People Like Stars

by Patrice Lawrence

 


Multi-award-winning Patrice Lawrence's first contemporary
middle grade novel is a page-turning mystery and exploration
of fractured families, long-buried secrets and the power of friendship,
told with warmth and compassion.

“Masterful storytelling weaves together the
lives of the three protagonists in a page-turning mystery with a
fierce heart.” - The Scotsman



“[An] instantly gripping, funny and moving 9+
story by an outstanding contemporary author.” - The
Guardian



“Secrets and lies power People Like Stars...
Lawrence's plot twists are fuelled by compassion” - The
Observer



“A classroom-friendly story for younger teenagers.”
- The Times Children's Book of the Week




“Funny, moving, one-of-a-kind.” -
Best Books of the Year, The Observer



Three 13-year-old strangers are connected by one big secret.
Nervous Ayrton was stolen away from his mum as a baby. He was returned
safely, but now Mum won't let him out of her sight.
Curious Stanley has a Forbidden Grandmother. His mum won't even talk
about her.
Homeless Sen has finally found a place to live, but she'll be out
on the street if she upsets her secretive landlady.
What happens when their paths cross...?





Stunning storytelling – by turns powerful and witty –
from an exceptional writer for young people.
A page-turning mystery with real depth.

Patrice has won the Waterstones Children's Prize and the YA Book
prize and been shortlisted for many other prestigious awards.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Childrens, Family

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2025

About the author

Patrice Lawrence is a British writer and journalist, who has published fiction both for adults and children. Her writing has won awards including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Children and The Bookseller YA Book Prize.

Reviews

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite but it wasn’t awful either. I loved the way it moved between the three characters, showing their own parts of the story. Some good messages mixed within. I just found at times it kind of became a little extreme when I didn’t need to be.

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a proper middle grade mystery with heart, teeth and a big emotional centre, even if it reads on the younger end of the spectrum. Three kids, three secrets, three tangled lives. It’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s doing far more under the surface than the simple language would make you think.

Ayrton, Stanley, Sen - three POVs that are distinct, though not fully fleshed out, and I kept wishing Lawrence had pushed each voice a little further. Still, the trio works. Ayrton carries the weight of childhood trauma and a mum who can’t let go. Stanley hovers in that strange limbo where family history is half-whisper, half-urban legend. Sen is sharpened by homelessness, hyper-aware of every rule that keeps her and her mum off the street. Together they form a little constellation of kids forced to grow up too fast.

The mystery itself is enjoyable, if a tad predictable, but the emotional mystery is where the strength lies. How do you parent after a kidnapping. What do you owe the people who raised you. How do you build identity when adults keep feeding you half-truths. The book doesn’t drown its readers in despair or preachiness, but it doesn’t sugar-coat either. That balance is hard in middle grade, and Lawrence mostly nails it.

The language is simple, sometimes very simple, which does make it read young. But honestly, that’s what makes it perfect for accessibility. Brilliant for EAL students, reluctant readers, or anyone who wants a gripping plot with none of the linguistic gatekeeping. The pacing flies. You blink and you’re fifty pages in.

Is it perfect. No. Predictable in places, a few strands left looser than they should be, and the three voices could have gone deeper. But did I enjoy it. Absolutely. A thoughtful mystery with enough warmth and grit to matter. Solid 3.5 out of 5, and a great one to recommend in a school library.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the lives of three teens (Ayrton, Stanley and Senna) from different families, who all have different struggles. We see each of the three affected by the choices of their parents and in also in Stanley’s case, a ‘Forbidden Grandmother’. They are brought together through the revelations about a strange, earth-shattering event.

I was gripped by the twisting, inter-locking mysteries and the way the past was influencing the present. The use of multiple povs for telling the story worked really well and maintained the tension/ intrigue, as well as drawing you closer and building empathy for each character. There’s warmth and a lack of judgment about the way the characters are depicted, flaws and all. And there’s humour.

I really enjoyed seeing an older female character who wouldn’t easily fit into any boxes. Likewise, the novel’s subtext shines a light on motherhood and how difficult it can be at every phase.
I was particularly drawn to Ari and Senna because of their circumstances and liked how the author raised some really questionable actions by Senna’s school- who come across as callous and ridiculous when dealing with Senna’s ‘uniform violations’.
Reading it made me want to rebel! 😉

Lots I’d like to talk about but can’t without spoilers!

It’s suitable for all MG readers+ but I’m going to put it on my Y7-8 shelf as I think it’s perfect for their interest age.

[Rebecca R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three 13-year-olds team up to solve a mystery. Ayrton's mum has been oppressively overprotective since he was kidnapped as a baby. At his new school, he just wants the freedom to be able to go to school by himself or to hang out with friends after school, but she is having a difficult time letting him go. Stanley has a Forbidden Grandmother - he knows about the terrible thing that she did but he doesn't know why she did or why him mum won't talk about her at all. Sen has been homeless before, she and her mum have found a good place to stay but there are rules and they don't want to upset their reclusive host and end up back on the street again.

The setup of this contemporary middle grade story is strikingly unique and the mystery of Ayrton's kidnapping and how the three stories are connected kept me turning the pages. There is a hopeful resolution but I found the whole situation really sad. A poignant story about friendship and family secrets.

[Camilla Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honoured to read an early copy of this warm, early teen novel by the wonderful Patrice Lawrence. There’s so much of Patrice in this book and lovely nods to her friends and family but it’s also a fabulous piece of storytelling.

3 different kids, all connected, but strangers to one another, all with very different characters, tell their own version of events that come together in an exciting, artistic climax.

I don’t want to tell you too much and spoil the fun. Just read it. It’s a fantastic book!

[Sara Rothery · Rating 4 out of 5]

about teens getting it wrong and how things work out well in the end.Thata not to say adults being embarrassed and not not able to state why they cant cope. family splits and sometimes it takes love and forgiveness to continue.
first read for SCBA possible shortlister

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The characters are brilliant and how their stories are interwoven brings a whole other level of intrigue to the story.

[PippaR]

3.5 to lower 4 stars

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storytelling. Authentic and diverse characters. Immersive reading experience

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favourite Patrice Lawrence book, I find her voice much stronger in her YA books, but the characters were well formed.

[LAURA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible audio book.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this