Tasting Stars

by Karen Mills

Set in the 1960’s Tasting Stars is the story of how a 13 year old girl living in the most difficult of circumstances finds her voice and in doing so changes lives in ways she never would have believed were possible.

Rose Ann Dixon's family life in Otara seems unremarkable. Her home, which she shares with her father, mother, and five younger sisters and brothers, along with the family cat – called Hoodat – looks no different from those around it. But, her close friend and neighbours know otherwise.

Each day, Rose faces problems that no one should ever have to deal with but deep love for her siblings sees her carry out quiet deeds of heroism in the face of increasing anger and violence meted out by her father.

A gift from her thoughtful teacher marks on her thirteenth birthday, is a turning point in Rose’s life. After hearing Martin Luther King’s inspiring words, she realises that every child can have dreams and what’s more they have a right to expect them to come true.

Discovering a family secret gives her newfound strength to confront her distant and ineffective mother about a past event that left lifelong scars which she now sees very differently.

In order to save her siblings, Rose realises she must first abandon them, and begins a journey from Otara to Wellington and finally India. Sustained by the love and wisdom of a recently deceased Aunt and the unending kindness of her best friend Aya’s family she learns things about herself and others that enable her to take the actions needed to save her family.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2017

Reviews

[Pippa Chard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will make you laugh, make you cry, make you feel fear, make you angry, make you hopeful, make you want to hug children tighter and make hope real. I felt like I knew Rose before I read this book, what I didn't know was the nightmare she and her siblings lived every moment of every day. Rose showed bravity and resilience when most adults would have crumbled battered and bruised, literally. No child should ever have to endure what she did. Rose is wise beyond her years and has a steely determination and incredible spunk! There were moments I laughed, moments I cried, and moments I did not want to turn the page for fear of was going to happen to her next. But her journey to India and the stories of the people who blessed her life, in often hilarious and mostly loving ways, offered hope in such darkness. This book is a must read. The world Rose lived in is unfortunately all to real and this story needs to be told. You will be moved in a way that hits your core.

[Martin Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The threat of violence is as oppressive and damaging as actual acts of violence. This story is about the hidden violence suffered in silence by some children, and what happens when the young woman at the heart of this story speaks out at school about the reality of her family.

The immediacy of the language of the children in this story conveys their fear, the oppression, the need to not step out of line from the stringent expectations of their drunken, bullying father.

The tautness of the story coupled with the believability of the children’s dialog, pulls the reader right into the dramas churning away within this family. The children expect to be hit, and blows are dealt out – it is raw and effective, but never excessive, but it is ‘heart in mouth’ for the reader.

One of the strongest aspects of this story, grounded in the author’s own experiences, is that the story is told consistently in the ‘now’ by Rose. It never wavers from being the voice of a 14 year old telling her story. It avoids being a retrospective of the 1960’s by an older observer. The concerns and observations are those of a youngster of the time – Dr Who, The Beatles, Elvis, the clothes and music of her contemporaries. This helps the reader step into Rose’s life and journey with her as she gathers the courage and determination to speak up to help herself and her siblings.

Finding the courage and motivation to speak out about violence are one hurdle; finding the inner strength to continue and see justice done in the face of disbelief or active adversity are another.

Rose travels from home to Wellington, then India. The new people she meets and contrasts her life with provide the basis for the growth of belief in herself. It is neatly and believably done – life is tough, and people do rise to meet the challenges thrown at them. Rose is a survivor.

I think this novel should be in every school and public library across the country. There’s a quiet recipe for strength and survival in this novel – you are not alone, there are good people all around who can be reached out to. Stories like this need to be told.

[Janine Mullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often come across myself in books. Not me exactly, but parts of me. Maybe a thought i had once. Or a particular way of feeling that i thought only i had. Or a weird thing i do, only when I'm alone. I found myself in this book. Teenage Me. Now Me. Struggling Me. Why Won't Anyone Help Me Me. This book broke my heart with sadness, but also broke my heart with happiness. The last scene of the book was so overwhelmingly perfect and amazing that i don't think i will ever forget that image. This book is primarily about abuse and abusive childhoods. I did not come from an abusive home but still found this book amazing and incredibly relateable. Tasting Stars has gone straight to the top of my favourite-books-of-all-time list. Please read this book.

[Suzanne Weld · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspirational story about Rose, the eldest daughter in a family that sustains family violence and feels fear on a daily basis. Rose finds a way to rise above this by writing a speech which sets her on an unexpected course with heart-warming characters. With her strong message that speaks for all children who may not be able to speak for themselves, Karen has crafted a high-impact novel that, as I became more involved in Rose's world, was hard to put down. A novel that every New Zealander should read if they care about children.

[Carolyn Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by this book, It was very honest and at times heart breaking but the girl in this story grew to be a truly beautiful , and compassionate person who genuinely cares for other. I loved this book

[Ess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose, the main character, is an incredible young wāhine who I admired as soon as I met her. TASTING STARS weaves together hope and adversity beautifully and effortlessly. Heavy themes, including graphic descriptions of family violence make this a 13+ read, but definitely not just one for teens. This sits on my 'amazing and underrated books by Kiwi authors' shelf!

[Josie Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring story of how having someone who believes in you can make the difference. Evocatively written, it recalls another era. The brutality Rose faces is hard to read, but the book flows wonderfully.

[Cora Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a really enjoyable read and also set in NZ which is cool

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed,I cried, I loved this story! A testament to inner strength, the importance of community. Such a beautiful, painstakingly written debut from Karen Mills.

[Jacqui Deans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasting stars is a brave story that tackles the still taboo subject of domestic violence , uniquely from a child's perspective. The largely true story is very powerful perhaps because of its reality. Rose's courage and ability to cope for the sake of her younger siblings stands out. This is contrasted with fear for the reader, as one chapter ends and another begins, as to how much worse things can get - and yet the story is gripping. It compels you to read on and as a result I read the book in 2 days! Highly recommended.