Beneath Wandering Stars

by Ashlee Cowles

After her soldier brother is horribly wounded in Afghanistan, Gabriela must honor the vow she made: If anything ever happened to him, she would walk the Camino de Santiago through Spain, making a pilgrimage in his name. The worst part is that the promise stipulates that she must travel with her brother's best friend--a boy she has despised all her life. Her brother is in a coma, and Gabi feels that she has no time to waste, but she is unsure. Will she hesitate too long, or risk her own happiness to keep a promise? An up-close look at the lives of the children of military families, Beneath Wandering Stars takes readers on a journey of love, danger, laughter, and friendship, against all odds.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Travel, Teen

272 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2016

About the author

Ashlee Cowles is the author of THE POPPY & THE ROSE (Owl Hollow Press, Oct 2020), the award-winning BENEATH WANDERING STARS (Simon Pulse, 2016), BELOW NORTHERN LIGHTS, and WISDOM FOR THE WAY. Raised in a military family without roots, Ashlee enjoys traveling the world almost as much as she loves telling stories. Learn more at http://ashleecowles.com

Reviews

[Malia Saldaña · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so so good!!! Oh my gosh it gave me all the feels!😊 I loved Seth and Gabi. I loved that she was an Army brat like me.:) I want to go back to Spain after reading this book. A quote from the book “ People May be the only home the Army issues, but they’re the only home that matters.”

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on A Frolic Through Fiction: https://afrolicthroughfiction.wordpre...

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I have such mixed feelings about this book. I don’t know how to write this review because this is honestly unlike anything I’ve ever read before. And I’m not sure what to think about that.

*takes a deep breath* But I’m about to try.

I know what my hesitation is about. Or rather, my uncertainty. This story follows two people who go on a pilgrimage…and that’s the main plotline. Of course, I knew this before going into the book. And it’s kind of why I agreed to read the book – I was intrigued.

So why is it making a difference?

Well, because it’s so very different from what I’m used to. There’s no action. There’s a few drama points, but not many. The story is entirely focused on the journey. And because of that, this really short book seemed a lot longer than it was…and at the same time it was somehow refreshing?

Okayy, can you see what I mean about having mixed feelings about this? Wow this is confusing.

Aside from the romance, I don’t think there’s one thing in this book I’ve read about before. Obviously that just reflects my reading taste and the books I’ve come across, but it was nice to see this sort of story. I mean, this book covers a pilgrimage, a military family and it’s effects, and discovering many stranger’s stories while on an insightful journey. Ultimately, it’s the main character getting a lot of life lessons.

Speaking of the main character – called Gabi – she’s probably the only character I was bothered about. Not in a horrible way, just in a this-book-is-a-lot-about-the-main-character’s-journey (both physical and mental) kind of way. And with it being so short, there’s not much room for many other characters to be in-depth too. Admittedly, I didn’t think I’d like her at first, because straight away she seemed a bit gullible and/or naive to me. But that soon cleared away and I liked her just fine.

As for her background, like I mentioned before her family is military based – in the sense that her father and brother are both part of it. I loved seeing this, because it showed how much the military can affect families. Not just the soldiers, the families. It was nice to see the story focus on that aspect more, rather than turn the book into a very different story of action come from fighting, like so many others.

As for the journey itself…it was definitely interesting. I read most of this book in one sitting, and I honestly think that if I had taken a few days to read it instead, I might have enjoyed it a bit more. Because this is the sort of story that had a LOT of life lessons involved, in many different shapes and forms…so the story was really slow. Seemingly at the pace of the character’s walking during the pilgrimage, so at least it’s fitting. But for a long haul, is does become a trudge to get through, with no action to spice it up a bit.

Long story short, if you’re going to read this, take it easy. Take your time. Absorb it more.

One thing I did get out of this was the urge to travel. I know for sure from the descriptions in here that I probably wouldn’t be able to handle a pilgrimage, but the settings sounded stunning (most of the time, anyway).

I don’t really know what else to say about this book. It was hard collecting my thoughts on it, so I hope I’ve done a reasonable job at least. In short, I loved the eclectic characters you meet along this journey, and the glimpse into the lives of military families. But it’s definitely a book that should be soaked up slowly, to take in the words and their meanings rather than hoping some action scene is going to come along and speed you through the pages.



Amazon
[Available in Hardback and Kindle edition]

[Megalion · Rating 4 out of 5]

A YA novel about being a military brat. The anguish of having a beloved brother in a coma from a potentially fatal attack. A wide rift between father and daughter on the cusp of adulthood.

The book is mostly about the journey but is very thought provoking on many levels. Humanity. What it means. Who are we? Why is there war? And many more questions.

But they arise throughout the story in appropriate and easily accessible ways. After all, there's no need for 10 dollar words to contemplate our lives.

I've never heard of this holy pilgrimmage and I liked how the author showed that a spiritual journey on this trail is not exclusive to Christians.

Recommended read for YA. Decent read for adults too especially if you're curious about this infamous journey of the soul.

Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beneath Wandering Stars surprised me so much. I ended up really liking the main character, Gabi who I have to admit I didn't like it all that much in the beginning, but because of the fantastic writing, I continued reading because the premise (in my opinion) of going on a pilgrimage on the Camino isn't one you're likely to read about all that much. I really enjoyed this and the blossoming friendship between Seth and Gabi and the possibility of something more.

[Hazel (Stay Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 (though I'm super tempted to rate this up)

This is the YA travel book I've been craving since I finished Gayle Forman's Just One Day duology! And omg there's love-hate girl+brother's best friend romance okayyyy

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was heart-warming and comforting. I loved Gabi and how she found herself through a pilgrimage for her brother. (The family relationships in the story are so strong and developed, despite spending much of the time focused on Gabi). I also loved how Gabi and Seth's relationship developed realistically over the course of the story.

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by this story. Beneath Wandering Stars was one of those books that I couldn’t put down. It’s a powerful story about dealing with a traumatic experience and discovering who you are.
Seventeen-year-old Gabriella Santiago is an Army brat living in Germany where her father is stationed. She is counting the days until her high school graduation so she can get back to the States and far away from the military. But when her soldier brother, Lucas, is critically wounded, her priorities change in an instant. When Gabi finds out that Lucas had dreamed of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, Gabi is determined to honor Lucas’ wishes as he fights for his life.
There are so many fantastic elements to this story. I was intrigued by the lifestyle of the Army family. It was interesting to see this transient life from the perspective of a soldier’s teen daughter. Experiencing the pilgrimage trek across Spain with the characters was fascinating. Gabriella’s journey is packed with wise words, deep thoughts, and powerful life lessons. And, I loved the voice of Gabi. The witty spunk was superb. Some of the best writing I’ve come across is YA novels. Fantastic book.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Clean and simple. What a YA book should be like. Full review at Ash Reads Stuff.

[Viktoria Van der bilt · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was difficult to get with this book.

This wasn’t really bad, I guess, but I found some undesirability that made finishing this a bit of a chore. For starters, there weren’t enough words when places and structures were described so I found it difficult to imagine said things.

The named pilgrims and other characters met along the way proved to be in quantity more than quality as well - there were too many of them and yet no one really stood out. Yes, this has a pilgrimage plot and perhaps the author based this from her experience, but the characters’ impact felt too fleeting instead.

There was no chemistry between Gabi and Seth. At all. They seemed like cousins or classmates who just don’t get along, and I always found it weird whenever they shared a moment because there was none of that SPECIAL connection but suddenly someone’s blushing or they’re kissing hahaha.

However, this book really had a lot of reflections about life, people, direction, choice and peace (they were just scattered here and there and sometimes felt repetitive than resolute). I even found myself considering taking a pilgrimage someday (more self reflective than religious) because The Walk and a person’s motivations for taking it was generously explored in this one.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath Wandering Stars is probably one of the best Young Adult books I've read, full of salient truths without becoming lost in existential nonsense or resorting to self-conscious prose. Strong character growth amidst a vivid, ever-changing setting. Memorable minor characters. And a natural incorporation of faith that is seeking, genuine, and natural, not stuffy or overly cynical.

When Gabi sets of to hike the Camino de Santiago with her (much despised) brother's best friend, Seth, they both keep their secrets and their pain - much due to the critical injury that has left Gabi's brother Lucas in a coma - closely guarded. Worn down by the rigors of the hike and the quiet necessary for reflection, they begin to open their hearts. A romance results, but this rending of their hearts is much more than that - it's the emergence of a trust and emotional intimacy neither of them has known.

Beneath Wandering Stars also allows the reader a glimpse of military life - both its challenges and its close-knit relationships. While I'd recommend this book at any time, I think in 2020, it is particularly relevant for young people coming to the terms with what it means to live, love, and suffer.

[Susan Tauster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know this was a YA book when I added it to my read list. The Camino description drew me in for a variety of reasons. The story was great. A snarky teen narrator who takes us into some profound insights. I found myself rereading several phrases that were just so real and satisfying. An easy read with more depth than I expected.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this and was intrigued, because I had visited Santiago de Compostela back in 2011 on a pilgrimage. This book was FANTASTIC. People with or without faith can relate to everything Gabi feels as she walks for her brother. Suffering and joy, life and death: these are huge concepts that all people grapple with and try to understand. The author delivered such wisdom without being preachy, and made a realistic ending. LOVED IT!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this well-written YA book that explored complex characters, military life, & a their life-changing trek to honor a brother & best friend. And of course I loved the romantic chemistry between Seth & Gabriela. All around amazing read.

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible from start to finish. Potential review in a few days! (Or later today, perhaps.)

Happy reading!

[Karyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost passed this one over but really glad I didn't. Just a good read about finding oneself and traveling.

[Melissa Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

**this review contains spoilers**

**please avoid this review if you do not want spoilers, thank you**

"Beneath Wandering Stars" is like a YA-novel-version of "Eat, Pray, Love" -- only without the level of spiritual growth. The book features a blatant disregard for medical realities of traumatic brain injuries and combat wounds, and pins the protagonist's moral hardships on issues surrounding the U.S.-led wars against Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The novel is told from the point of view of Gabriela "Gabi" Santiago, a seventeen-year-old who is one month shy of her eighteenth birthday, and two months shy of her high school graduation. Gabi's father is enlisted in the U.S. Army, and he's currently posted on a base in Germany. Gabi lives with her parents and her five-year-old brother, Matteo. Her older brother, Lucas, has enlisted in the U.S. Army, and is serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The story begins soon after Gabi receives a text message from her father stating that her brother Lucas has been wounded in action. Within 24 hours of surviving a blast from an IED, Lucas arrives at the hospital in Germany, where his family goes to see him. On page 20, Gabi's father tells her Lucas is "unresponsive" and "in a coma." Gabi assumes that her brother is "on his way to becoming a vegetable" but her father tells her that, "The doctors are hopeful. They say these first few weeks are crucial. If he shows signs of response, anything at all, there's a chance he'll come out of it."

No other medical details are provided, though for the next month, the family remains worried that Lucas might die, a sure sign that he has some form of traumatic brain injury from the blast that caused the coma. The author never provides a scene in which the family receives a report of what happened in Afghanistan from Lucas's commanding officer, or anyone else in an official capacity. At the end of the novel, Lucas's good friend, Seth, reveals to Gabi the details of what happened before the IED went off. Also at the end of the book, the reader learns that Lucas's spine was damaged in the blast as well, badly enough to paralyze him, but this information about a severe spinal injury is saved until the end of the novel.

According to the book jacket for "Beneath Wandering Stars," Gabriela made a vow to her brother before he left for Afghanistan: "If anything ever happened to him, she would walk the Camino de Santiago through Spain, making a pilgrimage in his name."

But in the novel, Gabriela doesn't have any idea her brother wanted her to undertake this pilgrimage. On the same day Lucas arrives in the base hospital in a coma, his best friend and fellow soldier, Seth, also arrives. Seth holds up a letter from Lucas, which Gabi and her father refuse to read. So Seth paraphrases what the letter says for them: "Lucas wants you to revive your old tradition by taking another trek. He wants you to do a pilgrimage. He claims people have made journeys like this on behalf of absent soldiers, the sick, and the recently deceased for thousands of years." (page 27/28)

Gabi immediately says, "That makes no sense. Lucas isn't exactly devout."

Despite how nonsensical this all is, Seth goes on to say, "Lucas wanted you to walk a very specific route, mainly because it's your namesake."

At which point (page 28), Gabi's father says, "You mean the Camino de Santiago?"

And Seth says, "That's the one." He adds, "In his letter, Lucas wrote that if he wasn't able to walk to Santiago with you two for any reason, then he wanted me to go in his place."

Shortly after this exchange, Gabi and her family go home for the night. Both her parents, Matteo, and Gabi go home to their beds, and Gabi sleeps "well. And long. The smell of Mom's blueberry pancakes, served with the Michigan maple syrup her uncle taps and ships to us overseas, is what finally wakes me."

Matteo watches SpongeBob on TV, and Gabi's father spends the morning printing out "every map he could find of the Camino de Santiago" (page 33).

At this point in the novel, I didn't believe these were real people at ALL. What parents would leave their almost-fatally wounded son alone in the hospital, when he could die in the night? How could anyone just go home and "sleep well" and cook a big family breakfast, when their son could die of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at any moment?

Not only that, but instead of going to the hospital right away as a family, Gabi's father gives Gabi his credit card, and drops Gabi and Matteo off at the mall, to eat and shop for hiking boots, so Gabi can go on this 500-mile walk across Spain.

This is where my jaw dropped. Clearly, this author has *never* had a family member put in the hospital with a TBI, whether from a civilian injury like a car accident or a battlefield IED. No loving parents abandon their children the way Gabi's parents abandoned Lucas. No loving father would consider running off on a pilgrimage when a child is so close to death. This is a time for constant vigilance, waiting for brain scans and test results, being there to help care for the patient after life-saving surgeries, and praying that infections and blood clots don't develop, which are often lethal.

There is no medical language like this in the book though. The father instead plans to go on the pilgrimage with Gabi, but then a new work assignment keeps him in Germany, so he cancels the trip. Furious to have the trip cancelled the day after buying her hiking boots, Gabi decides to sneak out of the house and go to Spain anyway. Her boyfriend in the U.S. buys her an airline ticket to France, where Gabi meets up with Seth. They take a train to southern France, where they begin this pilgrimage.

The most popular pilgrimage route for the Camino de Santiago starts in southern France, and crosses northern Spain, ending in the city of Santiago, Spain. This is the route the characters use in the book.

Gabi spends the first several days on this pilgrimage thinking about her boyfriend and clashing with Seth. It is not until page 92 that she makes her first phone call home to her mom to ask how Lucas is doing. She never feels bad about leaving her parents alone while they visit the hospital, and she never feels bad about leaving her little brother behind, either.

Instead, Gabi suffers the physical hardships of trekking (sporadic showering opportunities, blisters, being caught in the rain) and after her boyfriend breaks up with her over email one day, she gets so angry that she ditches Seth to hike the rest of the route alone. This is when she pities herself, and realizes she has given up time she could be spending with Lucas in order to be making this pilgrimage. It was rather bizarre to read those thoughts, since Gabi claims she is making this pilgrimage because her father wants her to, and in order to "heal" her brother.

Eventually, Gabi runs into some trouble with some men in a bar, and Seth magically reappears to protect her and finish the pilgrimage with her. The book's primary aim is to detail what it's like to walk the Camino de Santiago, and develop the love story between Gabi and Seth. The author also wanted to provide details about what it's like to grow up in the military, moving from base to base when enlisted parents are posted to new assignments. The term "military brat" is used quite often throughout the novel.

In order to document their pilgrimage, Seth and Gabi photograph a G.I. Joe action figure (with a picture of Lucas's face taped to the head) at various stops they make along the route, and Seth ends up posting the pictures online. Soon the picture thread goes viral, and people send their blessings and thanks to Gabi and Seth for walking on behalf of a loved one. Some of these strangers and friends donate money to help with Lucas's medical costs.

Right before the last part of the journey to Santiago, Seth falls and sprains his ankle. A Spanish couple provide him with an old wheelchair, and Gabi pushes Seth the rest of the way to Santiago.

As they reach their final destination, Gabi finds her father waiting for them, and learns that Lucas has awoken from his coma. He has suffered no damage from the coma or the TBI, but the IED severed his spine and he is paralyzed from the waist down. Enraged by this news, Seth responds by smashing up the borrowed wheelchair with a piece of pipe, until the wheelchair is only a "twisted pile of scrap metal" (page 243). Even though Seth and Gabi kiss passionately before they go their separate ways, Seth refuses to return to Germany to see Lucas.

As Gabi says of Seth, to explain: "Send this boy back to Afghanistan, and he'd be fine. But make him visit my brother--half the man he was, at least physically--and the survivor's guilt would have Seth running from the room" (page 255). This is close to the end of the book, and it is the first time the term "survivor's guilt" has been mentioned.

So Gabi goes back to Germany with her father, having been in Spain for one month, long enough to turn eighteen. After she's been back in Germany for three weeks, Lucas is riding around in a wheelchair, and is discharged from the hospital, and taken home. No physical therapy, no recovering from surgeries to repair his spine or any other medical complications. After being in a coma for a month, Lucas only needs to spend three weeks in the hospital until he is sent home, healthy and whole but no longer able to feel or move his legs.

The book ends with Gabi saying of Lucas: "Right now you wouldn't even know Lucas had a disability. He looks content, like he knows this is where he belongs." Then she lists the three things she loves "about being a military brat" as the grand finale of the novel.

In sum, I think this novel would've been much stronger if Gabi had stayed at Lucas's bedside before he awoke, waited until he was well enough to travel by wheelchair, and then made this pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago with Lucas, their father, and Seth. The novel would've still functioned as a love story, as Seth and Gabi could've still fallen in love, and the moral dilemmas of being a modern-day U.S. soldier could've still been explored -- even more thoroughly than they were with Gabi and Seth alone.

If the author had kept Seth and Lucas together, the dialogue would've been far more interesting, since I had the strong feeling the two of them had a lot of unfinished business, given what had happened to them in Afghanistan.

Seth ends up leaving Spain for Scotland, making it clear he plans to keep moving and stay a pilgrim for some time. It cut my heart in such a savage way to know that Seth had the ability to take Lucas on one of these pilgrimages, but chose to avoid spending any time with Lucas. While I recognize that a lot of able-bodied friends choose to disassociate themselves from their friends who become disabled, watching Seth do that to Lucas made me so sad. And hearing that Gabi plans to leave him to go spend a year living in Mexico gave me another strong feeling of sadness. While this might be the way people operate with their disabled friends and family in real life, it sure made me depressed to see Lucas treated this way by his sister and best friend.

If Lucas had been my brother, there is no WAY I'd leave him hovering close to death in the hospital to go on a trek across Spain on a whim. I'd be by his side as much as I could, helping as much as I could. I think Gabi fled to Spain with Seth because she was terrified of facing her brother's death -- and yet this emotion was never dealt with in the book. Gabi's trek across Spain was always portrayed as being courageous and bold, when I saw it as the opposite -- she was a young teen who realized she was mortal, and couldn't bear to watch her brother possibly die.

I do understand that the pilgrimage was seen to have some mystical healing power, and was portrayed as the reason Lucas awoke from his coma. While Gabi does have religious thoughts and reflections through the novel, and often gets angry with God, or pleads with God to heal her brother, I know people wake up from comas in real life every day, including when the odds are stacked against them or after all hope is lost, whether someone is making a pilgrimage in their name or not. This is why I wished Gabi had waited to start this pilgrimage until Lucas could make the journey with her.

Though I had some problems with this book, if you enjoy reading travelogues, and are interested in learning more about the Camino de Santiago, this novel provides a lot of great details about what it's like to make that journey. I enjoyed reading about the trip across Spain, and Gabi and Seth share several sweet moments as they fall in love. For those sweet moments and the interesting portrayal of this pilgrimage route, I give "Beneath Wandering Stars" three full stars.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurb in GR is just wrong this is not a promise she made for an "in the event situation" but one extracted from her after the event. It has some "tweeness" about it but this came together in the latter half.

[Nicole Tauster · Rating 3 out of 5]

3
Extremely predictable, but still nice. Maybe it's because it was a YA novel, but the amount of similes was WAY over the top! I like flowery writing, but come on. It was bordering on ridiculous. Also, as someone who speaks Spanish and has walked the Camino, it bugged me that the tiny bit of Spanish included was still often grammatically incorrect when Gabi was supposed to be a native speaker. That being said, some parts of the journey were captured so perfectly they made me nostalgic for my Camino experience! Others, not so much. No way all these people in these tiny towns spoke English. 😂 But overall I still felt connected to certain moments.

[Azelyn Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People are the only home the Army issues.”

This book is full of so, sooo many gems! Like the above line and many others that I wish I could share them all, but then it would be the whole book. I’m not doing that. What I will be doing is talking about reasons why you should read the story.

I first found out about the novel when I was doing a search for contemporary young adult novels set in Europe. Historical fiction is great, and it has its place, but I haven’t read as many contemporary novels set in Europe. I’m making a list. When I found out the book was set on the Camino de Santiago, I was ecstatic. For those of you who may not know, I walked the Camino (aka the Way of Saint James) with my Mom last spring. To have a YA novel set along the pilgrimage sounded awesome.

What I didn’t know about the book was that it was about an Army Brat who walked the Camino by an Army brat who walked the Camino. Wait… I’m an Army brat. Is this a book I can actually, finally relate to in a way that’s deeper than your typical travel narrative? The blurb never told me this tidbit! I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS BOOK MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!

The military aspects of the books were pretty easy for me to understand but were explained well for readers who may not come from a military background. The book also addressed elements such as soldiers who are wounded in action and what is like for those who come back and don’t necessarily struggle with PTSD but are still never the same. Even having grown up in a military culture, the book reminded me that I don’t know all the aspects of what it’s like to serve in the military.

The characters themselves are super well developed. Gabi, the protagonist, is both frustrated with and proud of her life growing up amid the Army. Her list of things she hates about being an Army brat that turns into a list of things she learns to love at the end of the story is just beautiful. Seth, her brother’s best friend and comrade, seems like your typical stoic soldier, but as it turns out, he has a soft spot for cats and is terrified of chickens of all things.

Not only does the story have a protagonist I can relate to, but it also has gems like this one:

“I’d forgotten what mountain skies are like—how they make you feel insignificant and infinite at the same time.”

The setting is amazing. Of course, it’s the Camino. The book itself covers parts of the pilgrimage that I didn’t get to walk, like the journey up the mountains from St. Jean and even a chapel with chickens in it at Santo Domingo de la Calzada. I guess this means my mom and I are going to have to go back to walk the Camino again someday.

In all, I gave Beneath Wandering Stars 5/5 stars for great setting, characters, and themes. I would recommend the book to anybody who enjoys YA contemporary novels and to those who would like to better understand what it’s like to be a military brat. For my fellow Army brats, this book is for you.

[A. J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beneath Wandering Stars is a decent three star book. I really enjoyed the character of Gabriela. Her background as a ''military brat" was really relatable as my family moved around a lot, and it can be hard sometimes. Add on to that the fact that her brother is in a coma and might not come out, that was just a heartbreaker.

The story is well written for the most part. Following Gabriela through Spain was really great. The food descriptions combined with all of the little details about the villages and towns they went through made me feel like I was walking with her. The only thing that stopped me from giving this book four stars was the love interest Seth. Seth is the best friend of her brother, and he is a huge jerk from page one. Now part of this is a me thing as I find that guys like him are generally rude and I dislike them a lot. He's always wants to be in charge and acts like Gabriela needs to be a solider like him.
I really hated it that he got involved in her relationship without her asking him. *Spoiler* He ends up emailing her boyfriend saying he knows that the guy is cheating and that he needs to breakup with Gabriela. All this without having actually met the guy.*End Spoiler* It was disgustingly controlling and manipulative. She never once asked him to do this. And on top of that he never apologizes for literally ruining her relationship. Of course she ends up falling for Seth anyway and that was really frustrating. I'm really tired of the troupe that guys can do things like this and get away without apologizing.

So for me this book was just okay, a solid three stars.

[Evangeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath Wandering Stars completely captured my attention. This book is a blend of literary fiction and contemporary YA that will be thoroughly enjoyable to readers from both genres. The tension arrives in the first pages and never loses momentum while the author layers in beautiful language, homage to classic literature, and a unique and deep perspective on experiencing foreign culture.

Gabriel Santiago stands out among YA heroines as a fully realized character with an expertly crafted heritage, a tough but likable personality, and circumstances that readers will immediately sympathize with. Gabi is stuck at a U.S. military post in Germany, wishing she could be home in Texas with her friends, when terrible news reaches her family. Her brother, Lucas, has been wounded in action and is in a coma. Because Lucas’s wish was for her family to go on a pilgrimage, Gabi finds herself, grief-stricken, trudging along the Camino de Santiago with the last person she wants to be with—her brother’s best friend, Seth, whom she blames for Lucas’s situation.

As Gabi and Seth walk and talk or fight and don’t talk, they both begin to change. This is not a story that handles questions of faith and doubt and tragedy and culpability with shallow sentimentality. Gabi and Seth’s emotional journey feels every bit as real as their physical pilgrimage. I felt both the sting of Gabi’s blisters and the heaviness of Seth’s burdens from military conflict.

Bits and pieces of old tales from the Camino de Santiago’s history are woven in with the modern metaphor of questioning and seeking, being still under timeless stars and placing one foot in front of the other until you find a way to go on despite the doubt. Cowles handles heartbreaking subjects with the experience and compassion of one who’s lived the military life. Her respect for the armed forces and understanding of the hardships and sacrifice of the families is evident, as is her appreciation for world cultures and traditions.

With romance, humor, and deftly-crafted drama, Beneath Wandering Stars is perfect for adventuring old souls. This book will make you long for travel and new experiences, and make your heart thrum with things ancient, sacred, and magical.

[The Book Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite YA novels I have ever read. I know I say that I loath young adult novels, this book might have just made me change my mind. The writing this book is spectacular. I am unsure words can express my feelings about this wonderful novel.

This is a novel that is centered around being a military brat. I love this concept because I like near bases and have friends that were military brats. This books starts out with the pain of having a loved one in a coma. The main characters brother is fighting for his life and may not make it. With her family completely falling apart one girl is on a mission to save her family. She is just about to break out into the unknown adult world and is fighting against her father.

The book is a great example of the joinery in life. Aren’t we all on one amazing journey to find our selves? The book is thought provoking on a number of levels. This book will make you question exactly who you are, and what that means.

The pilgrimage of el camino de Santiago is a concept that I knew a little about, although the author really capture the meaning behind this spiritual journey.

I will recommend this book to all readers, even those that hate ya. Pick it up and prepare to go on a similar journey with the characters.

Disclaimer, I received this book from the publisher (Merit Press) in exchange for my honest and 100% unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to MeritPress for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Beneath Wandering Stars was an okay book. It wasn't bad, but it didn't stand out to me in any big way. It was a different kind of book because it focused on the pilgrimage of the main character, something that isn't seen frequently in YA books. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this book because it was different. This was a very character driven book, and the plot action served to further characterize Gabriela.

While having such a personal journey being the most important thing of a YA book, it sometimes felt that the message was forced. Seth and Gabby were constantly being told that they had to discover what the journey was for them, and what meaning was in life. That isn't a bad thing in itself, but sometimes the phrasing made it seem like message was being forced onto the readers. It was personal for everyone on the Camino, so I think it would've been better for readers to determine the meaning for themselves, instead of having it told to them.

It was a well written book, and the descriptive language served well to create images from the camino. The abandoned church scene was especially well written. The magic of the night was tangible, even though I wasn't there. Overall, Beneath Wandering Stars was a good book.

[Amanda Rogozinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever read the Iliad or Odyssey this book is for you (Cowles frequently quotes these two works and they shape the characters). If you are allured by the idea of a pilgrimage, or simply a spiritual journey, and all the philosophical reflections that go along with it, this book is for you. If you sympathize with the struggles young soldiers have, or are willing to, this book will deepen your compassion. And, lest you think it is all talk, if you are in the mood for a slow, clean, tender romance you won’t be disappointed.

Aimed at young people, Cowles writes in contemporary teenage slang with characters who have a high tolerance for sarcasm. Though this choice made the story seem less timeless, it was an entertaining, romantically fuzzy read while still pressing in to deeper issues. Cowles has the unique ability to take the dense language of theology and re-pack it in a way that is unthreatening, and relatable to contemporary culture.

Join me at TheWillowNook.com for the complete review!

*Review copy courtesy of Merit Press*

[Karen Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and read it after my 17 year old daughter. It was a tasty Ambrosia to someone who doesn't eat ambrosia. I read late. I read early. I read all the way up until teaching a drama class, and repeat. My friend in New Zealand had finished walking this Camino a week before and I thought "can such a thing exist" - the camino and this book. It can; it does. I never was a military brat - we sold our last two fighter planes to Australia a few decades back - and the structure of the military fascinated me, its impact, Gabi's thinking about it and reactions to it. The romance was slow and uncertain and gorgeous and uncertain again, as was walking the terrain of the trail. Believable characters, exquisitely plotted story (the debutness of the author showed here, but beautifully) and "can I be your friend?" characters. Perhaps the wisdom of the author in the heroine's mouth was a bit too twenties rather than teens, at times, but I ate that up - starving, starved for more lyrical writing like this.

[Lianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written and hard to put down. It has been a couple days since I finished reading Beneath Wandering Stars and I find myself missing it. Truly the sign of a good book, like a new found friend come and gone too quick. That feeling of being lifted higher by the story and feeling more and more connected with each turning page. I'm thankful for the journey through the pages. Gabi’s adventure, emotions and wise words made me happily pause to reflect on various journeys and lessons in my own life. This book is a wonderful read for both young and older; for those approaching formative moments of young adulthood and those reflecting on their past. Plus, the story gives a wonderfully unique glimpse into the often untold story of “military brats”.

I wish I could pick this book up and read it again for the first time. Instead, now I look forward to reading Beneath Wandering Stars a second time, when I can enjoy every morsel of fun and wisdom even more than the first.

(I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review)

[Lydia Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you finish a book and wish there was a sequel because you're already missing the characters, you know it's something special. The characters in this book, namely Gabi and Seth, are relatable and likable and completely drive this story. They feel like friends. The writing is superb and strikes a wonderful balance between compelling dialogue, gorgeous descriptions and philosophy/spirituality. The story is simply beautiful and really makes you feel like you're walking right alongside Gabi and Seth as they trek the Camino de Santiago. This book will clearly resonate with Army brats, but as someone without that background, I was equally touched and moved by the story. I think it will hit home with most anyone, as we've all been affected by the realities and aftermath of war in one way or another. This story is beautiful, funny and emotional. It will make you think, feel and ultimately rejoice in this beautiful journey of life.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book.
Gabriela Santiago and her family must face the possibility that Lucas, Gabi's older brother, may die as a result of terrible war injuries. She embarks on a quest to fulfill her brother's last request: to travel the Camino Santiago in Spain. Complications ensue when Gabi finds she has to make this journey with Seth, a guy she believes is responsible for her brother's wounds.

The novel combines elements from Cheryl Strayed's Wild and Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes to be an enjoyable read. There were times when Gabi has me laughing out loud, yet others where I felt sad for her.

[Lucia R. Hrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me a new insight into Military kids that added to my understanding of what being a third culture kid is also all about. I've hiked the Camino de Santiago and this book brought back so many crazy and wonderful memories. A pilgramage brings with it a special time to reflect, to think and to examine yourself. It also opens one up to new things. This book captured all those great ways to experience the trek and of being human at a special time in your life when you are passing into adulthood. Great read.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the first YA labeled book that reads much more maturely. It was a complete surprise, and a delight. I connected with this book in a lot if levels, and I have no doubt those similarities solidified the 5 stars from me! Having a father who is retired from the Army, I spent a lot of time on bases, experiencing the "brat" life. I love hiking, and everything one learns during those personal adventures... For a debut, Ms. Cowles told a beautiful story!