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The Stars We Find in Dust
In The Stars We Find in Dust, sixteen-year-old Emma-Rose Wallner offers an intimate, unflinching glimpse into the heart and mind of a young soul navigating the complexities of growing up. Across three carefully curated sections, Wallner invites readers into a world shaped by frustration, grief, tenderness, and wonder. Her work dwells in ambiguity—in the uncertain rhythms of inspiration, the slippery contours of mental health, and the uneasy coexistence of memory and mourning. With fierce honesty and lyrical sensitivity, she weaves reflections on adolescence into narratives of obsession and rage, capturing the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world.
Written in the candid voice of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, these poems and stories speak to a generation facing inner demons, uncertain futures, and moments of fleeting light. Wallner’s words urge us to look inward, to sit with the shadows—and to find the stars hidden in the dust.
Written in the candid voice of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, these poems and stories speak to a generation facing inner demons, uncertain futures, and moments of fleeting light. Wallner’s words urge us to look inward, to sit with the shadows—and to find the stars hidden in the dust.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 24, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐️
TRIGGER WARNING: ⚠️
This book contains themes of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles.
There’s a raw honesty here that’s hard to ignore. The author opens deeply personal spaces and puts them on the page in a way that takes real courage. As someone who also turned to writing during my own struggles, I found myself recognizing pieces of that same emotional language throughout the collection.
There were moments that stayed with me, especially the line, “I am grateful for the scars that pull with every move. They’re a reminder of my wins every time that I lose.” That sentiment felt grounding and quietly powerful, a reflection of resilience that doesn’t ignore pain but learns to carry it.
My favorite: Dear Jack.
This collection feels deeply personal, one that offers glimpses into the author’s inner world. At its core, the writing often feels like it waltzes with depression and playfully seduces death, never fully consumed by either but in constant, intimate conversation with both.
TRIGGER WARNING: ⚠️
This book contains themes of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles.
There’s a raw honesty here that’s hard to ignore. The author opens deeply personal spaces and puts them on the page in a way that takes real courage. As someone who also turned to writing during my own struggles, I found myself recognizing pieces of that same emotional language throughout the collection.
There were moments that stayed with me, especially the line, “I am grateful for the scars that pull with every move. They’re a reminder of my wins every time that I lose.” That sentiment felt grounding and quietly powerful, a reflection of resilience that doesn’t ignore pain but learns to carry it.
My favorite: Dear Jack.
This collection feels deeply personal, one that offers glimpses into the author’s inner world. At its core, the writing often feels like it waltzes with depression and playfully seduces death, never fully consumed by either but in constant, intimate conversation with both.
October 9, 2025
This book is stunning. Hearing stories from youth during this era of the world is so important andthis is a perfect example of true raw emotion. Perfect.
March 2, 2026
not my favourite. needs improvements but loved it but also read it out of spite. it was surprisingly really
good despite my low expectations.
good despite my low expectations.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews