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Connect the Stars
From Saving Lucas Biggs authors Marisa de los Santos and David Teague comes another heartwarming middle grade adventure about two misfits who discover the importance of just being themselves.
When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends. But as they trek through the challenging and unforgiving landscape, they learn that they each have what it takes to make the other whole.
Luminous and clever, Connect the Stars has Marisa de los Santos and David Teague’s trademark beautiful prose, delicate humor, swooping emotions, and keen middle grade friendships. This novel takes on the hefty topics of the day—bullying, understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure kids will love!
When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends. But as they trek through the challenging and unforgiving landscape, they learn that they each have what it takes to make the other whole.
Luminous and clever, Connect the Stars has Marisa de los Santos and David Teague’s trademark beautiful prose, delicate humor, swooping emotions, and keen middle grade friendships. This novel takes on the hefty topics of the day—bullying, understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure kids will love!
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2015
96 people are currently reading
2776 people want to read
About the author
Marisa de los Santos
15 books3,120 followersMarisa de los Santos is the New York Times bestselling author of LOVE WALKED IN, BELONG TO ME, FALLING TOGETHER, THE PRECIOUS ONE, and her newest novel, which continues with characters from the first two, I'LL BE YOUR BLUE SKY.
Marisa has also co-authored, with her husband David Teague, two novels for middle grade readers: SAVING LUCAS BIGGS and CONNECT THE STARS.
Marisa and David live in Wilmington, Delaware with their two children, Charles and Annabel, and their Yorkies, Finny and Huxley. Marisa is currently at work on her sixth novel for adults, I'D GIVE ANYTHING.
Marisa has also co-authored, with her husband David Teague, two novels for middle grade readers: SAVING LUCAS BIGGS and CONNECT THE STARS.
Marisa and David live in Wilmington, Delaware with their two children, Charles and Annabel, and their Yorkies, Finny and Huxley. Marisa is currently at work on her sixth novel for adults, I'D GIVE ANYTHING.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
June 7, 2017
Recently I've added Marisa de los Santos to my list of favorite authors. She has such a refreshing way of bringing characters to life on the page. I like the world she creates, and I can totally escape in it. Her books put a smile on my face.
I understand that David Teague, her husband is a children's books author and that Connect The Stars is a collaborative effort. All I can say is that I absolutely enjoyed this book, featuring young teenagers who are discovering themselves and the world they live in. I especially enjoyed the sentiment behind the plot - To learn to accept your special gifts, but also learn to put things into perspectives.
Audrey, Aaron, Kate and Louis were enormously delightful and I had to laugh out loud at many occasion in this story. These kids are thrown together by happenstance during a wilderness camp in the Texan desert, and totally make the best of many bad situations.
I can only agree with a review I've read; that this is a luminous and clever read with beautiful prose, delicate humor, swooping emotions, and keen middle grade friendships. It's about understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure that many kids and smart adults will love. Indeed, I'm fifty-six years old, and I can't help but to be fully entertained by books like these: stories like these have so much more content and gravitas than many, many adult books.
So I say, Marisa and David, keep up the good work!
I understand that David Teague, her husband is a children's books author and that Connect The Stars is a collaborative effort. All I can say is that I absolutely enjoyed this book, featuring young teenagers who are discovering themselves and the world they live in. I especially enjoyed the sentiment behind the plot - To learn to accept your special gifts, but also learn to put things into perspectives.
Audrey, Aaron, Kate and Louis were enormously delightful and I had to laugh out loud at many occasion in this story. These kids are thrown together by happenstance during a wilderness camp in the Texan desert, and totally make the best of many bad situations.
I can only agree with a review I've read; that this is a luminous and clever read with beautiful prose, delicate humor, swooping emotions, and keen middle grade friendships. It's about understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure that many kids and smart adults will love. Indeed, I'm fifty-six years old, and I can't help but to be fully entertained by books like these: stories like these have so much more content and gravitas than many, many adult books.
So I say, Marisa and David, keep up the good work!
January 12, 2023
Book: Connect the Stars
Author: Marisa de los Santos
**NOTE: My first (and horrible) review is mortifying. If you still want to read it, scroll down to the bottom. Thank you**
Connect the stars has always been one of my favourite books and still is. It is a tale of friendships, trust, and adventure. It pulled my heartstrings, made me tear up, and throw the book across the room.
I loved how it captivated me from the first sentence alone.
It was amazing. Good job, both authors.
Plot:
Audrey Alcott doesn't have any friends. She gave up on them long ago when everybody started lying. Why? Well, Audrey is a walking Lie detector. She can detect any kind of lies: white lies, half-truths, on-the-spot ones, carefully planned ones, etc.
Middle School is already hard enough when the one person she never imagined would lie to her, did. Her best friend, Janie, lied to her. Audrey loses all hope in humanity and civilization and pulls herself back from society even more.
Aaron Archer is the brother of Wikipedia. He can remember anything he hears or sees. But while he remembers everything, thinking is a completely different thing. I remember the poem my English teacher taught us, but I can also think about what the poet means. Yeah no, he can't do that. So when one of his plans goes wrong, any confidence he had in himself is lost.
"When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends. But as they trek through the challenging and unforgiving landscape, they learn that they each have what it takes to make the other whole.
Luminous and clever, Connect the Stars takes on some hefty topics of the day—bullying, understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure kids will love!"
The plot was well thought out and very engaging. I loved every minute of it. The descriptions of the happenings were very gripping and putting the book down became a burden.
It started with action and increased the pace with every passing chapter. It was splendidly set, nicely put, and of course, marvellous!
1/1
Writing
was a huge part of my interest in this. I found the descriptions so detailed and the kind that makes you feel you're inside the book.
The adjectives were exquisitely used even though sometimes I found them a bit too poetic. 13-year-olds, however mature, can't think like adults. They can't figure out every mystery in the world through words. That was one of the most prominent and annoying problems in the writing.
Other than that, I really enjoyed it!
0.5/1
Continuing to the characters:
At the beginning of the book, Audrey has an air of sadness around her. Her personality didn't register with me and I didn't like her much. She seemed stand-offish and I didn't blame her classmates for not liking her either.
But she became better and much more likeable as the book progressed. Her development was one of the best parts of the book. She wasn't an expert on lying. And to be honest, seeing her fall down and slowly getting back up again was the best thing she did. Because her thoughts, in the beginning, were r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s.
I can safely say, though, she became one of my most favoured characters in the end.
Aaron had a very interesting personality. Unlike Audrey, he wasn't standoffish. He didn't have friends because. . .when you're spouting out information like a pressure cooker, people are bound to think you're weird. And when you don't know what to say, you cannot make friends just like that. People think your memory is cool, not you.
I loved his nature and personality quirks. Every chapter from his POV was awesome to read and one of the things I looked forward to the most.
His development was a significant part of what gripped me so hard.
I loved how from that info-spouting, kinda annoying Aaron, he became
His character is awesome and my fav part of the book. Definitely.
Louis is such a lovable character!
He has something. . . which I do not know what it's called.
He doesn't think much of himself (like almost everybody in this book). When you think about it, it's quite obvious why.
See, you have five senses.
- Touch
- Sound
- Sight
- Smell
- Taste
and five sensory organs
- Skin
- Ears
- Eyes
- Nose
- Tongue
I just gave a science lesson👀
Anyways, for Touch, think about dodgeball. The balls slamming into you would be so scary and so painful. Ever thought about what a slap would feel like? I thought so. Also you would probably shy away from hugs which is just sad. Poor poor Louis.
And those huge blaring truck horns? My eardrums would start to bleed. Even the truck engines are enough to go mad.
Eyes, I guess, aren't too bad. At least I don't think so. You'll just be able to see really really far. Which could get pretty annoying.
Ughh gross. Anything's smell you despise? Now multiply it by 20.
AND YOU CAN NEVER EAT SPICY FOOD! IT WOULD BURN YOUR TONGUE.
His development from Louis the Scared to is amazing. He thought way more of himself than ever and I loved it! HOW THE HELL DID HE SA- ahem. Okay, no spoilers.
Kate doesn't have a 'superpower.' She's just sad. At first, I felt she was overly dramatic.
But since we conveniently have a lie detector, we know she was telling the truth. It's not like she was faking anything.
Her development was sort of satisfying. She did become better and slightly more likeable but I never understood what was going on in her head.
NOPE.
She stayed practically the same throughout the book.
Unless you count the monkey horse thing.
Which I guess makes sense?
If I had to rank them-
1) Aaron
2) Louis
3) Audrey
4) Kate
1.5/2
Final comments
Probably like...full. It's a comfort book. Full.
1/1
H
ere is my mortifying first review
Plot: ★/☆
Writing: ✵/☆
Characters: ★✵/☆☆
Instinct: ★/☆
Star rating: ★★★★☆
Rating: 4
Key
★: Star given
☆: Stars not given/ out of x number of stars
✵: Half star
Author: Marisa de los Santos
**NOTE: My first (and horrible) review is mortifying. If you still want to read it, scroll down to the bottom. Thank you**
"This place is his family...and it's beautiful, but it's not easy. It stings. It's hard and dry. It's not like a garden or a beach. It's like a family that's hard to love, but you do it anyway...and the anyway is the whole point."
Connect the stars has always been one of my favourite books and still is. It is a tale of friendships, trust, and adventure. It pulled my heartstrings, made me tear up, and throw the book across the room.
I loved how it captivated me from the first sentence alone.
"I was 13 years old and I could have written a book on lying"
It was amazing. Good job, both authors.
Plot:
Audrey Alcott doesn't have any friends. She gave up on them long ago when everybody started lying. Why? Well, Audrey is a walking Lie detector. She can detect any kind of lies: white lies, half-truths, on-the-spot ones, carefully planned ones, etc.
Middle School is already hard enough when the one person she never imagined would lie to her, did. Her best friend, Janie, lied to her. Audrey loses all hope in humanity and civilization and pulls herself back from society even more.
Aaron Archer is the brother of Wikipedia. He can remember anything he hears or sees. But while he remembers everything, thinking is a completely different thing. I remember the poem my English teacher taught us, but I can also think about what the poet means. Yeah no, he can't do that. So when one of his plans goes wrong, any confidence he had in himself is lost.
"When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends. But as they trek through the challenging and unforgiving landscape, they learn that they each have what it takes to make the other whole.
Luminous and clever, Connect the Stars takes on some hefty topics of the day—bullying, understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure kids will love!"
The plot was well thought out and very engaging. I loved every minute of it. The descriptions of the happenings were very gripping and putting the book down became a burden.
It started with action and increased the pace with every passing chapter. It was splendidly set, nicely put, and of course, marvellous!
1/1
Writing
was a huge part of my interest in this. I found the descriptions so detailed and the kind that makes you feel you're inside the book.
"Two hours into our rescue effort, as the sun really began to beat on us, Louis spotted one of Daphne's unbelievably red hairs snagged on a yucca, undulating like a tiny pennant on the rising heat waves. He stopped and plucked it off the greeny wooden spray of spines."
The adjectives were exquisitely used even though sometimes I found them a bit too poetic. 13-year-olds, however mature, can't think like adults. They can't figure out every mystery in the world through words. That was one of the most prominent and annoying problems in the writing.
Other than that, I really enjoyed it!
0.5/1
Continuing to the characters:
At the beginning of the book, Audrey has an air of sadness around her. Her personality didn't register with me and I didn't like her much. She seemed stand-offish and I didn't blame her classmates for not liking her either.
But she became better and much more likeable as the book progressed. Her development was one of the best parts of the book. She wasn't an expert on lying. And to be honest, seeing her fall down and slowly getting back up again was the best thing she did. Because her thoughts, in the beginning, were r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s.
I can safely say, though, she became one of my most favoured characters in the end.
Aaron had a very interesting personality. Unlike Audrey, he wasn't standoffish. He didn't have friends because. . .when you're spouting out information like a pressure cooker, people are bound to think you're weird. And when you don't know what to say, you cannot make friends just like that. People think your memory is cool, not you.
I loved his nature and personality quirks. Every chapter from his POV was awesome to read and one of the things I looked forward to the most.
His development was a significant part of what gripped me so hard.
"Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself."
I loved how from that info-spouting, kinda annoying Aaron, he became
His character is awesome and my fav part of the book. Definitely.
Louis is such a lovable character!
"I used to think the universe was playing a joke on me," said Louis, "making me as big as a truck driver and scared of my own shadow." He hefted Randolph into a more comfortable position and glanced to see, beside his ear, Randolph, suddenly wide awake, grinning at him like a maniac. "And now I'm sure the universe is playing a joke on me."
He has something. . . which I do not know what it's called.
"No, trust me, it is," said Louis. "I have this weird sensory disorder, which basically means all my senses are like ridiculously heightened."
He doesn't think much of himself (like almost everybody in this book). When you think about it, it's quite obvious why.
See, you have five senses.
- Touch
- Sound
- Sight
- Smell
- Taste
and five sensory organs
- Skin
- Ears
- Eyes
- Nose
- Tongue
I just gave a science lesson👀
Anyways, for Touch, think about dodgeball. The balls slamming into you would be so scary and so painful. Ever thought about what a slap would feel like? I thought so. Also you would probably shy away from hugs which is just sad. Poor poor Louis.
And those huge blaring truck horns? My eardrums would start to bleed. Even the truck engines are enough to go mad.
Eyes, I guess, aren't too bad. At least I don't think so. You'll just be able to see really really far. Which could get pretty annoying.
Ughh gross. Anything's smell you despise? Now multiply it by 20.
AND YOU CAN NEVER EAT SPICY FOOD! IT WOULD BURN YOUR TONGUE.
His development from Louis the Scared to is amazing. He thought way more of himself than ever and I loved it! HOW THE HELL DID HE SA- ahem. Okay, no spoilers.
Kate doesn't have a 'superpower.' She's just sad. At first, I felt she was overly dramatic.
She said, her voice flatter than ever, "What's the point of holding on to stuff when it all just goes away in the end anyway? I don't have anything. Unless you count the same reason I get out of bed every morning: why not? Like, I know what it's like to be alive, and I don't know what it's like to be dead, so why not just go with what I know?"
But since we conveniently have a lie detector, we know she was telling the truth. It's not like she was faking anything.
Her development was sort of satisfying. She did become better and slightly more likeable but I never understood what was going on in her head.
NOPE.
She stayed practically the same throughout the book.
Unless you count the monkey horse thing.
Which I guess makes sense?
If I had to rank them-
1) Aaron
2) Louis
3) Audrey
4) Kate
1.5/2
Final comments
Probably like...full. It's a comfort book. Full.
1/1
H
ere is my mortifying first review
Plot: ★/☆
Writing: ✵/☆
Characters: ★✵/☆☆
Instinct: ★/☆
Star rating: ★★★★☆
Rating: 4
Key
★: Star given
☆: Stars not given/ out of x number of stars
✵: Half star
October 29, 2015
See this review and more on my blog, Lilybloombooks
Middle grade isn't a genre I read much of (which I am in the process of remedying) - so there is a small part of me that doesn't feel I am THE BEST person to take a recommendation from. However, having a preteen in the house, I can tell which books would be fun for kids to read and Connect the Stars is one of those books.
The story follows two main characters, Audrey and Aaron. Both are unique with "superpower" abilities that they struggle with on a daily basis. For Audrey - it's her ability to know when someone is lying. For Aaron; it's the ability to remember everything he hears, sees and reads. At first glance, it seems that these wouldn't be such HORRIBLE abilities, right? However, for these two that just is NOT the case.
I adored both Audrey and Aaron. Audrey pushes people away because she is afraid of being hurt (aka lied to) and doesn't understand WHY people lie. She comes off rude but that is because she has built so many walls around herself. Aaron, while smart and knows A LOT, doesn't understand FEELINGS. It's hard to him to be social in situations that require some emotion, not facts. Both Audrey and Aaron don't want to be known just for their abilities, either.
During the wilderness camp, they are paired up on the same team with two other eccentric preteens. This group was so cute and fun! They all support one another and learn to trust each other as their time at the camp goes on. Audrey helps Aaron with small tasks and situations where his spewing of facts is not welcome, which were cute and often hilarious. The remaining team helps Audrey realize that pushing people away is the answer she has been looking for. It's just so heart-warming and CUTE.
Overall - I really enjoyed Connect the Stars! It's such a sweet, cute read about finding yourself, accepting others and coming to terms with things out of your control. Great read for middle graders and adults alike
I received this book for free from The Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Middle grade isn't a genre I read much of (which I am in the process of remedying) - so there is a small part of me that doesn't feel I am THE BEST person to take a recommendation from. However, having a preteen in the house, I can tell which books would be fun for kids to read and Connect the Stars is one of those books.
The story follows two main characters, Audrey and Aaron. Both are unique with "superpower" abilities that they struggle with on a daily basis. For Audrey - it's her ability to know when someone is lying. For Aaron; it's the ability to remember everything he hears, sees and reads. At first glance, it seems that these wouldn't be such HORRIBLE abilities, right? However, for these two that just is NOT the case.
I adored both Audrey and Aaron. Audrey pushes people away because she is afraid of being hurt (aka lied to) and doesn't understand WHY people lie. She comes off rude but that is because she has built so many walls around herself. Aaron, while smart and knows A LOT, doesn't understand FEELINGS. It's hard to him to be social in situations that require some emotion, not facts. Both Audrey and Aaron don't want to be known just for their abilities, either.
During the wilderness camp, they are paired up on the same team with two other eccentric preteens. This group was so cute and fun! They all support one another and learn to trust each other as their time at the camp goes on. Audrey helps Aaron with small tasks and situations where his spewing of facts is not welcome, which were cute and often hilarious. The remaining team helps Audrey realize that pushing people away is the answer she has been looking for. It's just so heart-warming and CUTE.
Overall - I really enjoyed Connect the Stars! It's such a sweet, cute read about finding yourself, accepting others and coming to terms with things out of your control. Great read for middle graders and adults alike
I received this book for free from The Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 24, 2016
I didn't really buy the wilderness camp! One adult for 16 kids? Yikes, no. And I didn't like that Kate was portrayed as depressed, but then explains why she's sad and said, "I didn't want you to think I was sad for no reason." That just felt like a slap in the face.
I don't know! A lot of the characterization was good (ugh, maybe too good though, I hate bullies), but I got too annoyed at the things that annoyed me.
I don't know! A lot of the characterization was good (ugh, maybe too good though, I hate bullies), but I got too annoyed at the things that annoyed me.
January 23, 2016
This is one of those books that didn't receive much buzz, but it is a delightful middle grade novel that is accessible to all kinds of readers.
July 24, 2015
I really enjoyed a couple of Marisa de los Santos's adult novel so I was eager to read the ARC for this middle grade fiction novel. Alas! Despite a promising beginning it seemed to me this just dragged on and on and on. I was probably as relieved as the central characters when their desert adventure finally came to a conclusion.
February 25, 2020
3.5*
nice middle grade story about the true meaning of making friends, learning not to judge on a first impression, how tot deal with your "issues" and accept them/make them part of who you are and turn them into advantages.
nice middle grade story about the true meaning of making friends, learning not to judge on a first impression, how tot deal with your "issues" and accept them/make them part of who you are and turn them into advantages.
December 11, 2015
Synopsis- Aaron Archer is a living encyclopedia – he remembers every single thing he’s read/heard – word for word.
Audrey Alcott is a walking lie detector – she can tell when someone lies – every single time – no matter the lie.
They have no idea who the other is. They live pretty far apart.
But when their parents (who also don’t know each other) decide, for various reasons, that spending six weeks in the total outdoors would do the kids good, they meet. They also meet some other kids (some nice, some not-so), and a crazy guy in charge of the event.
And thus starts the adventure of a lifetime.
What I thought- This was a really well-written book! I enjoyed the uniqueness of the fact that Audrey and Aaron pretty much have super-powers, but the story just makes them out to be interesting people with great talents. It made it seem almost normal – almost. Ms. de los Santos and Mr. Teague set up a wonderful story with these two unique kids thrown into an environment that really challenges them. The setting is a great place for the adventure – the Texas “Desert” Plains. The kids must learn to get along with each other, and also survive the blazing sun and landscape. When a classmate disappears after getting into a fight with the counselor, the kids team together to get to the bottom of it. I like how they learn to work together despite having very different personalities. I enjoyed every second of it.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Audrey Alcott is a walking lie detector – she can tell when someone lies – every single time – no matter the lie.
They have no idea who the other is. They live pretty far apart.
But when their parents (who also don’t know each other) decide, for various reasons, that spending six weeks in the total outdoors would do the kids good, they meet. They also meet some other kids (some nice, some not-so), and a crazy guy in charge of the event.
And thus starts the adventure of a lifetime.
What I thought- This was a really well-written book! I enjoyed the uniqueness of the fact that Audrey and Aaron pretty much have super-powers, but the story just makes them out to be interesting people with great talents. It made it seem almost normal – almost. Ms. de los Santos and Mr. Teague set up a wonderful story with these two unique kids thrown into an environment that really challenges them. The setting is a great place for the adventure – the Texas “Desert” Plains. The kids must learn to get along with each other, and also survive the blazing sun and landscape. When a classmate disappears after getting into a fight with the counselor, the kids team together to get to the bottom of it. I like how they learn to work together despite having very different personalities. I enjoyed every second of it.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 20, 2018
Well written, interesting characters and a great premise and plot. I thought it taught some great lessons for kids about tolerance, empathy and friendship.
February 16, 2020
4.5 stars...
Sometimes having a "gift" isn't as special as one would think, we have 2 middle schoolers who are rather bright intellectually, however, their gifts seem to cause them more problems then they can afford to have in middle school.
Audrey Alcott has the "gift" of always knowing when someone is lying, not just to her, but to anyone!When Audrey's best friend betrays her, well, Audrey just "pops".
Aaron Archer is your basic walking encyclopedia, whatever he hears or reads, it just stays in his head!
When his class is to appear at an event pitting different schools against each other, Aaron "loses" his advantage and blows his class right out of the event.
Aaron and Audrey don't go to the same school, nor do they know each other outside of school, but their lives are going to change over the summer, when both of their sets of parents decide to send them to the same wilderness camp, they are placed in the same group of campers who have to learn how to survive using just their brains and wits - 6 weeks away from all electronic devices, under the "leadership" of a former football player, with a chip on his shoulder.
Let the "games" begin...……..
Sometimes having a "gift" isn't as special as one would think, we have 2 middle schoolers who are rather bright intellectually, however, their gifts seem to cause them more problems then they can afford to have in middle school.
Audrey Alcott has the "gift" of always knowing when someone is lying, not just to her, but to anyone!When Audrey's best friend betrays her, well, Audrey just "pops".
Aaron Archer is your basic walking encyclopedia, whatever he hears or reads, it just stays in his head!
When his class is to appear at an event pitting different schools against each other, Aaron "loses" his advantage and blows his class right out of the event.
Aaron and Audrey don't go to the same school, nor do they know each other outside of school, but their lives are going to change over the summer, when both of their sets of parents decide to send them to the same wilderness camp, they are placed in the same group of campers who have to learn how to survive using just their brains and wits - 6 weeks away from all electronic devices, under the "leadership" of a former football player, with a chip on his shoulder.
Let the "games" begin...……..
September 3, 2023
Deze las ik voor de The Storygraph Bingo 2023 die ik samen met Evelyn voor ons samen heb bedacht, voor het bingovakje 'voldoet aan de criteria van je profiel'. Want volgens The Storygraph lees ik voornamelijk avontuurlijke, emotionele boeken.
En dat laat meteen zien dat aanbevelingen a) mensenwerk blijven b) soms een wilde gooi kunnen zijn. Want ik houd meestal van avontuurlijke jeugdboeken, en emotionele romans. Het was dus even zoeken naar een boek met de moods avontuurlijk én emotioneel, en het was het van allebei ook net niet helemaal.
Dit boek probeert duidelijk te veel te zijn, én een coming-of-age maar in een vrij geforceerde setting), én avontuurlijk, met óók nog eens een op te lossen mysterie erin.. En teveel is vaak net niet goed. Maar ik heb me aardig vermaakt tijdens het lezen wel.
En dat laat meteen zien dat aanbevelingen a) mensenwerk blijven b) soms een wilde gooi kunnen zijn. Want ik houd meestal van avontuurlijke jeugdboeken, en emotionele romans. Het was dus even zoeken naar een boek met de moods avontuurlijk én emotioneel, en het was het van allebei ook net niet helemaal.
Dit boek probeert duidelijk te veel te zijn, én een coming-of-age maar in een vrij geforceerde setting), én avontuurlijk, met óók nog eens een op te lossen mysterie erin.. En teveel is vaak net niet goed. Maar ik heb me aardig vermaakt tijdens het lezen wel.
January 23, 2023
The main characters are charming and the desert scenery descriptions are gorgeous. Because I so enjoyed these parts of the book I was able to forgive the places where the book was predictable and even to largely, but certainly not completely, forgive the absolute implausibility of the plot. I could actually better accept the children's un-super powers than the idea of a wilderness camp for 16 young teens, in a modern setting, being led by a single man. That's just not gonna happen. Some of the other plot choices were also more than a bit silly.
August 16, 2016
This was an enjoyable book about some misfit teenagers whose parents think that sending them to a wilderness camp will help them with all of their various problems. The thing that stuck with me the most about this book is that these wilderness camps need to be vetted by parents a lot better than the parents in this book did. Not that I'm against these kinds of camps, but only one adult out in a wilderness area outside of range of communication with a bunch of teenagers? I don't think so. However, that isn't the point of the book. The point of the book is that these kids all had issues and were sent to the wilderness to try to work through them. They all have life-changing experiences and all end up better and stronger because of those experiences. I loved the friendships that formed. The characters were very diverse and interesting. There was action and suspense, and fun and laughter. The core group of Audrey, Aaron, Kate and Louis was very strong and I liked them all. I have a member of my family who is a combination of Louis and Aaron, so it was interesting to read about their difficulties and think of my close relative and his struggles. It's always nice to feel a connection like that to a book. I think middle schoolers will really like this one. I know the students at my school who have read it really recommend it to their peers.
Areas of concern:
*All of the campers have different issues, so there are things talked about like a grandparent's death, parental abandonment, foster homes..... Nothing too graphic for a middle schooler.
*There is some massive bullying going on - a lot of it coming from an adult directed towards kids.
*I don't remember any bad language, and there were no sexual situations.
http://read-me-maybe.blogspot.com
Areas of concern:
*All of the campers have different issues, so there are things talked about like a grandparent's death, parental abandonment, foster homes..... Nothing too graphic for a middle schooler.
*There is some massive bullying going on - a lot of it coming from an adult directed towards kids.
*I don't remember any bad language, and there were no sexual situations.
http://read-me-maybe.blogspot.com
April 21, 2015
Sometimes the thing you are best it feels like an "unsuperpower." This is true for middle schoolers Audrey (who always knows when anyone is lying) and Aaron (who remembers every fact he has seen, heard, or read). These specific abilities are taking over their lives and making middle school miserable. To help them out, their parents send them both to a wilderness adventure program, hiking across the desert. It is here that they meet each other, and along with new friends Louis and Kate, find out that these talents do not need to define them.
There is plenty of adventure in the desert hikes as their former NFL player guide sets them on extra challenges in addition to the miles of walking. Not every camper wants to be there, and some of the bullying dynamics of middle school reappear here as well. But the harsh beauty of the desert allows them to take a closer look at their lives and find out what is truly important. Told in alternating chapters between Audrey and Aaron, this book has a great mix of outdoor survival and internal struggles. Highly recommended for grades 4-8.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
There is plenty of adventure in the desert hikes as their former NFL player guide sets them on extra challenges in addition to the miles of walking. Not every camper wants to be there, and some of the bullying dynamics of middle school reappear here as well. But the harsh beauty of the desert allows them to take a closer look at their lives and find out what is truly important. Told in alternating chapters between Audrey and Aaron, this book has a great mix of outdoor survival and internal struggles. Highly recommended for grades 4-8.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
September 22, 2015
I received an Advanced Readers Copy at a YA lit panel at Dragon Con.
I must confess, I didn't have super high hopes for this book when I figured out it was a middle reader. I thought it would be filled with "middle school problems," and in a way, it was in that the issues that Aaron and Audrey face are more inclined toward the younger set. However, when the book reached the adventures in the Texas desert (the kids go there on a wilderness camp), it turns into something amazing. I almost felt as though I was reading the first Harry Potter books (minus the magic, of course). This book is ultimately about friendship, bravery, and finding one's place in the universe. The authors write in such an honest and absorbing way that you forget you are reading about 7th graders. It is fully engaging, with wonderful characters and a great message. I was duly impressed by Connect the Stars.
I must confess, I didn't have super high hopes for this book when I figured out it was a middle reader. I thought it would be filled with "middle school problems," and in a way, it was in that the issues that Aaron and Audrey face are more inclined toward the younger set. However, when the book reached the adventures in the Texas desert (the kids go there on a wilderness camp), it turns into something amazing. I almost felt as though I was reading the first Harry Potter books (minus the magic, of course). This book is ultimately about friendship, bravery, and finding one's place in the universe. The authors write in such an honest and absorbing way that you forget you are reading about 7th graders. It is fully engaging, with wonderful characters and a great message. I was duly impressed by Connect the Stars.
Read
May 26, 2015This middle grade novel requires some suspension of disbelief but the feelings about friendship ring true. The story is told in alternating voices which were so similar I often mixed them up. Aaron's special 'gift' is a photographic memory. Audrey's special 'gift' is the ability to know for sure when someone is lying. Both gifts interfere with friendships. Aaron and Audrey, and a group of other quirky kids, meet at a desert survival camp. All are transformed by the experience. Kids who want their stories to be realistic might balk at some parts of this story but kids who want and need to think about friendship will find things to love.
July 12, 2017
I loved this story. Audrey can tell when anyone is telling a lie, but has never really considered WHY people lie. Aaron can recall every fact he has ever read or heard, but has never learned to analyze those facts or think about how people feel. Their parents decide to send them off to wilderness camp, where they meet. Here, they learn that they are more than their "unsuper powers" and what it will take to be a good friend and a whole person. Great story.
November 19, 2018
4.5 on the blog.
I loved it! I'll be back.
I loved it! I'll be back.
April 23, 2021
4.5 stars
Yes, I liked this book so much I stayed up too late to finish it. Since I have had no 5 star books this year for new reads and I enjoyed this, I opted to round it up--de los Santos is certainly high up in my the Authors I like to read many books by, even if I don't care for every single one as much. I am not doing a blurb or plot/story explanation (not that unusual for me, but there is a blurb and this is more fun read fresh.)
I like the way de los Santos writes, I loved her two protagonists and as a children's book it works very well, indeed. I have never heard of anyone IRL who can always tell every time someone is lying, but it is a fabulous literary device here. Each of the quirky four children who end up on the Wilderness Camp team (including our POV kids) has some sort of "super power" or quirk that can work like one--and for the most part there are kids like that in the real world.
Not everything has to be believable (Even though it would IRL, no red flags came up for me when there was only one adult in charge of 16 middle schoolers as they would IRL because it all worked. Plus I grew up back before the earth cooled when that could have happened even though we didnt' have wilderness camps back then, just outdoor survival type things for older teens and adults.)
Yes, I liked this book so much I stayed up too late to finish it. Since I have had no 5 star books this year for new reads and I enjoyed this, I opted to round it up--de los Santos is certainly high up in my the Authors I like to read many books by, even if I don't care for every single one as much. I am not doing a blurb or plot/story explanation (not that unusual for me, but there is a blurb and this is more fun read fresh.)
I like the way de los Santos writes, I loved her two protagonists and as a children's book it works very well, indeed. I have never heard of anyone IRL who can always tell every time someone is lying, but it is a fabulous literary device here. Each of the quirky four children who end up on the Wilderness Camp team (including our POV kids) has some sort of "super power" or quirk that can work like one--and for the most part there are kids like that in the real world.
Not everything has to be believable (Even though it would IRL, no red flags came up for me when there was only one adult in charge of 16 middle schoolers as they would IRL because it all worked. Plus I grew up back before the earth cooled when that could have happened even though we didnt' have wilderness camps back then, just outdoor survival type things for older teens and adults.)
March 8, 2021
This book is about two outcast teens who find themselves alongside one another, Audrey and Aaron find themselves among a free but strange friendship bonded by their difrences. Audrey who can tell if anyones lying and Aaron who has perfect memory find themselves with one another at a camp.One of the saddest books I have read, it's a rollercoaster of emotions. From sadness to rage to even happiness, I could connect with the main characters easily which is a pretty hard thing for me to do. I loved how descriptive each sentence was and the imagery was beyond perfection. This book is really good if you feel alone because it makes you feel like there is someone out in the world like you. I definitely have to give it a 9/10.
January 11, 2021
This whole book seems like an insurance rate disaster and a lawsuit waiting to happen. One adult supervising a large number of middle schoolers in the middle of a desert? Leaving them unsupervised, hiking after dark? Not paying attention to food ingredients when you know a child has an anaphylactic allergy and then not even eating with the kids? If this was real life, this guy would be sued so many times...
Book talk for grades 6 and 7: from multiple perspectives. 1) girl with the ability to tell when someone is lying. Has isolated herself as much as possible from everyone so she does not have to put up with their lies. 2) boy who has a photographic memory. Knows facts but has no social skills. Does not know when it is appropriate to talk and is not able to read emotions.
Their parents send them on a wilderness camp adventure in the dessert. They learn to live with themselves.
Themes: friendship, acceptance
Book talk for grades 6 and 7: from multiple perspectives. 1) girl with the ability to tell when someone is lying. Has isolated herself as much as possible from everyone so she does not have to put up with their lies. 2) boy who has a photographic memory. Knows facts but has no social skills. Does not know when it is appropriate to talk and is not able to read emotions.
Their parents send them on a wilderness camp adventure in the dessert. They learn to live with themselves.
Themes: friendship, acceptance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2018
I actually didn’t know when I got this book from the library that it was for 8-12 year olds (I reserved it based on the author), but decided to read it anyway. It was a good tale, and though I thought the characters were all very difficult to believe (their exaggerated oddness in each particular area, their constant acts of goodness and selflessness), I enjoyed it. How many stars for a tween book as an adult? I haven’t a clue how to judge it. It was a good story.
March 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book about two kids with extraordinary abilities, who must learn to balance their special abilities with the rest of themselves. They go on an outdoor survival camp and by a series of difficult events they learn from each other how to control their "unsuperpowers". It is the story of discover of what being a friend really means.
A great book for preteens. I would recommend this for 3-8th grade.
A great book for preteens. I would recommend this for 3-8th grade.
May 29, 2021
I loved this book, especially the characters with their unique talents or “unsuperpowers.” Audrey is an introvert and knows when people lie. Aaron is relied upon but often takes the spotlight when it comes to trivia, especially since he has photographic memory. When they come to the wilderness camp they go through challenges that help them work together... even if those challenges are unexpected.
July 23, 2017
Amazing.
Full review will come someday..........XD
Full review will come someday..........XD
April 23, 2018
I really liked this book! I think that middle school students would like it as they also try to navigate middle school and figure out who they are and what their place in the world is.
August 3, 2023
I adored how the four young people came together and found themselves as well as lasting friends. The very end was a bit, well, a bit too dramatic to remain believable but a very fun adventure!
March 16, 2017
I really liked this book. i liked how it went into detail on their adventure in this camp and how they are really good friends with each other. overall a really good book.
October 4, 2015
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading Connect the Stars. The idea of a summer adventure story sounded fantastic, as did the idea of two teens learning important life lessons from the wilderness around them.
However, I soon realized that Marisa de los Santos and David Teague had written a story that was more than just an adventure story. Told in alternating points-of-view, Aaron and Audrey are two thirteen-year-old students who don't quite fit into their respective schools. Aaron is an odd-man-out because his eidteic memory allows him to recite skills but without meaning, and Audrey has difficulty trusting people, because of her ability to figure out when a person is lying.
So the two of them are sent to attend a six-week wilderness camp, in the hopes of expanding their horizons. However, they soon learn that not only do they have a lot to offer those around them, they also learn how to work better in groups, and there are those who appreciate them.
What's great about Connect the Stars, is that it's a book that emphasizes both embracing one's unique attributes, and also how to use those attributes to work in a group and find those who appreciate them. Both Aaron and Audrey go into the camp with low expectations on what they can accomplish, and quickly learn that they're up to incredible challenges, both separately and in a team.
Along the way, they also learn the value of their skills, and how to utilize those skills to in a way that help them connect with those around them. E.g. Rather than judge others for lying, Audrey - through the help of her new friends - learns that people may actually lie for a reason, and some kindness and understanding can help better understand those motives.
Similarly, while Aaron learns to both utilize his photographic memory for the trip, but also dually shows those around him how useful his seemingly random facts can be - e.g. it helps all of them get out of a pretty dangerous spot later on. It's a nice nod to the idea to not judge a book by its cover, and Santos and Teague convey that lesson without sounding preachy or overbearing.
My one quibble with the book was that there were aspects of the story that were slightly hard to believe - e.g. a subplot involving a teenaged girl being allowed to go off on her own. While Santos and Teague do make it a point to add accountability later on in the book, I felt like the subtlety of that acknowledgement might make some parents and educators raise their eyebrows a little.
However, I don't really think that younger readers will notice these issues. Moveover, by emphasizing the adventures experienced by Aaron and Audrey, verses the more adult aspects of the book, Santos and Teague are doing a nice job of underlying the idea that this is an adventure story focused for young teens growing into who they're meant to be.
Final verdict:
Connect the Stars was an unexpected delight. Marisa de los Santos and David Teague have crafted a story that's adventerous, but also thoughtful in its approach to learning to accept and challenge yourself, and also finding others who bring out the best in you.
Buth Aaron and Audrey join the wilderness with the hopes of learning more about themselves - which they do -but they also come out of their adventure with the knowledge that there are those who like them, and those who appreciate the contributions that they have to offer. It's an important lesson for all younger readers who are struggling to define their identity, and I'm so pleased that I have this book to share.
Highly recommend for all readers, full stop.
However, I soon realized that Marisa de los Santos and David Teague had written a story that was more than just an adventure story. Told in alternating points-of-view, Aaron and Audrey are two thirteen-year-old students who don't quite fit into their respective schools. Aaron is an odd-man-out because his eidteic memory allows him to recite skills but without meaning, and Audrey has difficulty trusting people, because of her ability to figure out when a person is lying.
So the two of them are sent to attend a six-week wilderness camp, in the hopes of expanding their horizons. However, they soon learn that not only do they have a lot to offer those around them, they also learn how to work better in groups, and there are those who appreciate them.
What's great about Connect the Stars, is that it's a book that emphasizes both embracing one's unique attributes, and also how to use those attributes to work in a group and find those who appreciate them. Both Aaron and Audrey go into the camp with low expectations on what they can accomplish, and quickly learn that they're up to incredible challenges, both separately and in a team.
Along the way, they also learn the value of their skills, and how to utilize those skills to in a way that help them connect with those around them. E.g. Rather than judge others for lying, Audrey - through the help of her new friends - learns that people may actually lie for a reason, and some kindness and understanding can help better understand those motives.
Similarly, while Aaron learns to both utilize his photographic memory for the trip, but also dually shows those around him how useful his seemingly random facts can be - e.g. it helps all of them get out of a pretty dangerous spot later on. It's a nice nod to the idea to not judge a book by its cover, and Santos and Teague convey that lesson without sounding preachy or overbearing.
My one quibble with the book was that there were aspects of the story that were slightly hard to believe - e.g. a subplot involving a teenaged girl being allowed to go off on her own. While Santos and Teague do make it a point to add accountability later on in the book, I felt like the subtlety of that acknowledgement might make some parents and educators raise their eyebrows a little.
However, I don't really think that younger readers will notice these issues. Moveover, by emphasizing the adventures experienced by Aaron and Audrey, verses the more adult aspects of the book, Santos and Teague are doing a nice job of underlying the idea that this is an adventure story focused for young teens growing into who they're meant to be.
Final verdict:
Connect the Stars was an unexpected delight. Marisa de los Santos and David Teague have crafted a story that's adventerous, but also thoughtful in its approach to learning to accept and challenge yourself, and also finding others who bring out the best in you.
Buth Aaron and Audrey join the wilderness with the hopes of learning more about themselves - which they do -but they also come out of their adventure with the knowledge that there are those who like them, and those who appreciate the contributions that they have to offer. It's an important lesson for all younger readers who are struggling to define their identity, and I'm so pleased that I have this book to share.
Highly recommend for all readers, full stop.
July 20, 2016
o be honest, I love books like Connect the Stars. I love reading books about kids who aren't so perfect and I love seeing the challenges that they have to face. I don't really know why, but books like these remind me of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
You know, Rudolph was kind of a misfit at first, but then he turned out to be fantastic when it was a dark night on Christmas Eve and Santa had to go to everybody's houses to give them presents. You know what I mean.
If you read the summary of the book above, you know that Aaron is a walking encyclopedia. Whatever he reads, he remembers it in his head. The only problem that he has is that he isn't very good at thinking outside of the box. He just remembers what he sees or what he reads.
For example, if Aaron looks up the word, "encyclopedia," he learns everything from the first encyclopedia that was ever published and how many encyclopedias are printed each year and things like that. He probably even knows how to spell encyclopedia and I don't even know how to spell it by heart. I mean, I have to use spellcheck and everything and Aaron doesn't.
Okay, don't make fun of me. I don't know how to spell big words by heart.
On the other hand, Audrey Alcott is a walking lie detector. She knows when somebody is lying. At the beginning of the book, she said that she could write a book about every single liar there is. There are the drive-by liars, the red carpet liars, the poison ivy liars, the toothache liars, and so much more. She hates it when people lie. She honestly can not believe when somebody lies.
When Audrey's parents and Aaron's parents decide to send them to a camp, Audrey is excited to get away from all of the drama at her school and Aaron is a little worried about what might happen.
When Audrey and Aaron meet, they become the best of unlikely friends there are and they share a little bit of their quirks with each other along with two other their other campers, Kate and Louis who aren't so perfect themselves.
What I really like about this book is that it is a great book to read if you don't like a hidden quirk that you have or if you need to express your feelings to a friend, but you aren't really sure how to.
I really loved Connect the Stars and it was a beautiful book to read. It was fluffy and adorable, but not too much. It was super fun and super long, but really enjoyable for any age group.
That is why I am going to give Marisa de los Santos and David Teague's Connect the Stars five stars because it really deserves it. Plus, it was a really fantastic book to read. ★★★★★
You know, Rudolph was kind of a misfit at first, but then he turned out to be fantastic when it was a dark night on Christmas Eve and Santa had to go to everybody's houses to give them presents. You know what I mean.
If you read the summary of the book above, you know that Aaron is a walking encyclopedia. Whatever he reads, he remembers it in his head. The only problem that he has is that he isn't very good at thinking outside of the box. He just remembers what he sees or what he reads.
For example, if Aaron looks up the word, "encyclopedia," he learns everything from the first encyclopedia that was ever published and how many encyclopedias are printed each year and things like that. He probably even knows how to spell encyclopedia and I don't even know how to spell it by heart. I mean, I have to use spellcheck and everything and Aaron doesn't.
Okay, don't make fun of me. I don't know how to spell big words by heart.
On the other hand, Audrey Alcott is a walking lie detector. She knows when somebody is lying. At the beginning of the book, she said that she could write a book about every single liar there is. There are the drive-by liars, the red carpet liars, the poison ivy liars, the toothache liars, and so much more. She hates it when people lie. She honestly can not believe when somebody lies.
When Audrey's parents and Aaron's parents decide to send them to a camp, Audrey is excited to get away from all of the drama at her school and Aaron is a little worried about what might happen.
When Audrey and Aaron meet, they become the best of unlikely friends there are and they share a little bit of their quirks with each other along with two other their other campers, Kate and Louis who aren't so perfect themselves.
What I really like about this book is that it is a great book to read if you don't like a hidden quirk that you have or if you need to express your feelings to a friend, but you aren't really sure how to.
I really loved Connect the Stars and it was a beautiful book to read. It was fluffy and adorable, but not too much. It was super fun and super long, but really enjoyable for any age group.
That is why I am going to give Marisa de los Santos and David Teague's Connect the Stars five stars because it really deserves it. Plus, it was a really fantastic book to read. ★★★★★
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