A Night Without Stars

by James Howe

Maria Tirone is frightened. She's in the hospital, about to undergo open heart surgery. And no one—not her friends, not her family, not even her doctors—can tell her what to expect. Then she meets Donald, badly disfigured in a fire years before. The other kids in the hospital call him Monster Man, and tell Maria to stay away from him. But Maria sees the human being hidden behind Donald's scars and his bitterness, and finds in him what she needs most of all—answers to her questions, and a friend.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Friendship

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was impressed with this James Howe drama. Maria needs heart surgery and this story deals with the fear of what surgery is going to be like. This was a different time. Maria went in the hospital early, like 24 hours early, which they don't do now. She meets other kids on the kid ward having surgery for various things. She meets 2 girls who seem friendly. There is also Donald who the girls nick-name Monster Boy. He was burned severely and he has a chip on his shoulder to protect him.

The story is about finding friends in unlikely places. This book is well written for a middle grade age group and it's a good story. It deals with fear of the unknown, being alone, having friends and friending someone that others don't like and family. It's complex and well done.

James Howe comes through again. It's a serious book.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a child and remember loving it. I need to read it again to really remember it but it did leave an impression on me and made me more sympathetic towards people who were sick or had disabilities.

[Willa Frizzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book especially for preteens or younger teens. It teaches empathy and kindness toward those who are different.

[Sarah Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first got this book when I was 13 and I thought it was going to be another one of those YA novels that you read and it just seems like it's the same as the rest of them out there.

But I was really surprised to find that this dug deeper than that. It really hit home because I, personally, have spent a lot of time in the hospital for surgeries in such when I was younger. Sometimes I was scared to death, and other times I wondered when I could leave. To this day I still do not like doctors, and will argue with them. I liked how I could feel what these characters were feeling--I could relate and that's what I loved about it. It displays a good message on looking beyond outward appearances and seeing deeper than that.

It's a story about friendship, faith, believing, and hope. It's still one of my favorites to this day, and I'd recommend it to any teen.

[Featherheart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was okay. Donald was believable, but the friends were not. Good thing they weren't major characters. For better stories about health issues, try Lurlene McDaniel books. Someone Dies, Someone Lives is about heart transplant surgery. It's the first in a series, but can also stand alone. A later book in the series, also about heart surgery, is She Died Too Young.

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suspect that if I'd read this when I was younger, I would have bumped it up at least another star. As it is, too much time has passed and chunks of the book feel dated.

That said, the friendship between Maria and Donald works. Some might argue that the adults are kind of useless, but not all of them are. The nurse who explains what's really happening to Maria and Lorna are both examples of this. Maria's father may not be the most expressive adult in the book, but it makes sense given who he is and *when* he is.

It's a sweet book that will prompt a chuckle or a laugh and maybe make you sniffle, just a tad, before the end.

[Awilma Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Tirone is frightened. She's in the hospital, about to undergo open heart surgery. And no one. Not her friends, not her family, not even her doctors, can tell her what to expect. Then she meets Donald, badly disfigured in a fire years before. The other kids in the hospital call him Monster Man, and tell Maria to stay away from him. But Maria sees the human being hidden behind Donald's scars and his bitterness, and finds in him what she needs most of all -- answers to her questions, and a friend.

[Trista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a girl, Maria, who needs an operation to repair a hole in her heart. While she is in the hospital, she meets a boy, Donald, who has been badly disfigured by a fire. Maria and Donald become friends amid both of their health and personal struggles. This is somewhat of a dated story (written in 1983).

[La Toya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books as a child. It has always stuck with me. I'm sure if I re-read it now and tried to be objective it would probably be less than a 5 seeing as I'm a little more discerning now lol. However I'm going to rate it as how I would have back when I first fell in love with it :)

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one when I was a kid, and recently reread it because it seemed appropriate to do so.

Maria has a VSD, or a hole in her heart, goes into the hospital to have open-heart surgery, and befriends Donald, a young burn victim. Lovely little story.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last time I read this book was a long time ago. But I still remember the entire thing and I read it at least 3 times. I thought it had a great story line and, for my age, was very appropriate despite the content of being sick in a hospital

[Lynnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good story for young adult readers just starting to venture into stories with more depth. Easy read and was my favorite in 5th grade. I know it has been awhile, but I will always remember and like this one.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites from my childhood. Guaranteed tear jerker every time. Great book. And I learned how to call someone a fat ass in Spanish :)

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books from when I was growing up. Yet every time I read it again I fall in love all over. So simple yet such a tearjerker I love it !!!!

[Maria Marandola · Rating 4 out of 5]

First novel I ever read as a kid. After this book I became an avid reader. 4 stars for nostalgic purposes more than anything else.

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was nice but i will have to return to the barbary

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this many times as a child. Really enjoyed it.

[Ri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first ever “big kid” book that I picked up of my own accord. Made me laugh, made me cry. I still have the book in my possession, it will always hold a place in my heart.

[Shelby adams]

this is a very good book.

[Brianna Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://bribeebrown.com/a-night-witho...

[Laurie D'ghent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good moral, but I didn't appreciate the swearing.