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The Secrets of Star Whales
On the small space station Azura, Maxion Belmont is constantly torn between his two passions—engineering and music. Both are hobbies handed down from his father, which is bittersweet since his death two years ago. While his hydrodriver is great for repairing starship parts, his father’s old string instrument tugs at the latent grief Max hides from his mom and classmates with each chord he strums.
When a foreign starship appears on the horizon, Azura welcomes their first tourist in years. Enter Mr. Hames, starship captain and space-brained traveler. But there’s something weird about the stranger-turned-substitute teacher. He has no idea how to teach and thinks enlisting a group of twelve-year-olds to become his starship “crew” is totally normal. Or maybe it’s the fact he keeps raving about the existence of alien creatures in the vacuum of space: star whales.
As Max and the rest of Mr. Hames’s class/crew uncover the mysteries of the star whales, they discover they aren’t the only ones looking for the elusive creatures—and not every whaler has good intentions. Confronted with questions about his own father’s history with the star whales, Max must decide how far he’ll go to understand not only his father, but also the boy he’s become since his death . . . even at the expense of the star whales themselves.
When a foreign starship appears on the horizon, Azura welcomes their first tourist in years. Enter Mr. Hames, starship captain and space-brained traveler. But there’s something weird about the stranger-turned-substitute teacher. He has no idea how to teach and thinks enlisting a group of twelve-year-olds to become his starship “crew” is totally normal. Or maybe it’s the fact he keeps raving about the existence of alien creatures in the vacuum of space: star whales.
As Max and the rest of Mr. Hames’s class/crew uncover the mysteries of the star whales, they discover they aren’t the only ones looking for the elusive creatures—and not every whaler has good intentions. Confronted with questions about his own father’s history with the star whales, Max must decide how far he’ll go to understand not only his father, but also the boy he’s become since his death . . . even at the expense of the star whales themselves.
228 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2021
650 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Thorne
14 books1,958 followersRebecca Thorne is a USA Today, Indie, and Sunday Times Bestselling author, specializing in fantasy and sci-fi with romantic subplots.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely fiancée, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, lives near Denver, Colorado, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she’s not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found traveling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her dogs and lovely fiancée, or basking in the sun like a lizard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 29, 2021
*** Many thanks to jollyfish press for eARC via NetGalley. ***
The Secrets of Star Whales was heartwarming middle grade #scifi that revolved around Max struggling with grief and loss and mystery of Star Whales. It was about getting over loss and grief, friendship, adventure, trust, secrets, loneliness, and believing in yourself.
-Writing was lucid, vivid, fast paced and filled with imagination and emotions.
-Max was smart, fun, relatable, and realistic character.
-I loved how he developed and tried to make things right at the end.
-All secondary characters, crew of Calypso, were interesting. It was great to read about their skills, quirks and how they too developed along with Max.
-Best part of the book was world.- Azura spaces station, its close-knit community, technology, spaceships, Story of Star Whales and their description.
-liked the layers and message,
Overall, it was lovely, heartfelt, well written middle grade sic-fi set in amazing world with quirky and delightful characters.
Read full review by following link - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/0...
The Secrets of Star Whales was heartwarming middle grade #scifi that revolved around Max struggling with grief and loss and mystery of Star Whales. It was about getting over loss and grief, friendship, adventure, trust, secrets, loneliness, and believing in yourself.
-Writing was lucid, vivid, fast paced and filled with imagination and emotions.
-Max was smart, fun, relatable, and realistic character.
-I loved how he developed and tried to make things right at the end.
-All secondary characters, crew of Calypso, were interesting. It was great to read about their skills, quirks and how they too developed along with Max.
-Best part of the book was world.- Azura spaces station, its close-knit community, technology, spaceships, Story of Star Whales and their description.
-liked the layers and message,
Overall, it was lovely, heartfelt, well written middle grade sic-fi set in amazing world with quirky and delightful characters.
Read full review by following link - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/0...
June 7, 2024
What a beautiful, heart wrenching middle grade sci-fi novel. It was so much fun. I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
March 18, 2021
This book is so special to me, and I really adored writing Max's story and exploring the wonders of the star whales. If you're looking for a space adventure with true heart, you'll find it in these pages! I really hope you enjoy!!
February 10, 2021
Thank you to Jolly Fish Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
The Secrets of Star Whales by Rebecca Thorne is a heartwarming middle grade sci-fi novel full of adventure. We follow a young boy, Max, who lives on a space station in Azura with his mom. The routine is usually the same on Azura until one day, an unexpected man crash-lands at their station. Coincidentally, Azura needs a teacher for the twelve-year-olds, so this man, Mr. Hames, ends up becoming the teacher until he can get his spaceship fixed. Before he crashed, Mr. Hames was interested in the star whales that are rumored to exist in space. To continue his exploration, he needs help fixing the ship, so the kids agree to become a part of his crew and a part of the search for the wondrous star whales.
I loved this novel. It is a book full of adventure and yet also deals with heavy topics such as grief, greed, and self-reflection. Along with these topics are the themes of friendship, loyalty, and imagination. Thorne takes these important topics and makes them digestible to middle grade audiences, teaching valuable lessons while keeping it fun and entertaining. The characters are complex and grow throughout the novel. Overall, this is a great middle grade novel!
The Secrets of Star Whales by Rebecca Thorne is a heartwarming middle grade sci-fi novel full of adventure. We follow a young boy, Max, who lives on a space station in Azura with his mom. The routine is usually the same on Azura until one day, an unexpected man crash-lands at their station. Coincidentally, Azura needs a teacher for the twelve-year-olds, so this man, Mr. Hames, ends up becoming the teacher until he can get his spaceship fixed. Before he crashed, Mr. Hames was interested in the star whales that are rumored to exist in space. To continue his exploration, he needs help fixing the ship, so the kids agree to become a part of his crew and a part of the search for the wondrous star whales.
I loved this novel. It is a book full of adventure and yet also deals with heavy topics such as grief, greed, and self-reflection. Along with these topics are the themes of friendship, loyalty, and imagination. Thorne takes these important topics and makes them digestible to middle grade audiences, teaching valuable lessons while keeping it fun and entertaining. The characters are complex and grow throughout the novel. Overall, this is a great middle grade novel!
March 2, 2025
Absolutely adorable.
December 26, 2020
I am delighted to add The Secrets of Star Whales to an excellent vintage of Middle Grade adventure books soon-to-be-launched which I have recently read. Twelve year olds overcame undersea treachery with Alessia in Atlantis, followed by Middle Graders sailing across the sea to save their homeland in the Sea of Kings, and now technology-smart youngsters outwit poachers on spaceships in a distant galaxy in this enthralling tale about Star Whales. Not only is this a spell-binding adventure tale, but also one filled with important messages for children and young teens about the nature of friendship, the pain of grieving, and the importance of diversity in ecosystems. Thorne’s wonderful and unusual telling of the tale in the first person will make this book resonate with and be treasured by youngsters everywhere.
March 20, 2021
Wow! What a ride! I don’t read a lot of “space” reads, but this wasn’t just about space, but so much more. But I even loved the space stuff! I wasn’t confused at all, but really interested to know more! I really loved this! I read about 50 pages before bed last night, & then read the rest today! This is a fascinating tale of everyday life in space, but also dealing w/grief, misplaced anger, & even poaching. Yes poaching. There aren’t many things in this world that anger & upset me more than innocent animals being hurt for the most ignorant of “reasons”-like for sport, fun, money, competition, or making the person feel like it in some way makes them tough....yea you went up against a defenseless animal w/a WEAPON..real tough, let’s see you go 1 on 1. ANYWAY(I could rant all day), many people shy away from topics like poachers. I loved how the author brought this very real problem into space, & made it a discussion to be talked about from her book. Space whales is such a clever & beautiful idea too. Hearing the songs they sing up there would be so breathtaking..I loved all of that-& all the details from the music, who sees them, their connection to the place..all of it was so intriguing! All the kids were amazing-all very different & identifiable. The MC Max is still grieving from his dads death a couple years before, & he won’t LET himself grieve at the same time. He has anger, & even blames others not at fault. I thought this was a very real, honest depiction of grief. Mr. Hames was amazing. I loved everything about his kooky self lol I wish I’d had a teacher like him! The ending was amazing, & the closing scene was so touching. How it all came together & wrapped up made me emotional-I was so happy for Max. Highly recommend! Such a great space adventure, full of so much heart at its core. It comes out this coming Tuesday-March 23rd! Love this beautiful cover by Rebecca Willoway too!💜
April 26, 2021
4/5 Stars
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
I absolutely adored this book. I enjoyed the characters, the creativity, the setting, everything was great! I loved that part of this book's message is that it's okay to be an adult but never lose your sense of wonder and adventure that you had when you were a kid. I think the age range that this is intended for will absolutely love this. I think the author did a fantastic job at not only writing the story but also making it easy to feel connected to the characters. Overall I highly recommend picking up this book.
** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
I absolutely adored this book. I enjoyed the characters, the creativity, the setting, everything was great! I loved that part of this book's message is that it's okay to be an adult but never lose your sense of wonder and adventure that you had when you were a kid. I think the age range that this is intended for will absolutely love this. I think the author did a fantastic job at not only writing the story but also making it easy to feel connected to the characters. Overall I highly recommend picking up this book.
October 4, 2020
Once again middle grade stories of wonder and magic are getting me through. This was a wholesome, heart breaking read about a boy who lost his father and the lengths he will go to, to feel close to him again. It was a tale of friendship, grief and self discovery. It had it all.
The Secrets of Star Whales is a beautifully written story that brings our characters to life. Max and India are so well fleshed out and wonderfully written that I couldn't help but love them and feel for them. Max and India have both lost their dad, but the way in which they deal with this is very different. Max has spent the last two years trying to hide his grief and has become a bitter boy who is quite mean and a little selfish, which is wonderfully appropriate given his age. He was a hard character to read, I could completely understand his sorrow, anger and confusion, but damn he was frustrating. I wanted to yell at him and his mother. Max was so well written that I was often cringing at his bad choices.
Mr Hames is an outsider who has the ability to see everything occurring on Azura with fresh eyes and Max finds his insights and outlook threatening to his comfortable existence. He brings a new level of energy to the kids in his class, he brings excitement and wonder, which these kids, already being prepared for their roles as adults, are already losing. He reminds the kids of the wonder of imagination.
"These whales... They're amazing. Wonderous. And by normal standards, they shouldn't exist. Maybe that's their defense mechanism. They hide from people who lack the hope and wonder you kids carry so easily. They hide from anyone who isn't imaginative enough to appreciate them."
One of my favourite parts of this book was the way music was used to tell a story and express feelings that had otherwise been locked up inside of Max. When he couldn't communicate clearly, he would strum away at his fathers instrument and release the grief and fear he is feeling.
I enjoyed The Secrets of Star Whales, there was a lot of character growth, all of the characters, even the minor side characters and I really appreciated that. I liked that the story flowed well, it never gets bogged down and although the book deals with some heavy themes and at moments my heart was breaking for the characters, I never wanted to stop reading or needed to take a break. It's a book you can smash through in one sitting. I liked that the story didn't shy away from the hard parts, the angry, spiteful side of Max and the effect his Dad's death had on so many people. It was well balanced by the Star Whales.
Over all a well written middle grade story. Definitely worth a look.
The Secrets of Star Whales is a beautifully written story that brings our characters to life. Max and India are so well fleshed out and wonderfully written that I couldn't help but love them and feel for them. Max and India have both lost their dad, but the way in which they deal with this is very different. Max has spent the last two years trying to hide his grief and has become a bitter boy who is quite mean and a little selfish, which is wonderfully appropriate given his age. He was a hard character to read, I could completely understand his sorrow, anger and confusion, but damn he was frustrating. I wanted to yell at him and his mother. Max was so well written that I was often cringing at his bad choices.
Mr Hames is an outsider who has the ability to see everything occurring on Azura with fresh eyes and Max finds his insights and outlook threatening to his comfortable existence. He brings a new level of energy to the kids in his class, he brings excitement and wonder, which these kids, already being prepared for their roles as adults, are already losing. He reminds the kids of the wonder of imagination.
"These whales... They're amazing. Wonderous. And by normal standards, they shouldn't exist. Maybe that's their defense mechanism. They hide from people who lack the hope and wonder you kids carry so easily. They hide from anyone who isn't imaginative enough to appreciate them."
One of my favourite parts of this book was the way music was used to tell a story and express feelings that had otherwise been locked up inside of Max. When he couldn't communicate clearly, he would strum away at his fathers instrument and release the grief and fear he is feeling.
I enjoyed The Secrets of Star Whales, there was a lot of character growth, all of the characters, even the minor side characters and I really appreciated that. I liked that the story flowed well, it never gets bogged down and although the book deals with some heavy themes and at moments my heart was breaking for the characters, I never wanted to stop reading or needed to take a break. It's a book you can smash through in one sitting. I liked that the story didn't shy away from the hard parts, the angry, spiteful side of Max and the effect his Dad's death had on so many people. It was well balanced by the Star Whales.
Over all a well written middle grade story. Definitely worth a look.
July 4, 2024
Not enough Star Whales!!!
Seriously I am very disappointed in this story, when reading the synopsis you think you're going to get this amazing tale about kids discovering whales in space and then watch them deal with poachers, instead the Star Whales make up about 10% of this story. And that's mostly at the end which makes it even more frustrating because you keep waiting and waiting and waiting, and then when it finally happens its so incredibly short lived. I also was very disappointed in the lack of resolution in regards to the poachers, like it all feels swept under the rug. The revelation at the end with the parents on the space station was so frustrating as it could have been utilized earlier. The Music was another element that I feel was under utilized, Max rarely uses the music in the book and its more like this background idea of "i love making music" I was expecting more uses of the music but it really only makes a small appearance at the start and then the end.
As for the reminder of the story which is actually the bulk of the story, you are dealing with Max and his grief and trauma over the loss of his father. Now I have no issue with middle grade books tackling heavy topics like this, it's actually very common in middle grade books and I love it. What I do hate is when its being heavily pushed down my throat by the author, it started to feel so heavy handed that I realized the whole point of this story was never about the Whales it was about the grief. It also made it a 100 times worse when the resolution of this grief that you follow is resolved in a epilogue with a simple manner. Because it was so heavy handed in the story I was expecting this big release of emotions and it ultimately boiling over and Max releasing everything because honestly its what he needed, but that never happened, and it made the journey of his struggle feel unresolved by the end. Sure there is a conversation but it lacked the depth that I was expecting. I also really wish more effort was put towards the healing of Arsenio and Max's broken friendship, another element that just came way to late in the story and felt unsatisfying. It was like it was more important to show the grief then to show the healing and it made it very frustrating for me by the time I got to the end.
Its easy to read but I wish there had been more balance between the two plot lines because I did struggle and had to push myself through the story because for the longest time it just didn't feel like the Star Whales were ever going to appear.
Seriously I am very disappointed in this story, when reading the synopsis you think you're going to get this amazing tale about kids discovering whales in space and then watch them deal with poachers, instead the Star Whales make up about 10% of this story. And that's mostly at the end which makes it even more frustrating because you keep waiting and waiting and waiting, and then when it finally happens its so incredibly short lived. I also was very disappointed in the lack of resolution in regards to the poachers, like it all feels swept under the rug. The revelation at the end with the parents on the space station was so frustrating as it could have been utilized earlier. The Music was another element that I feel was under utilized, Max rarely uses the music in the book and its more like this background idea of "i love making music" I was expecting more uses of the music but it really only makes a small appearance at the start and then the end.
As for the reminder of the story which is actually the bulk of the story, you are dealing with Max and his grief and trauma over the loss of his father. Now I have no issue with middle grade books tackling heavy topics like this, it's actually very common in middle grade books and I love it. What I do hate is when its being heavily pushed down my throat by the author, it started to feel so heavy handed that I realized the whole point of this story was never about the Whales it was about the grief. It also made it a 100 times worse when the resolution of this grief that you follow is resolved in a epilogue with a simple manner. Because it was so heavy handed in the story I was expecting this big release of emotions and it ultimately boiling over and Max releasing everything because honestly its what he needed, but that never happened, and it made the journey of his struggle feel unresolved by the end. Sure there is a conversation but it lacked the depth that I was expecting. I also really wish more effort was put towards the healing of Arsenio and Max's broken friendship, another element that just came way to late in the story and felt unsatisfying. It was like it was more important to show the grief then to show the healing and it made it very frustrating for me by the time I got to the end.
Its easy to read but I wish there had been more balance between the two plot lines because I did struggle and had to push myself through the story because for the longest time it just didn't feel like the Star Whales were ever going to appear.
March 23, 2021
Maxion learned everything about music and engineering from his father. Every time he picks up an instrument, it reminds him of the fact his father died two years ago. At least making small engineering repairs doesn't hurt as much, and such work is needed on the space station Azura where Maxion lives. Not many visitors come by the insignificant space station, so when Mr. Hames drops in raving about far-out singing whales somewhere in space, that catches Maxion's attention. Better yet, Mr. Hames is now Maxion's teacher, and he's enlisted the entire class as his crew to go out there to discover more about the exotic space whales. It isn't long before they realize others are seeking the space whales, and not just to hear their singing. Maxion learns his father also took an interest in the space whales, and must decide how much he wants to learn about his father's past, and come to grips with the kind of person he wants to be.
This was a fun and interesting science fiction middle grade book, but it also had some heavy moments that help to bring some gravitas to the fore. Maxion has to deal with grief, loss, and upon learning more about his father, other emotions come to the surface. Additionally, the class of Mr. Hames has to deal with real-life space poachers, which was somewhat unexpected. I wonder why it is that one of humanity's first instincts upon discovering a beautiful creature is how it can best be exploited? I like to think that youth who read this story will also have similar thoughts. The class is full of a wide range of personalities, making it easy to identify with at least some of them, and Mr. Hames is almost kooky enough to need a magic space bus. The Secrets of Star Whales is a delightful, yet serious, story about a boy coming to terms with grief, and coming of age by trying to forge a path forward for himself, and for the musically-inclined creatures he's just getting to know. Ardently recommended for middle grade youth, and for the young at heart who like to imagine that the stars hold secrets we have not yet discovered, and may yet marvel at.
Thank you Jolly Fish Press for sending me a free copy of this book to read and review.
This was a fun and interesting science fiction middle grade book, but it also had some heavy moments that help to bring some gravitas to the fore. Maxion has to deal with grief, loss, and upon learning more about his father, other emotions come to the surface. Additionally, the class of Mr. Hames has to deal with real-life space poachers, which was somewhat unexpected. I wonder why it is that one of humanity's first instincts upon discovering a beautiful creature is how it can best be exploited? I like to think that youth who read this story will also have similar thoughts. The class is full of a wide range of personalities, making it easy to identify with at least some of them, and Mr. Hames is almost kooky enough to need a magic space bus. The Secrets of Star Whales is a delightful, yet serious, story about a boy coming to terms with grief, and coming of age by trying to forge a path forward for himself, and for the musically-inclined creatures he's just getting to know. Ardently recommended for middle grade youth, and for the young at heart who like to imagine that the stars hold secrets we have not yet discovered, and may yet marvel at.
Thank you Jolly Fish Press for sending me a free copy of this book to read and review.
December 30, 2020
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated in the review are my own.
bookstagram
4/5 stars
This was a wholesome middle grade sci-fi story that I really needed. It warmed my heart and I can recommend it to everyone.
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
Plot
○ The plot of the book was simple and easy to follow. It's about Max who lives on a space station where they don't get a lot of visitors. One day an odd visitor comes and he ends up teaching Max's class of 12 year olds. The odd man doesn't turn out to be a teacher, in fact he doesn't really seem to know anything about teaching! Max and his friends end up helping him fix his space ship. For what reason? To find star whales, who are rumoured to exist out there in space...
○ In the meantime, Max is struggling with the tragic death of his father. It turns out his dad has some kind of connection with whalers (people who are trying to find the star whales) and he is desperate to find out more about his dad.
Worldbuilding
○ The worldbuilding was fine. There's plenty of science-fiction elements in this story and I think it won't bore a child with unnecessary details. I would've liked to know a bit more about the star whales, but I think the depth of the worldbuilding was fitting for a middle grade book.
Characters
○ Max is the main character. He's dealing with the grief of losing his dad. As a child, he's still got difficulty dealing with his emotions. I found him a very realistic character. He's dealing with grief exactly as how I would imagine a child dealing with it. Very well done!
○ I thought the minor characters were good enough and believable. They had their own recognizable personalities that I think middle grade kids will enjoy. I can't say the characters were particularly memorable though.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this story, if you are looking for a heartwarming middle grade book I can recommend it to anyone!
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated in the review are my own.
bookstagram
4/5 stars
This was a wholesome middle grade sci-fi story that I really needed. It warmed my heart and I can recommend it to everyone.
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
Plot
○ The plot of the book was simple and easy to follow. It's about Max who lives on a space station where they don't get a lot of visitors. One day an odd visitor comes and he ends up teaching Max's class of 12 year olds. The odd man doesn't turn out to be a teacher, in fact he doesn't really seem to know anything about teaching! Max and his friends end up helping him fix his space ship. For what reason? To find star whales, who are rumoured to exist out there in space...
○ In the meantime, Max is struggling with the tragic death of his father. It turns out his dad has some kind of connection with whalers (people who are trying to find the star whales) and he is desperate to find out more about his dad.
Worldbuilding
○ The worldbuilding was fine. There's plenty of science-fiction elements in this story and I think it won't bore a child with unnecessary details. I would've liked to know a bit more about the star whales, but I think the depth of the worldbuilding was fitting for a middle grade book.
Characters
○ Max is the main character. He's dealing with the grief of losing his dad. As a child, he's still got difficulty dealing with his emotions. I found him a very realistic character. He's dealing with grief exactly as how I would imagine a child dealing with it. Very well done!
○ I thought the minor characters were good enough and believable. They had their own recognizable personalities that I think middle grade kids will enjoy. I can't say the characters were particularly memorable though.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this story, if you are looking for a heartwarming middle grade book I can recommend it to anyone!
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
March 3, 2021
Man, this book was just what I needed after back-to-back fairly serious and weighty reads and I'm glad for it because this School of Rock meets Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe sci-fi is pure joy.
The Secrets of Star Whales by Rebecca Thorne is a heartwarming book full of MG adventure that definitely toils in friendship, creativity, and love. It’s certainly got that social commentary that we expect nowadays, but its not even close to being preachy as the underpinnings of the story stick close to home.
But what I liked most was it doesn’t shy away from the tough subjects either, taking a good look at trauma and loss, and not only through the eyes of children either. Yes, the adults get to explore the space just as much as the kids do and that balance is what makes this book work very well.
Reading the way too long summary will get you off to a good start but there’s definitely that “nothing exciting ever happens here” trope hard at work. The conflict, until there’s actual conflict, consists mostly of the inner workings of pre-teens trying to figure out who they are, and what they want to be. So, in that respect, it’s no different than any other story, this one just happens to take place on a space station in the middle of a mining colony.
Max and his classmates/friends are each unique in both design and function and the idea is that you should find at least one to relate to. This socially democratic society means there isn’t much competition, even the bullies aren’t really that bad, in fact, the most unlikable character is Max, but there are reasons and you’ll come around. As for the adults, Mr. Hames does the heavy lifting and he's more than up to the task as the book's Dewey Finn. Max's mother is a great character who, in a YA, would've definitely gotten fleshed out even further.
Anyways, again, it’s MG so it’s a quick read that while predictable, still has a few surprises up its sleeve.
The Secrets of Star Whales by Rebecca Thorne is a heartwarming book full of MG adventure that definitely toils in friendship, creativity, and love. It’s certainly got that social commentary that we expect nowadays, but its not even close to being preachy as the underpinnings of the story stick close to home.
But what I liked most was it doesn’t shy away from the tough subjects either, taking a good look at trauma and loss, and not only through the eyes of children either. Yes, the adults get to explore the space just as much as the kids do and that balance is what makes this book work very well.
Reading the way too long summary will get you off to a good start but there’s definitely that “nothing exciting ever happens here” trope hard at work. The conflict, until there’s actual conflict, consists mostly of the inner workings of pre-teens trying to figure out who they are, and what they want to be. So, in that respect, it’s no different than any other story, this one just happens to take place on a space station in the middle of a mining colony.
Max and his classmates/friends are each unique in both design and function and the idea is that you should find at least one to relate to. This socially democratic society means there isn’t much competition, even the bullies aren’t really that bad, in fact, the most unlikable character is Max, but there are reasons and you’ll come around. As for the adults, Mr. Hames does the heavy lifting and he's more than up to the task as the book's Dewey Finn. Max's mother is a great character who, in a YA, would've definitely gotten fleshed out even further.
Anyways, again, it’s MG so it’s a quick read that while predictable, still has a few surprises up its sleeve.
March 23, 2021
Thanks to JollyFish Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5/5
This book was absolutely fantastic! A quick, fun, wondrous middle grade story that balanced grief, wonder, space, and a little bit of science.
The story follows Max, our narrator, who is 12 and lives on Azura which is a space station. Max has lived on Azura his whole life, and he doesn’t want to leave. Azura itself seems like a pretty traditional place, and Max and his classmates begin to learn that it’s okay to want to explore more than the space station they know. Max deals with a lot of grief in this book. His father passed away in an accident 2 years ago, and Max has a lot of anger, bitterness, and grief that he hasn’t worked through. I really liked the way that the author tackled these themes, and while there were times when I was frustrated with Max and I just wanted him to talk to someone, in the end he showed a lot of growth as a character. The best part about the way that the author depicted Max’s struggles with grief and anger was that it was realistic.
One of my favourite parts of this book were the Star Whales. I love the idea of them, and I think the author did a brilliant job of communicating the sense of wonder and awe associated with seeing them. I was feeling all of the emotions that the kids were feeling in those moments.
There was a really good cast of characters in this story, and although Max was our main focus, we still got to see glimpses of the other kids lives as well as their relationships with Max and each other.
I appreciated how Max was interested in engineering and also music, and I love that they were things that connected him to his dad. I thought the space and science elements were brought in in a way that was really easy to understand and follow. Max’s narration style was funny and relatable, and I thought the pacing was really good.
Overall I think this is an incredible read that will appeal to readers of all ages! If you like books set in space with wonder and some adventure that also tackle deeper themes, definitely check this one out.
5/5
This book was absolutely fantastic! A quick, fun, wondrous middle grade story that balanced grief, wonder, space, and a little bit of science.
The story follows Max, our narrator, who is 12 and lives on Azura which is a space station. Max has lived on Azura his whole life, and he doesn’t want to leave. Azura itself seems like a pretty traditional place, and Max and his classmates begin to learn that it’s okay to want to explore more than the space station they know. Max deals with a lot of grief in this book. His father passed away in an accident 2 years ago, and Max has a lot of anger, bitterness, and grief that he hasn’t worked through. I really liked the way that the author tackled these themes, and while there were times when I was frustrated with Max and I just wanted him to talk to someone, in the end he showed a lot of growth as a character. The best part about the way that the author depicted Max’s struggles with grief and anger was that it was realistic.
One of my favourite parts of this book were the Star Whales. I love the idea of them, and I think the author did a brilliant job of communicating the sense of wonder and awe associated with seeing them. I was feeling all of the emotions that the kids were feeling in those moments.
There was a really good cast of characters in this story, and although Max was our main focus, we still got to see glimpses of the other kids lives as well as their relationships with Max and each other.
I appreciated how Max was interested in engineering and also music, and I love that they were things that connected him to his dad. I thought the space and science elements were brought in in a way that was really easy to understand and follow. Max’s narration style was funny and relatable, and I thought the pacing was really good.
Overall I think this is an incredible read that will appeal to readers of all ages! If you like books set in space with wonder and some adventure that also tackle deeper themes, definitely check this one out.
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March 21, 2021Bringing music, grief, community, animal conservation, and more together in one action-packed middle-grade sci-fi story, The Secrets of Star Whales by Rebecca Thorne is unique, innovative, and heartfelt. On Azura, the secrets of star whales are set to spiral into something bigger than even the universe’s biggest mystery.
Sci-fi stories always rely on attention to worldbuilding detail, so Rebecca Thorne’s clever descriptions and creative ideas play an important role. While Azura maintains the staples of sci-fi literature—a STEM focus, a space station setting—it also features new concepts that help set this book apart. Star whales are a fascinating invention, cultivating a collision of two of science’s most interesting settings: space and the sea.
Though The Secrets of Star Whales is a sci-fi book with a heavy focus on setting and plot, it maintains many character-driven elements, including main character Max’s navigation of grief, friendship, and expectation. As Max, his peers, and teacher Mr. Hames journey into space as part of a makeshift starship crew, they learn to utilise their unique skills and talents as part of a team (in a way, this component of the book’s plot reminded me of School of Rock!). Max learns to be a better friend, discovers how his engineering and musical talents can work together, and develops stronger coping strategies to deal with his grief.
The Secrets of Star Whales doesn’t shy away from big topics like grief, loss, friendship, or animal poaching. Instead, it places heavy emphasis on these topics in an easy-to-read middle-grade-accessible way.
If you enjoyed Indigo Owl by Charlie Archbold or are looking for a middle-grade introduction to sci-fi, The Secrets of Star Whales might be the book for you!
Want to talk books and read more of my reviews? Find me on INSTAGRAM!
Sci-fi stories always rely on attention to worldbuilding detail, so Rebecca Thorne’s clever descriptions and creative ideas play an important role. While Azura maintains the staples of sci-fi literature—a STEM focus, a space station setting—it also features new concepts that help set this book apart. Star whales are a fascinating invention, cultivating a collision of two of science’s most interesting settings: space and the sea.
Though The Secrets of Star Whales is a sci-fi book with a heavy focus on setting and plot, it maintains many character-driven elements, including main character Max’s navigation of grief, friendship, and expectation. As Max, his peers, and teacher Mr. Hames journey into space as part of a makeshift starship crew, they learn to utilise their unique skills and talents as part of a team (in a way, this component of the book’s plot reminded me of School of Rock!). Max learns to be a better friend, discovers how his engineering and musical talents can work together, and develops stronger coping strategies to deal with his grief.
The Secrets of Star Whales doesn’t shy away from big topics like grief, loss, friendship, or animal poaching. Instead, it places heavy emphasis on these topics in an easy-to-read middle-grade-accessible way.
If you enjoyed Indigo Owl by Charlie Archbold or are looking for a middle-grade introduction to sci-fi, The Secrets of Star Whales might be the book for you!
Want to talk books and read more of my reviews? Find me on INSTAGRAM!
September 29, 2020
* I received a free ARC of this book from the Publisher, NetGalley, and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review *
Do you ever look at a book and instantly feel reminded of something else? That's how I felt in the beginning of The Secrets of Star Whales. I instantly thought of Doctor Who but I was pleasantly surprised by how unique this story was. It follows Max and his friends who live on a space station near an asteroid belt. It's the kind of place that no one ever leaves and people rarely come to visit, until a ship clearly in destress reaches Azura and docks. That is the start of a real adventure following a group of twelve year olds and a very reluctant 'teacher' fixing a space ship and heading to the asteroid belt in search of an animal that no one really believes exists. The book is so well written and so fun with it's depictions of space that you're wrapped up in everything happening to the characters. But it doesn't just talk about adventure. The Secrets of Star Whales touches on hard topics as well.
That's the kind of story that Middle Grade readers need. One that can give them everything heart pounding and fun while also teaching them a lesson. Loss affects everyone differently and you see that through Max's eyes with how he deals with his mother being friendly with the Doctor that was unable to save his father, and how Max himself treats a boy that was once his friend. A boy who's only 'crime' (in Max's eyes) is being the son of that doctor. It doesn't gloss over what Max goes through or how he's just seeking a connection to his father in ways that no one else could understand. Rebecca Thorne does a beautiful job weaving all of that into her story while not having it be the main focus.
It's a wonderful book that I would fully recommend and I can't wait for it to come out.
Do you ever look at a book and instantly feel reminded of something else? That's how I felt in the beginning of The Secrets of Star Whales. I instantly thought of Doctor Who but I was pleasantly surprised by how unique this story was. It follows Max and his friends who live on a space station near an asteroid belt. It's the kind of place that no one ever leaves and people rarely come to visit, until a ship clearly in destress reaches Azura and docks. That is the start of a real adventure following a group of twelve year olds and a very reluctant 'teacher' fixing a space ship and heading to the asteroid belt in search of an animal that no one really believes exists. The book is so well written and so fun with it's depictions of space that you're wrapped up in everything happening to the characters. But it doesn't just talk about adventure. The Secrets of Star Whales touches on hard topics as well.
That's the kind of story that Middle Grade readers need. One that can give them everything heart pounding and fun while also teaching them a lesson. Loss affects everyone differently and you see that through Max's eyes with how he deals with his mother being friendly with the Doctor that was unable to save his father, and how Max himself treats a boy that was once his friend. A boy who's only 'crime' (in Max's eyes) is being the son of that doctor. It doesn't gloss over what Max goes through or how he's just seeking a connection to his father in ways that no one else could understand. Rebecca Thorne does a beautiful job weaving all of that into her story while not having it be the main focus.
It's a wonderful book that I would fully recommend and I can't wait for it to come out.
March 9, 2021
Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press for the earc to read and review through netgalley.
I will start by saying I personally am not a big fan of space or stories set in space, they don’t generally interest me. This story wasn’t just about space though it was about friendship, overcoming grief and learning about themselves. It was deep and had lots of heart to it.
We had an array of characters all written realistically, from tech kids, to engineers, adventurers, leaders, medically minded etc, everyone had flaws and insecurities; but also everyone had a talent that was incredibly useful in helping fix a ship and to find a Star Whale, a rare hardly ever seen being.
The story has a lot of different storylines going on in one story from Max’s grief, to his classmates, his music interest, the star whale, the ship, the whalers, his mom, the new teacher and a few more too. There was always so much happening throughout the story.
I loved the element of the Star Whale and honestly they were my favourite chapters. It sounded so magical and wondrous, I loved that magical element of the story. There were definitely some sections and storylines that were predictable and that was okay, didn’t take away from some of the really fun parts or the magical parts.
Overall the story was interesting, very different to what I would usually read but I still enjoyed reading this and learning something new. Reading a story set in space was different for me but it was good for my mind to try and visualise something like that. I loved the growth of the characters, the connections they all made, the mistakes that they had to learn from. This story may be about space but it had so much heart to it, you couldn’t not connect with the characters.
I will start by saying I personally am not a big fan of space or stories set in space, they don’t generally interest me. This story wasn’t just about space though it was about friendship, overcoming grief and learning about themselves. It was deep and had lots of heart to it.
We had an array of characters all written realistically, from tech kids, to engineers, adventurers, leaders, medically minded etc, everyone had flaws and insecurities; but also everyone had a talent that was incredibly useful in helping fix a ship and to find a Star Whale, a rare hardly ever seen being.
The story has a lot of different storylines going on in one story from Max’s grief, to his classmates, his music interest, the star whale, the ship, the whalers, his mom, the new teacher and a few more too. There was always so much happening throughout the story.
I loved the element of the Star Whale and honestly they were my favourite chapters. It sounded so magical and wondrous, I loved that magical element of the story. There were definitely some sections and storylines that were predictable and that was okay, didn’t take away from some of the really fun parts or the magical parts.
Overall the story was interesting, very different to what I would usually read but I still enjoyed reading this and learning something new. Reading a story set in space was different for me but it was good for my mind to try and visualise something like that. I loved the growth of the characters, the connections they all made, the mistakes that they had to learn from. This story may be about space but it had so much heart to it, you couldn’t not connect with the characters.
November 24, 2020
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
Max lives on the small space station of Azura. Since the death of his dad two year ago, it's just him and his mom, and Max has trouble talking about his dad and not being angry at his friend, Arsenio, whose mom wasn't able to save him. Max takes comfort in the one thing his dad left behind, an instrument called a decivox which is broken, but which Max is saving up to fix. He wishes his mom would realize that his passion for music is as strong as his interest in engineer that came from years of working with his dad. When a sudden visitor is stranded on Azura and becomes Max's substitute teacher, Max and his classmates discover there is more out there beyond Azura then they imagined. Mr. Hames wants to make them part of his crew to explore it, particularly in search of the elusive star whales said to travel in space. As Max gets to know Mr. Hames, he realizes he is connected to his father's past, and is the link to someone who knows more about his dad's life. But when Max trusts the wrong person and brings danger to his doorstep, and to the star whales, he makes a decision that affects everyone involved.
What I loved most about this story was how unique it felt to me. Life on the space station was described well, and I felt I could picture how Max and his friends lived. Technology like flying ships, and animals like star whales, were similar enough to life on Earth to be relatable and yet original enough to be interesting. I enjoyed watching Max and his classmates become a team, and each bring their own skills to the crew. There was a lot of adventure, and the discovery of the stakes increased the drama. I also enjoyed watching Max start to come to terms with his father's death, and repairing things that were broken along the way.
I recommend this story for those readers who enjoy books that take place in space, but the star whales and discussion about saving an endangered species that the space station is dependent upon to survive will also make this a great read for kids who like books about poaching and animal conservation. This is the author's debut novel, but I look forward to reading more by her.
Max lives on the small space station of Azura. Since the death of his dad two year ago, it's just him and his mom, and Max has trouble talking about his dad and not being angry at his friend, Arsenio, whose mom wasn't able to save him. Max takes comfort in the one thing his dad left behind, an instrument called a decivox which is broken, but which Max is saving up to fix. He wishes his mom would realize that his passion for music is as strong as his interest in engineer that came from years of working with his dad. When a sudden visitor is stranded on Azura and becomes Max's substitute teacher, Max and his classmates discover there is more out there beyond Azura then they imagined. Mr. Hames wants to make them part of his crew to explore it, particularly in search of the elusive star whales said to travel in space. As Max gets to know Mr. Hames, he realizes he is connected to his father's past, and is the link to someone who knows more about his dad's life. But when Max trusts the wrong person and brings danger to his doorstep, and to the star whales, he makes a decision that affects everyone involved.
What I loved most about this story was how unique it felt to me. Life on the space station was described well, and I felt I could picture how Max and his friends lived. Technology like flying ships, and animals like star whales, were similar enough to life on Earth to be relatable and yet original enough to be interesting. I enjoyed watching Max and his classmates become a team, and each bring their own skills to the crew. There was a lot of adventure, and the discovery of the stakes increased the drama. I also enjoyed watching Max start to come to terms with his father's death, and repairing things that were broken along the way.
I recommend this story for those readers who enjoy books that take place in space, but the star whales and discussion about saving an endangered species that the space station is dependent upon to survive will also make this a great read for kids who like books about poaching and animal conservation. This is the author's debut novel, but I look forward to reading more by her.
March 23, 2021
Fun science fiction with a lot of heart, perfect for reading in middle grade March.
Max is 12, good at engineering and music but not so great at managing how he deals with other people since his father died two years ago. He lives on a small remote space station near an asteroid belt. Kids on the station grow up expecting to take over their parents' jobs - one of the kids in his class at school is the mayor's daughter, for instance, and practices by bossing everyone else around. Life changes when a weird and wacky new teacher shows up with a broken space ship and stories about what's out there beyond the comfortable safe world of the station.
There's a lot to love about this story. It's a ripping yarn, with secrets and mystery and danger. And gorgeous star whales - the cover illustration is beautiful - elusive and maybe mythical, but hunted by greedy whalers. At the same time, Max has to face his own problems, and stop seeing everything through the dark filter of his loss. The world is intriguing and feels real, and there's plenty of humor amid the stop!-what are you thinking? moments.
Max is 12, good at engineering and music but not so great at managing how he deals with other people since his father died two years ago. He lives on a small remote space station near an asteroid belt. Kids on the station grow up expecting to take over their parents' jobs - one of the kids in his class at school is the mayor's daughter, for instance, and practices by bossing everyone else around. Life changes when a weird and wacky new teacher shows up with a broken space ship and stories about what's out there beyond the comfortable safe world of the station.
There's a lot to love about this story. It's a ripping yarn, with secrets and mystery and danger. And gorgeous star whales - the cover illustration is beautiful - elusive and maybe mythical, but hunted by greedy whalers. At the same time, Max has to face his own problems, and stop seeing everything through the dark filter of his loss. The world is intriguing and feels real, and there's plenty of humor amid the stop!-what are you thinking? moments.
March 21, 2021
This was such a cute read. I was interested in it when I read the summary, but I feel like it was so much more than just a middle grade sci-fi story. This book dealt with some pretty heavy topics, especially grief, and I really could feel the emotions that Max was feeling as I was reading. There was also a strong emphasis on friendship, which is one of my favorite things to read about, and I really loved seeing how things played out. As someone not in the target demographic for this novel, there were some things that I found predictable, but I am sure that this will be a very enjoyable book for people of all ages. It was fun, it was heart warming, there is action and drama, and I really enjoyed reading it. I also think that it was pretty well developed, especially since it's not a long book, and I think that can be harder to do in shorter books, but it worked so well here, and I truly cared about the characters (especially Max) and what was going to happen.
Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press for sending me this e-arc to read and review.
Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press for sending me this e-arc to read and review.
September 30, 2020
Azura was once a famous mining colony for the most revered material in the galaxy, Anemonium. Now a decade later, the supply has practically diminished causing Azura’s highly credited appeal to diminish along with it. Azura is now a calm and quiet space station where 12-year-old Max and his mom live. Max and his best friend India love Azura and couldn’t imagine anything beyond the space station. But one day a unique starship called the Calypso enters Azura and a man named Mr. Hames changes their lives and introduces them to the mystical creatures called the Star Whales.
This middle grade book is packed with some wonderful characters, cool sci-fi backdrop, and an adventure beyond the galaxy. I think kids will enjoy this book as their imagination gets taken for a ride. As an adult, I found it a little too predictable in the end but in general kids will love the adventures.
Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for an advanced copy of this book.
This middle grade book is packed with some wonderful characters, cool sci-fi backdrop, and an adventure beyond the galaxy. I think kids will enjoy this book as their imagination gets taken for a ride. As an adult, I found it a little too predictable in the end but in general kids will love the adventures.
Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for an advanced copy of this book.
March 25, 2021
I was very excited when I heard about this book. I love to read middle grade in between chunky fantasies and sci-fi books. There aren't very many middle grade books that are sci-fi, so this was a treat.
This follows Max on his small space station called Azura. Max loves music and engineering. Max also loves Azura. He can't imagine living anywhere else. Azura is like a small town, they don't get many visitors. There is no tourist industry. So when a man named Mr. Hames shows up in his fancy spaceship, Max feels his protective instincts kick in. There is more to Mr. Hames than he's letting on. Max intends to find out what he's hiding.
This is a short book, but it's full of action and messages. It covers grief, poaching, and endangered species. I loved it!!
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This follows Max on his small space station called Azura. Max loves music and engineering. Max also loves Azura. He can't imagine living anywhere else. Azura is like a small town, they don't get many visitors. There is no tourist industry. So when a man named Mr. Hames shows up in his fancy spaceship, Max feels his protective instincts kick in. There is more to Mr. Hames than he's letting on. Max intends to find out what he's hiding.
This is a short book, but it's full of action and messages. It covers grief, poaching, and endangered species. I loved it!!
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 22, 2021
My Review: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley, the following is my honest review and opinion. I originally picked up this book because of the beautiful cover but I got so much more than expected. As someone who has only just begun reading Science Fiction books, I wasn't sure what a Middle Grade would be like. It was actually pretty easy to get into and imagine through the descriptions Thorne gives, making it a vivid setting. I also enjoyed the undertones in this coming of age story of friendships growing and changing. We also get to see a variety of adult to kid interactions and some great lessons about whom to trust. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely not all emotion, there is some great action and awe inspiring moments. I was left really hoping there is such a thing as Star Whales out there in the universe.
September 8, 2020
Cute middle grade science fiction story about a mining colony, way out in the outskirts of space, where Max has lived all his life, and nothing interesting ever happens until the mysterious new teacher shows up, and Max and his friends wonder what he is doing here.
And since the title has already given it away, the new teacher is a whaler, and is searching for star whales, that people think exist, but they can't prove that they do.
The only issue I have with this book is the title. Because up until a third of the book we don't know about the Star Whales, we only have hints of them. I almost wish the publisher had chosen a title that didn't give away the mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
And since the title has already given it away, the new teacher is a whaler, and is searching for star whales, that people think exist, but they can't prove that they do.
The only issue I have with this book is the title. Because up until a third of the book we don't know about the Star Whales, we only have hints of them. I almost wish the publisher had chosen a title that didn't give away the mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
February 21, 2021
The Secret of Star Whales is an absolutely delightful book. I enjoyed every minute of this adventure. It's got space ships, music, pranks, star whales, friendship, family, adventure, and more. The characters are a unique and heart-warming bunch that remind me of the groups of friends I used to watch on shows like The Magic School Bus and Recess. They are quirky and lovable but also deep and real. Every kid will find at least one character to relate to, and their adventure in space is magically wonderful. I can't wait to read it again.
July 10, 2021
This is a book about a boy finally processing his grief over his father's death. It's been two years, but the boy still has significant adjustments to make. It's only when this leads him into several foolish, selfish, and damaging decisions that he realizes that he can only go forward, not back.
In the background there's a cool space station setting, and nifty space whales driving the plot. It's got a lot of emotional validity as well as fun SF effects.
I received my copy of this book from LibraryThing's EarlyReader program.
In the background there's a cool space station setting, and nifty space whales driving the plot. It's got a lot of emotional validity as well as fun SF effects.
I received my copy of this book from LibraryThing's EarlyReader program.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2021
Let’s start here, this is an entertaining read. The characters are likable and engaging. The subject matter is enjoyable and different. There’s a sense of danger and disobedience. But, this is not a page turner. Did this tome engage me? I was engaged to the extent of wanting to see how it ended. But, I didn’t really care what happened to the characters.
The story is set somewhere deep in outer space. There is a sense of wonder encompassing the mythical creatures key to the story. This is a bizarre fairytale, because the setting is so far removed from the classic fairytales.
The story is set somewhere deep in outer space. There is a sense of wonder encompassing the mythical creatures key to the story. This is a bizarre fairytale, because the setting is so far removed from the classic fairytales.
August 17, 2021
This is a fun, or “airtight!,” sci-fi middle grade novel. A young boy still grieving his lost father gets caught up in adventure, and it is precisely what his father gave him that he needs to make it through. Add in the eponymous Star whales, mysterious strangers, and a sonic screwdriver… wait, no, that wasn’t it. Still, Max’s some tech skills and heart lead him the right direction.
June 19, 2023
This is a fun little sci-fi story about a boy processing his grief over his father's death with the help of a wild substitute teacher. I don't know what it was about it exactly but this book just didn't grab me the way I wanted it to. The characters felt like vague stereotypes and the plot does the job but could have been more. The whale descriptions were cool though.
November 4, 2020
An exceptional idea and powerful message support this sci-fi tale of a mysterious species in space and what its discovery could mean for a small-town space station. It is a perfect introduction to the sci-fi genre with a gripping story that will entertain space and animal lovers alike.
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