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Starfish
“This past summer I turned fifteen. The same week my brother killed a kid. My birthday was on a Wednesday in July and by Friday, my teen years were over.”
What if the life you didn’t choose is the one you get to have? What if your family disintegrates in the wake of an accident that leaves one boy dead and another facing criminal charges? For fifteen-year-old Charli Weeks, the “what ifs” are real – as real as the sea that rises and falls with the tides. As real as the rusty old drawbridge that opens and closes on the hour.
"Starfish" is the story of Charli Weeks, whose life implodes the summer of her fifteenth year. It starts with the starfish. Their annual migration to Long Point Island is a sign of good fortune on par with a sighting of the Blessed Virgin. When they don’t show, things quickly unravel. Suddenly her brother is in terrible trouble, her mother has gone AWOL, and her father is obsessed with trying to contain the tragedy that destroyed two families that night in July. In a way she never anticipated, Charli is set free to make sense of her life after “everything that was supposed to happen didn’t and everything that wasn’t, did.”
"Starfish" is a story of “getting through”, of family, and love tested to the breaking point. Set against the backdrop of an environmental event, and personal tragedy, it is a story of finding out who you are and owning that, whatever the cost.
What if the life you didn’t choose is the one you get to have? What if your family disintegrates in the wake of an accident that leaves one boy dead and another facing criminal charges? For fifteen-year-old Charli Weeks, the “what ifs” are real – as real as the sea that rises and falls with the tides. As real as the rusty old drawbridge that opens and closes on the hour.
"Starfish" is the story of Charli Weeks, whose life implodes the summer of her fifteenth year. It starts with the starfish. Their annual migration to Long Point Island is a sign of good fortune on par with a sighting of the Blessed Virgin. When they don’t show, things quickly unravel. Suddenly her brother is in terrible trouble, her mother has gone AWOL, and her father is obsessed with trying to contain the tragedy that destroyed two families that night in July. In a way she never anticipated, Charli is set free to make sense of her life after “everything that was supposed to happen didn’t and everything that wasn’t, did.”
"Starfish" is a story of “getting through”, of family, and love tested to the breaking point. Set against the backdrop of an environmental event, and personal tragedy, it is a story of finding out who you are and owning that, whatever the cost.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2013
2 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 30, 2014
Enjoyed the book. Had the author attend our book club. Michele gave great insight on her inspiration to write the story. Looking forward to her next book.
April 21, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by this. I especially liked the beginning. It sort of fell off at about the halfway mark and the ending took a turn I wasn't quite expecting (although it was consistent with the story.) I think Kingery had a few too many plates spinning in the story, but she handled them well enough. The beginning was more mystical(?) and I would have loved it if she maintained more of that through the second half of the novel. I still enjoyed the story, though, even if it was uneven.
The only major problem was the editing. This is a Kindle Unlimited selection and I'm never sure how some of these books are published. The quality varies greatly. Anyway, there were so many obvious mistakes in this novel. At some point, I began making a note every time I spotted a mistake. There were words left out or left in. There were punctuation errors. I can understand missing one or two errors, but there were a lot of them in this book and I'm not being nitpicky about comma usage or whatever. These were obvious. I don't really understand how that happens.
The only major problem was the editing. This is a Kindle Unlimited selection and I'm never sure how some of these books are published. The quality varies greatly. Anyway, there were so many obvious mistakes in this novel. At some point, I began making a note every time I spotted a mistake. There were words left out or left in. There were punctuation errors. I can understand missing one or two errors, but there were a lot of them in this book and I'm not being nitpicky about comma usage or whatever. These were obvious. I don't really understand how that happens.
August 30, 2013
Enjoyed this read. Well written and interesting story. I would recommend
November 27, 2013
Once the story's background and characters are set, this is a page-turner! A great read if you're looking for a story to remember and that resonates long after you put the book down.
February 14, 2014
I loved that this story takes place in South Carolina. Having the 15- year old protagonist tell the story is effective and drew me into the events. Great read.
July 1, 2016
Fantastic read!!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews