Scarlet Discovers True Strength

Star Darlings #5

by Shana Zappa, Shana Zappa, Ahmet Zappa

Scarlet is overly intense and can be manipulative and vengeful. She needs to relax, learn how to encourage others instead of manipulating them, while staying true to her passionate, strong-willed personality.


Star Day is approaching, an annual school event where classes are cancelled and there is a big campus party with games, picnics, and music. This year there is going to be a Battle of the Bands competition.


Scarlet's mission: Scarlet is going to help a disabled girl who wishes that she could feel independent. Scarlet wants to return quickly with the energy and tries to manipulate the girl into feeling good about herself instead of actually helping her realize her strengths. A few Star Darlings arrive to help Scarlet focus on the situation at hand and let the wish happen naturally which will result in much more positive energy.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Science Fiction, Fiction

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2016

Reviews

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarlet knows she deserves to be a Star Darling just like the others, and she's willing to travel down to Wishworld to help her nervous replacement Ophelia solve the problem of her Wisher to prove her strength to Lady Stella! Zappa is sure to please fans with this exciting entry to the series that will keep readers on their toes. Can Scarlet prove herself as a Darling before anymore missions are put in such danger?

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the series Star Darlings about the world where the wishes of humans go to be answered. The elaborate fantasy world is a bit too complicated for many of the readers who will be drawn to this series. For example, there is a 6-page "Glossary" to support this intermediate level chapter book. While the characters are well developed with relatable characteristics and the conflicts are also relatable to tweens, I am still cynical about the intricate world making contained in the series. I would recommend this for purchase by school and public libraries only if they have a demographic that is ready for this type of fantasy.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find that I enjoyed a Disney Star Darlings book. It was curious and entertaining as this was my first introduction to the series-book 5. If you can over that many words will have stars in it, you will like these stories. ex. star greetings, star apologies, etc.

Scarlett gets booted out of the star darlings. This means she rarely sees her friends or plays in her band anymore. She rarely goes to class even. Another girl takes her place. She finds her records have been switch with the new girl, Ophelia. Well Ophelia is then sent on a mission, where she is failing miserably. Scarlett goes and ends up helping her because she realizes for one thing, she's nice and the other is that she was unprepared to do her job due to lack of training. They make a human's wish come true and head back.

This is mostly about friendships! Cute concept!

[Nico Tzeentch]

I liked Scarlet as a character. Not as extroverted or bubbly as most of the other Starlings, but not to the point where she's just a person-shaped Shadow the Hedgehog.

The abrupt addition and equally abrupt removal of Ophelia felt weird, although not surprising since she didn't even have a profile like the others, so she was clearly never going to be a prominent character for the rest of the series.

[Aliza Heslop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad Scarlet got back into SD.

[Jenetti Montanez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this book because it did not really have a lot of entertainment for example when scarlet introduces herself it does not really make sense

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the Star Darlings series so far. I didn't like that there wasn't much time spent on Wishworld in the series, but the story moved everything along nicely.

[Amaraa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I start the series from Scarlet edition, nevertheless could still keep up with the storyline. Heartwarming is what I would describe my reading experience!

[River :3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I relate to Scarlet a lot!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked the book

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book

[c.norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that she's on the cover and her name is in the title is kind of a spoiler, but obviously this is Scarlet's turn to shine.

After the last few books built up some of the relationships, it's interesting to get an outsider's point of view, even if the outsider in this case is just Scarlet as a "former Star Darling".

Seeing Scarlet get dragged along with Cassie and Vega as they work to solve mysteries is fun, and does a lot to get the reader invested in all of them.

Without getting too spoilery, the Wishworld mission has problems but it's pretty obvious from the start that things will go south. The problem this time sounds a bit too easy, but I think the book does a pretty good job explaining why the wisher felt the way she did, even if it sounds like a silly fear.

And Scarlet gets a happy ending.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a pretty big fan of this series, but my love for it grew exponentially with this installment. Here we see some answers beginning to appear and there is a darker conspiracy forming. I also loved getting a Star Darling perspective that is introverted and antisocial, traits not many other Starlings share. It made for a nice change and gave it a new voice. This may be my favorite yet.

For: fans of the series; fans of boarding school narratives/science fiction/espionage.

Possible red flags: something sinister in the background; lying for the sake of their mission; sneaking.

[Justine Ameperosa]

Scarlet has been keeping to herself. But she is convinced that her removal from the Star Darlings was a terrible mistake. With Vega’s help she starts an investigation. Meanwhile, Ophelia is chosen to go on a Wishworld mission, for which she is hopelessly unprepared. Will Scarlet be the one to rescue Ophelia and the mission?

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love how this series is progressing. It easily could be the same things going on with each girl but I think they've done a really good job with the mystery thread throughout the series. I also appreciate how the types of situations their wishers need assistance with are unique to each story.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book is so good,,!,,,,,,!!!!!!!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read