main character Melanie feels like her heart has been ripped out and that life is not fair when her baby sister is born during the holidays and only lives for a few hours. The baby’s brief life shows her that love lasts forever. McDaniel evokes emotion through diction, especially in this passage; “Surprised that she’d even fallen asleep, and still groggy, she stumbled into the bathroom and took a shower” (37). Surprised, groggy, and stumbled all evoked emotion in me when reading. These words demonstrated to me the painful process that Melanie was going through. “For they were a family. And what remained of their family was different, changed, somehow made bigger, stronger, deeper by Jennifer’s existence” (87). This passage was Melanie’s thoughts after Jennifer her sister had passed away. Melanie now knew that the love they shared for Jennifer would last forever and change the family completely, however change in a good way, not a bad like she felt in the beginning of the story.

In the second story Last Dance Brenda faces troubles in deciding what to do when she could be a dying young boys only and last chance for happiness. McDaniel evoked emotion in me by demonstrating what Brenda is going through diction examples being; “Slow flush creep up” (98), “hot and cold at the same time” (98), “almost creepy” (98), “squirmed” (99), and “vulnerability” (99). These were all little sound bites that evoked emotion in me by painting a picture and demonstrating what Brenda was facing. In the end though she felt she made the right choice,“Brenda knew she’d truly done the right thing. She’d have the rest of her life for the Matt Forresters of the world. But she only had one special night with Doug” (164). Brenda knew she did the right thing, especially in this situation. She put the heart of Doug before her own and in return got a very rewarding experience.

In the final story Kathy and Ellie become great friends, and learn how to make lemonade out of the lemons that life gives you. McDaniel evokes emotion through diction using words like, “trembling” (229), “tears welled” (229), “pressure” (231). These words all demonstrated the struggles that Kathy and Ellie were facing. In the end they became good friends and learn not to judge one another, or others for that matter. Life will throw things at a person, and it is all how that person deals with it and makes that situation the best. Kathy teaches this to Ellie. “She took Kathy’s hand, looked up at the bright, glimmering star and wished with all her heart for Kathy to find her answer. For Kathy to be at peace with whatever she chose to do” (243). Ellie learned to be selfless and care for others, she learned her true values and morals.

This isn’t really three stories about Christmas, it’s three stories told by girls who encountered life changing experiences that taught them the values of family, love, hope, faith, and friendship.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confession time, here’s what I got (Hamilton references are always appropriate, just go with it) At one point as a middle school student I loved Lurlene McDaniel books. To the point that I may have written some fanfiction that may still be in my mother’s attic. So as I was looking for holiday books to review and I stumbled across Starry, Starry Night I was struck with a sense of nostalgia and downloaded without reading the blurb.

I was not expecting a holiday book to be this rife with sickness and death. I really shouldn’t have been surprised. It isn’t as if I hadn’t read all of her books before. Did any of them have more to them than being tragically terminally ill? Now that I am thinking about it I can answer this with, no.

So much melodrama. And while 12-year-old me was down with that adult me is not. Or at least I am not when there is no real plot or character development. The did issue seems to be that this is a book with three separate stories in it. Maybe 50 pages a story. There just isn’t time for anything to happen or for the character to do any changing. An extra 200 pages a story might have helped. Maybe. Therefore, it reads like an afterschool special.

I was also not impressed with the characterization. The characters are cardboard cutouts. All three of the MC could be swapped around and the stories would have been exactly the same. I would have liked to see some connection between the stories. Other than being set at Christmas there is very little thematically that links the story.

Christmas Child: A fifteen-year-old girl is about to have a baby sister and is super excited. But things turn out horribly. This was the most upsetting story. I don’t’ want to give spoilers but it left me feeling hopeless and that life is pointless.

Last Dance: A pretty 15-year-old girl is sort of pressured into becoming friends with a terminally will boy. Le tragedy. Probably the best of the lot. I think that the idea could have been decent with more space. I was annoyed by the whole “he likes her from afar because she is pretty thing.” I do think that she managed to end it at the right place in the story which left you feeling sad but in kind of a good way.

Kathy’s Life: My least favorite. It tried to explore sexual pressure and rape culture and teen pregnancy but was so PG fluffy about it that I was just rubbed wrong. Also, I pretty much knew the secret immediately which just made me all judgy about the MC because she takes FOREVER to figure it out. Or at least it felt like it. When a story is only 50 pages long drag is not something that should be a problem.

Bottom line: This is not a book for adult-me and honestly there are other books that would have been better for twelve-year-old me.

This review can also be seen at www.onemorestamp.com

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lurlene McDaniel is an amazing author. I have read a few of her books before so I was really interested in this book about the holidays. It contains three short stories, each with a powerful message.

The first, “Christmas Child,” begins with 15-year-old Melanie being very excited about this Christmas because her mother is expecting her second child. When the baby is born, something is terribly wrong. After finally hearing the prognosis Melanie is upset that she will never truly know her baby sister, Jennifer, and begins to question why Jennifer was born in the first place. Jennifer teaches Melanie and her family the power of love.

The next story is about Brenda who finds out a boy, Doug, who has cancer, thinks the world of her, and he isn’t getting much better. She has never met him but once she does, Brenda likes him, but just as friends as her heart is set on Matt Forrester. She mistakenly accepts dates with both boys on the same night. How will she solve this dilemma and live with her conscience? “Last Dance” is a true friendship story.

In “Kathy’s Life,” Kathy seems to have it all, a beautiful house, a great life and the perfect job, she is a live-in babysitter for a wealthy couple. Ellie, another girl, is from a broken family whose mom is working two jobs just to get by. The girls get paired for an English project and Ellie is extremely jealous of Kathy’s life. Though a series of events, Ellie discovers that things are not always as they seem and learns to be careful what she wishes for.

Even if you don’t have time to read a whole novel, each of these stories is special on its own, especially if you enjoy books about teenagers who overcome challenging and unusual personal situations.

[Brittany Sweeney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three holiday stories end with the theme of "a starry starry night" in this McDaniels tear-jerker. In the first story, a girl named Melanie is an only child whose mother is about to giver birth right before Christmas. However, the entire family's excitment is shattered when they learn that the baby has a rare disease, and will not survive through the week. Melanie must then contemplate the meaning of such a short life, and why such horrible things are allowed to happen. The second story belongs to the beautiful Brenda, who must decide whether she should go to the big dance with Doug, the boy with Leukemia who cares for her a great deal or with Matt, the attractive football player who is less-than-forthcoming with his affections. Lastly, we have Ellie, whose single mom is always working and whose boyfriend is pressuring her to do things she's not ready to do. She believes that her classmate Kathy has the perfect life, and grows envious of her perfect nanny position and all the luxury items that come as a result. However, Ellie learns that Kathy has secrets of her own, secrets so devestating that they threaten to destroy both girls' peace of mind. McDaniels, the master of the sob story, shows that three's a charm in these tales of love and loss. Although filled with emotion, these stories feel even more rushed and false than one of her full-length novels, and as such, it was hard to feel too emotionally involved with any of the characters. I would only recommend this book to someone with a lot of time and limited options.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is completely and totally official. I've fallen head over heals in love with Lurlene McDaniel. Just finished this book this morning and I'm sooo lookign forward to the rest of em! (I've gotta stack of her books just waiting for me to turn their pages) The books, to say the VERY least, will be one of the sadest books you read. One quote from the book "Last Dance" (The second book and my favorite.) is something like this: "He didn't just touch my heart-" and then some very sappy, tear jerking, over dramatic, loving, again, tear provoking lines that Lurlene is so good at comign up with. Anyways, the author, she does a tremendous job describing the sadness and sorrow that the main character feels for Doug. You, when reading this book, you feel ever thing she does. Honestly. Truely. I just, I can not even begin to tell you how wordlessly sad this book makes you feel. God, I can't even begin to count the tears I cried. Though "Last Dance" was great, it could seem a bit odd. You'll have to read and find out! ;) Oh and my thoughts on the third, and last, book, is to me, I figured out what made Kathy so different and unperfect very early on in the story, there forth, I just seemed very predictable. :(

[Sarah Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three short stories of three young women who have all wished upon a star

Christmas Child - Melanie is so excited for the birth of her new baby sister or brother. But when her mother gives birth to a defected baby Melanie's Christmas doesn't look so merry. With her new baby sister left with only hours to live Melanie and her family soon witness the emotions of love, loyalty, birth and death in a very short amount of time.

Last Dance - Brenda has been waiting for Matt, a boy who she use to go to school with to ask her out but when Doug, a boy who has been diagnosed with leukaemia asks her out, how can she say no? When Brenda soon becomes a dying boys last chance at happiness what will she choose when Matt finally does ask her out?

Kathy's Life - Kathy seems to have it all, a perfect house, an amazingly sweet car, an a cool job but when Ellie enters the home of Kathy she can sense that things are out of sorts. Will Ellie be able to help Kathy and will she be able to solve the problem before it gets worse?

So life-moving, so sad, so touching ... three words that sum up Lurlene McDaniel's books completely <3

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was based on three different holiday stories. The first story told was about what happened to fifteen year old Melanie and how her baby sister was alive for only a few days. The second story was how Brenda was struggling between helping guy who she doesn't really know and her desire of a guy who she liked. The last story was about a senior, named Kathy and how she faced her life of what happened to her when she was fifteen. In the story, she also meet a friend named Ellie who is also struggling in life as herself.
In the this book, I learned quite a few things such as new disease term that I never heard of before. Such as anencephalic, meaning lack of full develop brain occurs in babies. Which I think it is very unfortunate because babies are blind, deaf or unconscious. Most of the books I read by Lurlene McDaniel changed my point of view of life in some ways. Like doing more volunteer work in hospitals or so to help those who need support to help them continue to survive under painful conditions.