Wish on All the Stars

Starry Beach Club #2

by Lisa Schroeder

The magical sequel to See You on a Starry Night makes more seaside wishes come true!

Juliet is now an official member of the Starry Beach Club, and loves working with her new friends, Emma and Carmen, to make people's wishes come true. Living away from her dad is still hard, and she misses her best friend from her old town, but she has her friends and the bookmobile, and San Diego feels more like home than ever. But then she learns that the bookmobile is going to have to shut down. The owner of the parking lot wants to start charging rent, and soon the bookmobile won't be able to stay in business. The Starry Beach Club comes up with different ways to save their favorite store, but none seem to work. But then Emma gets the idea to have a crafts fair...and she wants Juliet to sell her paintings! Juliet is nervous, and isn't sure whether she's ready to put herself on display. Meanwhile, Carmen is feeling anxious about the possibility of her mother being deported. Will Juliet be able to be brave for herself and for Carmen?

Genres: Middle Grade, Friendship, Juvenile

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2019

About the author

Lisa Schroeder is the author of more than twenty books for kids and teens. Her latest novel is A NIGHT TO DIE FOR, a YA murder mystery. She lives in Oregon where she works full-time and writes when she can.

twitter: www.twitter.com/lisa_schroeder
instagram: lisaschroeder15

Reviews

[Lisa]

This is the story of three friends who want to help save the bookmobile in their town. It's also the story of how two girls must figure out how to be the best ally they can be for their friend, who is afraid her mother might be deported. It's a follow-up to the first novel, SEE YOU ON A STARRY NIGHT, but can be read on its own.

Here's what some teachers and librarians have to say:

"Wish On All The Stars is a heartwarming story of three girls trying to make their world a better place. The girls are trying to save their local bookmobile while dealing with divorce, immigration, deportation and other family issues. I can’t wait to share Wish On All The Stars with my students in the fall!" - Aimee Bartis, Director of Library Services, Sunnyvale ISD

"Wish on All the Stars is a must read for preteen readers. Juliet, Emma, and Carmen are perfect examples of how friends can follow their hearts to make a difference in others’ lives and their community. These friends will tug at your heart strings and make you believe that with kindness, generosity, and perseverance you can make a lasting impact." - Deaneen Pashea, Teacher, East Noble School District

"This book is a great reminder to show students that they are never too young to start changing the world! The girls tackle the task of saving their local bookmobile as they struggle with other issues at home.” - Deana Sain, Library Media Specialist, Bolivar Middle School

[Deana Sain · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Middle School Librarian, I think that this book is a great story for students to read and realize that they are
never too young to make a difference. It is a follow-up to the book See You on a Starry Night, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone. Emma, Carmen, and Juliet created the Starry Beach Club to grant wishes around town. I love how they choose the local Bookmobile to save! Juliet’s struggle with her parents divorce and Carmen’s fear of her mom being deported give depth to this story that Middle School students will enjoy.

[Kelly Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Schroeder release days are major events for me. I love a lot of authors but I can't think of many that (a) have a 100% success rate for me and (b) will always leave me in a much better headspace than when I started the book. It's not that her books are fluffy, because they aren't. They deal with grief and loss and heartbreak; they don't pretend the world is better than it is. In this one, we learn that Carmen's family is in very real danger because her mom could be deported, leaving Carmen and her little brother alone. Not surprisingly, that puts her under this huge amount of stress and fear. AND not surprisingly, Juliet and Emma are unsure about how best to help their friend. There aren't easy answers, and this book doesn't pretend that there are.

What it does say (and what Lisa does in real life) is that there are things worth fighting for, and there are lots of ways to fight. There's always something you can do, even if it's just be there to support someone.

This book is amazing and I hope you read it. If you need optimism (and a great story!), pick this up. Also? It's about how wonderful books are. And how wonderful PETS are. But at its core, it's about the importance of friendship and continuing to move forward even when you don't think you can. (To quote my beloved The Good Place, "the reason is friends.")

Highly, highly recommended.

[Gouri Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowww! This was such a magical book!!💖💖 I loved it so much!!❤️ This is a magical sequel to “See you on a starry night”, and I loved it very much!! Well I think that I loved the first book even more but still, this was a great read😊

So in this one, we learn more about Carmen. And she, Emma and Juliet makes the best combination ever!!❤️❤️ I do really love Julient and her family😊 This book makes you believe that magic is real and wishes do come true💕
I loved it!!❤️

[Jahnavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely loved it. A book that taught me that you are never too young too make a difference. I liked the affectionate friendship between Juliet, Emma and Carmen. These three girls are mature, understanding and caring eleven year olds. The writing style was eloquent and captivating. I liked the ending too. I also liked how the book talks about immigration in a simple and understandable way. I liked the book cover so much. Stunning and gorgeous!! I am lucky to get a hardcover edition of this book. I liked the way the inside of the book is designed. Just beautiful. I also liked how the main character Juliet cares about her friends and family more than anything. Altogether a great book.

■Highly reccomended to young readers.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Review is of an advanced reader copy

Having read the first installment in what is, as evidenced by the final page of this novel, set to become a preteen series, I decided to read Wish on All the Stars (that and the San Diego setting.) Although See You on a Starry Night was a decent if a bit saccharine story, this one was not a favorite. It felt as though the author tried to cover too much. The characters, particularly Juliet, the titular character, were far too wholesome and goody-goody to be believable. She and her two new friends embark on a project to save the neighborhood bookmobile, a cause which I could definitely stand behind. Along the way, a multitude of other causes come to light; immigration, the environment, puppy mills, hunger, poverty, divorce, the list goes on. That is not to say these issues are not problematic. They do deserve viable solutions. But, all of them in the same short novel? All causes taken on by three preteen girls? Girls who are earnestly good and loving? Juliet is basically a social justice warrior Pollyanna. A few flaws are necessary to flush out a character. Furthermore, the book had an almost propaganda feel to it, the kids even start a social action club with goals such as eliminating plastic straws and making yard signs declaring, "Choose Love, Not Hate." Again, not that I'm a proponent of hate or the overuse of plastic but, come on! I half expected the girls to break out in "Where Have all the Flowers Gone?" and stick flowers in their hair. Nothing bad here just too improbable to be enjoyable.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this follow up to See You on a Starry Night, Juliet Kelley continues to find her way in her new home in San Diego. Although she realizes that her wish that her parents would reunite is not likely to be granted, she has some other wishes as do her new friends, Emma and Carmen. As she starts to learn more about Carmen's life and how her father was deported to Guatemala, she begins to realize that life's problems have much to do with perspective. The girls, members of the Starry Beach Club, put their efforts into saving a bookmobile parked on a grocery store's parking lot. When the manager refuses to listen to their arguments, they raise money for its rent through a street fair in which Juliet sells some of paintings. I liked seeing how Juliet and her older sister Miranda continue to struggle with the changes in their lives and how their father seemed too busy to plan anything for their visits. I also loved seeing youngsters in the role of social activists, taking action to try to fix the things that they saw as wrong. But Carmen's very real fears about her family being caught in a legal dilemma and her mother also being deported are described in an authentic way. Sometimes even good intentions can have bad results. While the ending might be too good to be true, this sweet story will appeal to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders.

[Karen McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read the first one, so I can definitely say that this is a stand alone book. I appreciated that the characters were in middle school and not younger. The ARC of this book is around 200 pages, with very reader friendly formatting and a sweet story mixed with some bigger social issues. I, like the main character and so many of my students, switched back and forth between houses after my parents divorced so I really appreciated this reality being portrayed in the book. The main story line is about the Starry Beach Club plotting to save the beloved local book mobile, but many other subplots join in. Juliet and her older sister take the bus to visit their dad on the weekends, a new experience for all of them. Juliet feels her old best friend drifting away, and her new friend Carmen is struggling with fears of deportation. This is the perfect book for an emerging reader middle grade to middle school. #LitReviewCrew

[Janelle Hackbarth · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw there was going to be a sequel to "See You On A Starry Night" (which I had read last year), I just knew I had to add this book to my To Be Read list.

This book picks up where the last one left off and deals with real issues about the struggle to accept change, fear of losing your family, and the fear of putting yourself out there by displaying your work.

Although I would have liked more of the scenes to be at the beach like the last one, this was still a cute little sequel to its prior book. True to form, the chapters end with one of Juliet's lists.

If you want to see what happens when the Starry Beach Club becomes 3 members, and see what happens after "See You On A Starry Night", read this book.

[Karen Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sequel but can stand alone. The first book, "See You on a Starry Night," is also very good.

At first blush, this book might seem like fluff. But, really, despite being highly readable, and relatable for tween girls, there is also plenty of substance.

One of the 3 friends have parents who are divorcing which also resulted in her having to move and make new friends, another has a huge worry about immigration, and all three deal with the usual issues tween have.

Here is a line that resonated: "Middle school P.E.--where one minute you're miserable and the next you're laughing at the ridiculousness of it all." Yep

Throughout, Juliet makes bulleted lists of things she thinks. It's a nice touch, and something that I imagine lots of kids do. Plus it gets out lots of thoughts without having to play them out in dialog.

I've read many (maybe all) of Schroeder's books and she seems to improve with each. She seems to understand this age without sounding phony or condescending - quite a feat.

Possible life lessons:
page 135 "As long as you're trying, you're not failing. Failing is if you don't try at all." I couldn't agree more.
Trying to save the bookmobile and having to be resourceful and brave.
"If no one tries to change things, guess what happens?" "Nothing." page 162
The concept of invisible sharks, which is making up stories in our own mind and pretty soon they seem so real we believe them. I liken this to listening to news 24/7
Kindness can be contagious.

A couple criticisms:
One is that her explanation of a difficult subject, while age appropriate, was biased. That is an author's prerogative, of course.
Another is too many similes. (Although a teacher could use it to teach from, or assign a kid to find twenty similes in the book.)

I love the ending when she writes again in her notebook of beautiful things--which is a great idea for a positive pastime I think.

I would definitely have this in a classroom library for grades 6 - 8

[Annie Dee Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish on All the Stars is the follow-up to Lisa Schroeder's title, See You on a Starry Night. This novel continues the story of the Starry Beach Club with its quest to save the nearby bookmobile. Juliet, Emma and Carmen are determined to keep the local tourist attraction around before it is replaced by a hot dog stand.

This novel is short (approx. 150 pages) but that doesn't dilute its messages of friendship, loyalty and new beginnings. Schroeder always does a wonderful job of teaching kids to "just be a good human" without sounding overly preachy. Here she approaches the hot button topic of illegal immigration with dignity and civility, introducing it to younger students in a way they would understand. Because of its sweet nature and short length, this book could be used in classrooms for students as young as eight, but also with students as old as twelve. I'm hoping Schroeder continues this series. It's positive messages are something missing in a crowded children's lit market.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Starry Beach Club was formed to grant wishes. When Emma, Juliet and Carmen learn their local bookmobile is in danger of closing forever, they are shocked. The girls quickly hatch a plan to save the bookmobile. Emma and Carmen convince a reluctant Juliet to sell some of her paintings. Juliet fears she will embarrass herself and wonders if her work is good enough. Wish on All the Stars is a sweet, sunny story about the power of friendship and facing your fears. It also does not shy away from more serious topics, including divorced parents and the plight of undocumented immigrants. Carmen's fears about her mom being deported are an underlying plot thread. Juliet is struggling to accept her parents' divorce and splitting time between their respective households. I highly recommend this book upper elementary and younger middle school students.

[NaResa Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wish on All the Stars" is a cute book. It is number 2 in a series, which I didn't realize until about halfway into the book, but I wasn't lost. Schroeder does a good job of recapping as she writes so the important things are reiterated to the reader. "Wish on All the Stars" is about a groups of friends who want to make other people's wishes come true. The main wish the girls try to solve is raising money so that an independent library can pay rent to keep the space they use for their "mobile library." The book talks about overcoming fear, communicating with friends, and helping friends in difficult times. The book also deals with divorced parents and issues with immigration.

[Foleyreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and wish more middle grades books like this were around when I was this age. So many great messages for middle grade girls - making new friends, keeping old friends, learning how to help others, dealing with change. Most importantly - it dealt with issues many of our students might be dealing with - divorce, worrying about parents being deported, standing up for what you believe in. This was a sequel that stands well on its own but now I’m intrigued to read the first one. Can’t wait to recommend to my students and hook them with this series.

[Emily Waisanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this sweet story before publication as part of the #LitReviewCrew group. I will definitely be purchasing my own copy for my classroom to add to my Lisa Schroeder collection of books. I think my middle school students will appreciate this story about friendship, family, and finding the courage to help others even when things seem difficult. I like how each chapter ends with a list of thoughts, which is a nice element to the story.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel good story about a girl - new friendships, old friendships, new family dynamics and having the confidence to be yourself and help others along the way.
Very relatable storyline and you really get involved with the characters. Juliet the main character is very real, and Carmen is another character that brings in political topics of deportation etc
I really enjoyed - I think I should have read the prequel first though

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Maybe as a younger person, I would've enjoyed this book more. While the author showed the sweet side of kids, she tried way too hard. Juliet was like 11 or 12 and had all this insight on the way people should be treated. There's no way a child of that background would be like that. And the author just tried too hard to fit every type of person in the story to make a point.

I did not read the first book in this series and I will not be going back to read it.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this middle grade book that deals with many social issues of our time, especially immigration and deportation. It was well written for upper elementary and middle school and I would definitely recommend it for inclusion in a school library. If we don’t develop empathy in our youngsters, we’re doomed.

[AurorainBookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because the 11 year old girls all had instagram accounts you have to be 13 to have an instagram account, it didn't mention anything about their parents running the account or any internet safety stuff. It would have been nice to see the girls asking for permission to post something.

[J. Woods]

Delightful story of friendship, civic action, and getting through life’s changes. Lovely message without being too lesson driven. The main characters are well developed and have independent voices. Great read for many classrooms libraries.

[Addison M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book. I liked that the author added different home-life struggles that the girls were going through. Other than that, some of the book didn’t really make sense. Like how they set up a event so quickly with just a signature.

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute sequel.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book

[Stephanie Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after my 10-year old daughter recommended it and I really loved it!

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is fast paced and well written with a happy ending and lots of positive messages encouraging energy and positive reinforcement

[Norah Rehner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really like this book. There was too many problems happing in one tiny book. I think it needed to be a sequel and more detail.