A Falling Star: A Novel

by Chantel Acevedo

Daysy Maria del Pozo and Stella Maris Morales-Quinn both came to the United States as part of the 1980 Mariel Boatlift--Daysy settling in South Florida with her family and Stella starting a new life with her mother and step-father in Pittsburgh. Over time, they each find themselves haunted by their families' complicated and painful Cuban pasts. As Stella deals with her mother's suicide and it slowly dawns on Daysy that there are family secrets she must uncover, the reader hears the del Pozo family history, piece by piece, from Daysy's mother. Soon it becomes clear that Daysy and Stella may share more than their Cuban-American heritage.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2014

About the author

Called "a master storyteller" by Kirkus Reviews, Chantel Acevedo is the author of  Love and Ghost Letters, A Falling Star, The Distant Marvels, which was a finalist for the 2016 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and most recently, The Living Infinite, hailed by Booklist as a "vivid and enthralling tale of love and redemption." Her essays have appeared in Vogue and Real Simple, among others. THE MUSE SQUAD: THE CASSANDRA CURSE, is a new middle grade series forthcoming from Balzer + Bray. She is a Professor of English at the University of Miami, where she directs in the MFA program.

Reviews

[Gabrielle Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman, young and old, should read this book, whether she has any Cuban blood or not. A Falling Star speaks to some of the most intimate struggles and questions we as women face from a very young age—and so beautifully. The characters are fascinating, almost magical, and yet extremely relatable. The language is poetic, often dark, but never dense. Mystery and masterful plot twists keeps you flipping pages in such a rapture, I'd be shocked if it took you more than a few days to finish. The fact that it tricks you into learning about the Mariel boat lift and other interesting aspects of Cuban history is just a plus. A warning though: Only read this book if you want to be consumed by it; there are images that will grab you, haunt you, and leave you gasping.

[Lourdes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story took me through several emotions as I read. I enjoyed it. I was too young to understand the Mariel boat lift at the time, but the same year my tío Alberto, tía Teté, and cousins Albertico and Ariel arrived in the US after being in Madrid for a short while after leaving Cuba by plane. With this novel, I have a wonderfully written small glimpse of the perilous journey by sea that many took.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and moving story. Acevedo's affection for her characters, their lives, their complicated families and the places described in the book (Hialeah, the museum of natural history in Pittsburgh, Miami) gives every scene richness and depth. The respect for Daysy and Stella's inner life and their fierce individuality of character is particularly enjoyable. I loved Stella's scenes with her child psychologist.

[Julia DeBarrioz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fascinating, heart-wrenching and beautifully written. I loved the characters and the settings of Miami and Havana. The Mariel exodus has a reputation as Castro's dumping of criminals and maniacs on US shores, but there were also so many normal families too who just wanted a better life for themselves and couldn't stand living under the oppression of Cuban Communism. Though you already know where the author is heading with "the mixup" from the first quarter of the book she handles it beautifully and it's a lovely literary journey to get there. This book squeezes your heart like a fist but the ending will make you smile and I'll admit it, cry.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but it was really good (had to read for a class). Deals a lot with post memory as a Cuban immigrant and the Mariel Boatlift in the 80s. The writing was direct and to the point, which was good and bad at times. The final revelation of how Belen was saved also felt a bit random but we move

[Rosa Tobiansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot. Interesting look into the cubans that came in 1980 to the US as exiles called the “Marielitas” since they departed from the Mariel port in Cuba. We get a glance into what the life in Cuba was after 20 years of revolution and also how the life of these cubans was so different from the first wave of cubans that arrived in US in the early 50s. Acevedo makes the story interesting and relevant. In my case, it is hard to see the side of the cubans still living in Cuba that are pro-Castro. It is hard to understand how that is possible after living all the misery caused by the revolution, and it is sad and imcomprehensible to see how the same thing is happening to my country, Venezuela.

[Alina García-Lapuerta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chantel Acevedo has managed to craft a haunting tale of family, identity and personal decisions, all within the backdrop of the Mariel Boatlift (based in part on a true story she heard years ago). The characters seem real and although some of the events that drive the story may seem incredible (I really don't want to give away the details), the story works and flows well. I would also agree with another reviewer who mentions feeling that they were back in Miami -- that is definitely the case. But above all, I think it is Ms. Acevedo's talent with characters that stands out. I am looking forward to reading her next book!

[Abby Chiaramonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about familial love and loss, A Falling Star brings to life the story of two girls uncovering mysteries of their pasts: a sister lost at sea and a mother's suicide. At first, the only thing that ties the two girls is their exodus on the Mariel boat lift, but when their paths cross, both of their lives are forever changed.

Acevedo traverses generations and multiple characters' perspectives deftly, forming an important narrative about the ramifications of a cultural moment that is often forgotten in recent history.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, haunting book about longing, home, and family. I grew up in Miami and although it's been thirty years, this book put me back in there in so many visceral ways--with sounds, smells, and sights that jumped off the page. And what a moving and incredible ending! I stayed up way too late to finish it then sighed when I was done because I missed it as soon as I closed the book.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredible read. I gave a four because the beginning was kinda slow but OMG Chantel made up for it. I am so glad I read this book and, it was well worth the time and so emotional and personal. I loved the characters.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always appreciate learning something new when reading a book. In this case, I had never heard of the Mariel boat lift in 1980 that brought thousands of Cubans to America. A beautifully told story although WAY too coincidental for my taste.

[Robbie Suite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good story...want to read more by Chantel Acevedo.

[S.W. Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done...this struck me as more of a YA book and hit on many of the YA themes (parents keeping secrets, kids uncovering the mystery to discover the truth).