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A Glasshouse of Stars
Meixing Lim and her family have arrived in the New Land to begin a New Life. Everything is scary and different. Their ever-changing house is confusing and she finds it hard to understand the other children at school. Yet in her magical glasshouse, with a strange black and white cat, Meixing finds a place to dream.
But then Meixing's life comes crashing down in unimaginable ways. Only her two new and unexpected friends can help. By being brave together, they will learn how to make the stars shine brighter.
A Glasshouse of Stars is based on the author's childhood and beautifully illustrates the importance of friendship, kindness and love.
"Heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic." Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of the Nevermoor series.
But then Meixing's life comes crashing down in unimaginable ways. Only her two new and unexpected friends can help. By being brave together, they will learn how to make the stars shine brighter.
A Glasshouse of Stars is based on the author's childhood and beautifully illustrates the importance of friendship, kindness and love.
"Heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic." Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of the Nevermoor series.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
42 people are currently reading
1567 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Marr
8 books421 followersShirley Marr is a multi-award winning children's and YA author and a first generation Chinese-Australian living in sunny Perth. Her titles are Fury, Preloved, Little Jiang and All Four Quarters of the Moon and the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers A Glasshouse of Stars
She describes herself as having a Western Mind and an Eastern Heart and writes in the middle where both collide. She takes milk and sugar with her tea much to the dismay of her oolong drinking friends and eats chicken feet much to the disgust of her Aussie friends. Her passion is to distil her cultural heritage through the lens of resilient young women.
She describes herself as having a Western Mind and an Eastern Heart and writes in the middle where both collide. She takes milk and sugar with her tea much to the dismay of her oolong drinking friends and eats chicken feet much to the disgust of her Aussie friends. Her passion is to distil her cultural heritage through the lens of resilient young women.
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written-by-me
February 13, 2021Hello Reader! As per past tradition I will slowly update this space to include 10 interesting facts I wish to share about writing this book. I recommend you read the book before you read this entry, no spoilers, but there will be discussion of characters and general minutia :-)
1. The House in the book, Big Scary, who expands and contracts according to how she feels is based on my experience of moving house four times in quick succession. In four years I went from a big house, to an even bigger house to smaller house to suddenly a house the size of a shoebox. My son was also either a baby or toddler during this time, so in my sleep-deprived state, it felt at times I wasn't the one changing my surroundings, it was actually the house that was just changing size and rooms around me. As a fan of the surreal, this only occurred to me as being a great character later (although not that fun at the time).
2. There is a cat that walks on her hind legs as I am very fond of the film "The Cat Returns".
3. When I first arrived in Australia as a child in the 80s, what I wanted most of all, like Meixing in the story, was a My Little Pony. You would think my father, our surname Mah meaning "horse" in Mandarin, would know what a pony looks what. What I ended up with was a plastic posable...something else... which I think is another 80s thing called a Wuzzle. I never said anything as we didn't have a lot of money and I didn't want my dad to stress he had bought the wrong thing. So I played with it even though it must have been my earliest taste of that unforgettable thing called Childhood Disappointment. I can laugh at it now.
4. This is a migration story I have been trying to write all my life. But I also spent a lot of my life trying to forget and disappearing into myself. I tried to write it from a first person point of view, but it always felt too close and I would always pull back. Third person also felt so distant, like I was writing someone else's story. I happened to pick up a copy of Deadgirls by Nancy Lee from an op-shop while looking for reading matter while on holiday. I was immediately inspired by the first short story, written in the second voice. As soon as I started writing my story in the same voice, I knew it was right. I knew it was a story I had to tell while the reader walked in my shoes and saw some of the things I saw and experienced when I was a child.
5. When I first told my writing group I had started writing in the second voice, not a single person thought it was a good idea. I still persisted because I trusted the story. My most important advice for readers is this: "Never trust your feelings. You might go from loving your manuscript in one breath, to loathing it the next. Trust the process."
6. Also another lesson for writers (or anyone with a passion to succeed in anything in life) - I had previously queried the Best Children's Agent in the World Ever (TM), Gemma Cooper, with a different manuscript a year earlier and got a rejection. Not dissuaded, I sent her this. This time she accepted. And that also ended my losing streak of 114 rejections over different 5 projects. Keep climbing!
7. More to come!
x Shirley
1. The House in the book, Big Scary, who expands and contracts according to how she feels is based on my experience of moving house four times in quick succession. In four years I went from a big house, to an even bigger house to smaller house to suddenly a house the size of a shoebox. My son was also either a baby or toddler during this time, so in my sleep-deprived state, it felt at times I wasn't the one changing my surroundings, it was actually the house that was just changing size and rooms around me. As a fan of the surreal, this only occurred to me as being a great character later (although not that fun at the time).
2. There is a cat that walks on her hind legs as I am very fond of the film "The Cat Returns".
3. When I first arrived in Australia as a child in the 80s, what I wanted most of all, like Meixing in the story, was a My Little Pony. You would think my father, our surname Mah meaning "horse" in Mandarin, would know what a pony looks what. What I ended up with was a plastic posable...something else... which I think is another 80s thing called a Wuzzle. I never said anything as we didn't have a lot of money and I didn't want my dad to stress he had bought the wrong thing. So I played with it even though it must have been my earliest taste of that unforgettable thing called Childhood Disappointment. I can laugh at it now.
4. This is a migration story I have been trying to write all my life. But I also spent a lot of my life trying to forget and disappearing into myself. I tried to write it from a first person point of view, but it always felt too close and I would always pull back. Third person also felt so distant, like I was writing someone else's story. I happened to pick up a copy of Deadgirls by Nancy Lee from an op-shop while looking for reading matter while on holiday. I was immediately inspired by the first short story, written in the second voice. As soon as I started writing my story in the same voice, I knew it was right. I knew it was a story I had to tell while the reader walked in my shoes and saw some of the things I saw and experienced when I was a child.
5. When I first told my writing group I had started writing in the second voice, not a single person thought it was a good idea. I still persisted because I trusted the story. My most important advice for readers is this: "Never trust your feelings. You might go from loving your manuscript in one breath, to loathing it the next. Trust the process."
6. Also another lesson for writers (or anyone with a passion to succeed in anything in life) - I had previously queried the Best Children's Agent in the World Ever (TM), Gemma Cooper, with a different manuscript a year earlier and got a rejection. Not dissuaded, I sent her this. This time she accepted. And that also ended my losing streak of 114 rejections over different 5 projects. Keep climbing!
7. More to come!
x Shirley
May 12, 2021
“’Are you afraid of the darkness?’
‘No. Because you can only see the stars when it is dark.’”
A Glasshouse of Stars is the second novel for children by first generation Chinese-Australian author, Shirley Marr. In the New Land, Meixing Lim has arrived at First Uncle’s (huge) house with her Ba Ba and Ma Ma, who is carrying her yet-to-be-born brother or sister. But First Uncle isn’t there: he died of a heart attack while picking his beloved oranges, just before the Lims were due.
Now they need to settle in: Ma Ma must keep calm for the baby; Ba Ba needs to get a job; Meixing will have to go to school; none of them has more than a few words of English. The house is strange, and scary, seems almost to be alive, winks at her from its semi-circular attic window, and is soon dubbed Big Scary by Meixing.
Much is expected of Meixing: “You must do well at school here so that everything, all the sacrifices and hardships your parents have made, will be worth it. Instead of lifting you up and making you feel lucky, it makes you feel leaden, as though the world is on your shoulders.”
In the backyard is a dilapidated-looking glasshouse, and when Meixing is feeling upset about the pressure of the whole situation, she enters at the bidding of its apparent gatekeeper, a black and white cat, and discovers a wonderous interior, belied by the rust and broken glass panes. And the ghost of First Uncle, whose presence, far from being frightening, offers exactly the reassurance she needs.
The Huynh family next door are friendly and helpful, even if the food they bring isn’t quite what the Lim’s are used to, and communication consists of few words. Meixing is mortified when she realises she is wearing hand-me-downs from Kevin Huynh, also in her class, an angry boy also not coping well. At first, school is as unpleasant as she had expected.
When her distress is too great, she seeks solace in the glasshouse with First Uncle. Then when tragedy strikes, a mass of aunts invades Big Scary: a mixed bag of nasty cousins and an encouraging aunt who understands Meixing perfectly.
Eventually, what is most important makes itself clear to Meixing: ”Since you came to this New Land you are no longer a child who is scared of monsters or fox spirits or rotting hopping vampires. You stand against the dark and your heart is calm and big. You know what you are scared of in this world and that is people and their expectations and hatred and unkindness.”
Writing in the second person is not often achieved successfully, and without ambiguity, but Marr manages it with ease. Her characters and their plight cannot help but tug at the heartstrings. Her own experience of immigration and xenophobia clearly inform her plot.
With her quirky and courageous characters, her wonderfully evocative prose and her infusion of magical realism, Shirley Marr conveys, to those Australians who have safely grown up inside their comfort zone, the experience of trying to assimilate into a new country, one with a different language, a different climate, different food, customs and culture, one far away from family and friends and everyone who looks and thinks like you do. And she does it brilliantly. This is a topical and important book for readers of all ages.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Australia.
‘No. Because you can only see the stars when it is dark.’”
A Glasshouse of Stars is the second novel for children by first generation Chinese-Australian author, Shirley Marr. In the New Land, Meixing Lim has arrived at First Uncle’s (huge) house with her Ba Ba and Ma Ma, who is carrying her yet-to-be-born brother or sister. But First Uncle isn’t there: he died of a heart attack while picking his beloved oranges, just before the Lims were due.
Now they need to settle in: Ma Ma must keep calm for the baby; Ba Ba needs to get a job; Meixing will have to go to school; none of them has more than a few words of English. The house is strange, and scary, seems almost to be alive, winks at her from its semi-circular attic window, and is soon dubbed Big Scary by Meixing.
Much is expected of Meixing: “You must do well at school here so that everything, all the sacrifices and hardships your parents have made, will be worth it. Instead of lifting you up and making you feel lucky, it makes you feel leaden, as though the world is on your shoulders.”
In the backyard is a dilapidated-looking glasshouse, and when Meixing is feeling upset about the pressure of the whole situation, she enters at the bidding of its apparent gatekeeper, a black and white cat, and discovers a wonderous interior, belied by the rust and broken glass panes. And the ghost of First Uncle, whose presence, far from being frightening, offers exactly the reassurance she needs.
The Huynh family next door are friendly and helpful, even if the food they bring isn’t quite what the Lim’s are used to, and communication consists of few words. Meixing is mortified when she realises she is wearing hand-me-downs from Kevin Huynh, also in her class, an angry boy also not coping well. At first, school is as unpleasant as she had expected.
When her distress is too great, she seeks solace in the glasshouse with First Uncle. Then when tragedy strikes, a mass of aunts invades Big Scary: a mixed bag of nasty cousins and an encouraging aunt who understands Meixing perfectly.
Eventually, what is most important makes itself clear to Meixing: ”Since you came to this New Land you are no longer a child who is scared of monsters or fox spirits or rotting hopping vampires. You stand against the dark and your heart is calm and big. You know what you are scared of in this world and that is people and their expectations and hatred and unkindness.”
Writing in the second person is not often achieved successfully, and without ambiguity, but Marr manages it with ease. Her characters and their plight cannot help but tug at the heartstrings. Her own experience of immigration and xenophobia clearly inform her plot.
With her quirky and courageous characters, her wonderfully evocative prose and her infusion of magical realism, Shirley Marr conveys, to those Australians who have safely grown up inside their comfort zone, the experience of trying to assimilate into a new country, one with a different language, a different climate, different food, customs and culture, one far away from family and friends and everyone who looks and thinks like you do. And she does it brilliantly. This is a topical and important book for readers of all ages.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Australia.
July 30, 2022
A touching and quietly magical story of family, belonging and strength that compassionately explores mental health, grief and the varying experiences of immigrants of all ages and backgrounds.
TW: racism, bullying, references to domestic violence towards a child.
TW: racism, bullying, references to domestic violence towards a child.
February 21, 2023
This book has become so close to my heart. I can relate to so many things in this book. I too have moved countries quite a lot, but the first time we moved, I was 7 and we'd moved to South Africa and I couldn't speak English. The struggles that happened to me and what I had to go through are still something I wish never to happen to any child. Some people never realize it, but it is hard moving to a new country, especially when they cannot speak the language. My parents too had/still have so many expectations from me, and let me tell you, I was a kid EXACTLY like how Meixing is, quiet, shy. I too was scared to tell my teacher when someone stole my eraser, hoped to ace my first test but failed it terribly, really proud of myself when I learned a big word like 'different'... It's almost like the author took me and what happened in my life during that time, and put it in a book (except the magic part of course).
Once again, just last year, we moved to the U.K, and yes, although I can speak English very nicely now and (another thing like Meixing) am one of the best at English at school and have won many writing competitions, it was still hard for me to move to yet another different country. It's not always as easy and fun moving countries and leaving everything you've known or loved behind as it seems, and I feel like more people need to understand that.
I love this book because it is just so relatable and I can relate to all the struggles, more people need to read books like this and know about this. Meixing is such a sweet character and I love her.
Also, this is the first second person book I have ever read and not going to lie, it was very weird in the beginning, with everything being 'you'. But, after a while, I got used to it and still got pulled into the story and hooked. Its a completely different experience and I definitely recommend this book!
It has really touched my heart.
Once again, just last year, we moved to the U.K, and yes, although I can speak English very nicely now and (another thing like Meixing) am one of the best at English at school and have won many writing competitions, it was still hard for me to move to yet another different country. It's not always as easy and fun moving countries and leaving everything you've known or loved behind as it seems, and I feel like more people need to understand that.
I love this book because it is just so relatable and I can relate to all the struggles, more people need to read books like this and know about this. Meixing is such a sweet character and I love her.
Also, this is the first second person book I have ever read and not going to lie, it was very weird in the beginning, with everything being 'you'. But, after a while, I got used to it and still got pulled into the story and hooked. Its a completely different experience and I definitely recommend this book!
It has really touched my heart.
June 27, 2021
A Glasshouse of Stars is a big-hearted, immersive novel, freshly and immediately told in second person, that invites you to walk in the secondhand shoes of new child migrant, Meixing. I read the entire book with prickling eyes, because so much of it seemed familiar and rang true about the migrant experience: the inability to get your words out; the strange armour you need to fashion to protect yourself from tragedy, hatred, alienation and unkindness; unexpected moments of beauty, newness, understanding, friendship and bravery, that work to leaven the pain and confusion.
Featuring a house that can grow or shrink, and predict your moods; a cat that can bow and stand on its hind legs; a broken glasshouse with a whole universe inside it, where the people who love you that are gone can still visit; the novel is filled with moments of exquisite writing that speak to the experience of profound childhood dislocation, like these -
At page 120, about Meixing's migrant friend who acts out in class: 'It is then you understand that Kevin isn't angry at the world; he's angry at himself.'
At page 187, about navigating the unspoken 'must conform' rules around school lunchtimes: 'Because there are leftover chicken wings, you take a small portion of them, too. Yes, you are going to eat them with your fingers, because you know that no matter what you do or do not do, it's never going to be right. There will always be something else about you to pick on.'
At page 225:
'Are you scared of the darkness? Kevin asks you.
'No,' you say.
With your answer, the black sky is at once filled with a million galaxies.
It is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
'No,' you repeat. 'Because you can only see the stars when it is dark.'
While migrant stories are as old as time, we still hardly ever get to hear them. Here's to more magical stories like this, from the diaspora.
Featuring a house that can grow or shrink, and predict your moods; a cat that can bow and stand on its hind legs; a broken glasshouse with a whole universe inside it, where the people who love you that are gone can still visit; the novel is filled with moments of exquisite writing that speak to the experience of profound childhood dislocation, like these -
At page 120, about Meixing's migrant friend who acts out in class: 'It is then you understand that Kevin isn't angry at the world; he's angry at himself.'
At page 187, about navigating the unspoken 'must conform' rules around school lunchtimes: 'Because there are leftover chicken wings, you take a small portion of them, too. Yes, you are going to eat them with your fingers, because you know that no matter what you do or do not do, it's never going to be right. There will always be something else about you to pick on.'
At page 225:
'Are you scared of the darkness? Kevin asks you.
'No,' you say.
With your answer, the black sky is at once filled with a million galaxies.
It is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.
'No,' you repeat. 'Because you can only see the stars when it is dark.'
While migrant stories are as old as time, we still hardly ever get to hear them. Here's to more magical stories like this, from the diaspora.
May 3, 2021
This is a story of belonging, scrafice, family and compassion.
Maixing is such a naive girl, who is taken advantage of at her new school. She can't speak the local language and therefore can't tell teachers when her "friend" has stolen from her and she can't explain how she feels or what she's been through.
(I felt like I really connected to Maixing as I never fit in at school and got taken advantage of from the "popular" people.)
Her mother is suffering from grief and depression and doesn't pay Maixing much attention which she doesn't understand as she is only young.
The description is so outstanding that you can really picture it in you head. I wish I had a glasshouse like the one in the book. The characters have such a deep and powerful story that you really connect to them and feel for them.
A beautiful story about finding your place in the world.
Maixing is such a naive girl, who is taken advantage of at her new school. She can't speak the local language and therefore can't tell teachers when her "friend" has stolen from her and she can't explain how she feels or what she's been through.
(I felt like I really connected to Maixing as I never fit in at school and got taken advantage of from the "popular" people.)
Her mother is suffering from grief and depression and doesn't pay Maixing much attention which she doesn't understand as she is only young.
The description is so outstanding that you can really picture it in you head. I wish I had a glasshouse like the one in the book. The characters have such a deep and powerful story that you really connect to them and feel for them.
A beautiful story about finding your place in the world.
May 3, 2021
I can’t stop staring at that gorgeous cover! Combined with a magical title and a protagonist with a familiar name (a personal reference which I’ll leave just as vague) who had to face a new strange place, I couldn’t wait to dive in.
As an immigrant myself, I sort of knew what the protagonist was feeling as she first arrived in the New Land and yet, there are enough differences in our experiences that my heart broke for this brave girl. I did think that the author was a bit mean when a particular tragedy strike but life happens and despite my tears, I was glad that the tragedy did bring something good too. I loved Meixing and her friends as they each found their way to rise above their own problems.
To start with, it took a while to adjust my headspace to reading this book. Mostly due to the second person POV but also how places are just so very non-specific/neutral (eg. ‘New House’, ‘New Land’, etc). It is just different than the norm, I think, that I really needed to think differently. Other than that, it was done very well and I do feel very much like I’m stepping in Meixing’s shoes.
My boys and I adored Little Jiang which I read aloud as their bed time read and it was just such a fun read! Unfortunately, I was unable to read this aloud to my boys. I tried for a few nights but my youngest has this aversion against the second person POV. He is only 6 years old and this may have been the first time he came across a second person POV as this isn’t one you’d come across that often in books. He just didn’t feel that it’s right and he got so upset, I had to stop and finished reading on my own. I’ll make a note to try this on him again in a few years’ time!
Magic appears to be an indication of feels in this novel. Mostly it is of hope but at times, it also reflects despair. I do love magic in my books but I am sometimes stumped by magical realism which I feel is where this book leans towards. I’m happy to take the magic as is even as I feel that there is something else going on there.
A Glasshouse of Stars is a powerfully moving novel as readers are, perforce, within protagonist’s headspace and looking out through her eyes so we are privileged in knowing all her thoughts and feelings. Readers can expect to feel the wonder of the New House & Glasshouse, the fear of the unknown, the hope for the future, oh there were just so much! Do read this with your children and persist through the difference in narrative because it’s such a wonderful novel.
My thanks to Shirley Marr for this paperback copy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts
As an immigrant myself, I sort of knew what the protagonist was feeling as she first arrived in the New Land and yet, there are enough differences in our experiences that my heart broke for this brave girl. I did think that the author was a bit mean when a particular tragedy strike but life happens and despite my tears, I was glad that the tragedy did bring something good too. I loved Meixing and her friends as they each found their way to rise above their own problems.
To start with, it took a while to adjust my headspace to reading this book. Mostly due to the second person POV but also how places are just so very non-specific/neutral (eg. ‘New House’, ‘New Land’, etc). It is just different than the norm, I think, that I really needed to think differently. Other than that, it was done very well and I do feel very much like I’m stepping in Meixing’s shoes.
My boys and I adored Little Jiang which I read aloud as their bed time read and it was just such a fun read! Unfortunately, I was unable to read this aloud to my boys. I tried for a few nights but my youngest has this aversion against the second person POV. He is only 6 years old and this may have been the first time he came across a second person POV as this isn’t one you’d come across that often in books. He just didn’t feel that it’s right and he got so upset, I had to stop and finished reading on my own. I’ll make a note to try this on him again in a few years’ time!
Magic appears to be an indication of feels in this novel. Mostly it is of hope but at times, it also reflects despair. I do love magic in my books but I am sometimes stumped by magical realism which I feel is where this book leans towards. I’m happy to take the magic as is even as I feel that there is something else going on there.
A Glasshouse of Stars is a powerfully moving novel as readers are, perforce, within protagonist’s headspace and looking out through her eyes so we are privileged in knowing all her thoughts and feelings. Readers can expect to feel the wonder of the New House & Glasshouse, the fear of the unknown, the hope for the future, oh there were just so much! Do read this with your children and persist through the difference in narrative because it’s such a wonderful novel.
My thanks to Shirley Marr for this paperback copy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts
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April 25, 2021I am very sorry to say that this book didn't work for me, and I DNF'ed it at 35%.
My main problem lay with the characters. We follow a young girl and her parents as they migrate to Australia. I realize the author based this on her own experience, so it pains me to say that I found the characters really frustrating and annoying. I do have to mention that my husband is also an immigrant (from Africa, to Europe), and his experience has been very different. Yes, my presence and time will be part of that. But his attitude was also very different from this family which I feel has made it a lot easier for him.
I don't really understand why this family decided to move to a different country, as they don't seem to make any effort to make it work. I guess it was to give their daughter and unborn child a better life.... so then I really don't understand why the mother refuses to see a doctor when the pregnancy is clearly not going as it should. They also demand straight A's from our 7yr old girl, but at no point give her a chance or even remotely help her to get settled into her new environment. I also found it really annoying how our main character would make such a problem in her head about the fact that she was wearing BOY'S SHOES!!! Who cares? (sorry, I get really annoyed when people make a Massive deal about wearing second hand clothes).
Mom completely relies on their also Asian neighbour to provide them with food and cooking, for weeks. Dad complains about the fact that he has to do manual labour (instead of being happy that he managed to even get a job within a week of being in the country and not speaking the language).
All of this is then combined with the fact that the book is written in second person. You are the 7yr old girl who is left to deal with it all on her own. And all I could think was 'no, I would never do/think that'. 'no, my family would never make victims of themselves so much'.
And then a traumatic event happens. I cry really easy. And I felt absolutely nothing here (apart from minor hate towards the mother). So I decided it was enough for me. I have to say that the magical realism aspects in this book were interesting, but not nearly enough for me to keep going.
I do appreciate that this is an important own-voices story that can be incredibly helpful to kids with a migration background, and inform everyone else about the experience. But I couldn't relate it to the experience me and the Husband are having regarding it. By the time he will get his Dutch passport, it will have taken us 10 years of struggle to fulfill all the requirements, pass the exams and get all the paperwork sorted. Knowing how much effort he has to put into this, I couldn't deal with these parents who mainly just felt sorry for themselves.
My main problem lay with the characters. We follow a young girl and her parents as they migrate to Australia. I realize the author based this on her own experience, so it pains me to say that I found the characters really frustrating and annoying. I do have to mention that my husband is also an immigrant (from Africa, to Europe), and his experience has been very different. Yes, my presence and time will be part of that. But his attitude was also very different from this family which I feel has made it a lot easier for him.
I don't really understand why this family decided to move to a different country, as they don't seem to make any effort to make it work. I guess it was to give their daughter and unborn child a better life.... so then I really don't understand why the mother refuses to see a doctor when the pregnancy is clearly not going as it should. They also demand straight A's from our 7yr old girl, but at no point give her a chance or even remotely help her to get settled into her new environment. I also found it really annoying how our main character would make such a problem in her head about the fact that she was wearing BOY'S SHOES!!! Who cares? (sorry, I get really annoyed when people make a Massive deal about wearing second hand clothes).
Mom completely relies on their also Asian neighbour to provide them with food and cooking, for weeks. Dad complains about the fact that he has to do manual labour (instead of being happy that he managed to even get a job within a week of being in the country and not speaking the language).
All of this is then combined with the fact that the book is written in second person. You are the 7yr old girl who is left to deal with it all on her own. And all I could think was 'no, I would never do/think that'. 'no, my family would never make victims of themselves so much'.
And then a traumatic event happens. I cry really easy. And I felt absolutely nothing here (apart from minor hate towards the mother). So I decided it was enough for me. I have to say that the magical realism aspects in this book were interesting, but not nearly enough for me to keep going.
I do appreciate that this is an important own-voices story that can be incredibly helpful to kids with a migration background, and inform everyone else about the experience. But I couldn't relate it to the experience me and the Husband are having regarding it. By the time he will get his Dutch passport, it will have taken us 10 years of struggle to fulfill all the requirements, pass the exams and get all the paperwork sorted. Knowing how much effort he has to put into this, I couldn't deal with these parents who mainly just felt sorry for themselves.
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February 2, 2022
literally just so beautiful and good. the colour symbolism and the different ways in which the characters cope and express their feelings... the glasshouse ITSELF is just... Bro.
you know a book is excellent when i devour the whole thing despite it NOT being in third person!
and honestly? this book being written as it is lends itself to the experience of the whole thing. like. WOOF! its a must read for sure imo.
you know a book is excellent when i devour the whole thing despite it NOT being in third person!
and honestly? this book being written as it is lends itself to the experience of the whole thing. like. WOOF! its a must read for sure imo.
July 18, 2023
"The promise touches your face softly and wraps itself gently around you, planting a seed of hope in your heart."
This is amazing. It's shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers. I hope it wins and everyone joins Meixing in her move to a New Land, in a very unusual house.
June 20, 2021
Amazing book.... This book is a true gem.
I really enjoyed reading this. I was hooked from the first page.
I really enjoyed reading this. I was hooked from the first page.
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January 12, 2021The following reviews have been shared by Penguin Random House Australia - publisher of A Glasshouse of Stars.
A Glasshouse of Stars is heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic. This is a special book from a powerful, compassionate new voice in children’s literature, destined to be read and loved for generations and held close in many hearts (including mine). – JESSICA TOWNSEND, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE NEVERMOOR SERIES
Poignant, authentic and heartbreakingly tender – a touching story of loss and resilience. Shirley Marr gives a face to our deepest fears and proves that even the scariest monsters can keep us company in the dark. –DARIA OSTROWSKA, COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, WESTBOOKS
There is no doubt that A Glasshouse of Stars will be a Middle Grade novel to watch in 2021 … We share Meixing's journey from loss and displacement, from heartbreak and confusion. A Glasshouse of Stars is ultimately, however, a tale of resilience, compassion and hope – with brushstrokes of magic to help illuminate the way. I loved this perfectly balanced book! – PAUL MACDONALD, OWNER, THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP
A Glasshouse of Stars is poignant, thoughtful and an absolute joy to read. By turns tragic and hopeful, this breathtaking book joins the small number of titles that I will happily recommend to readers of any age. It is destined to be one of the best books of 2021, and I can’t wait to see it out in the world! – HANNAH GARDINER, CHILDREN'S BOOK BUYER, BERKELOUW BOOKS
When I finished A Glasshouse of Stars I had the same tingles as when I read The Bone Sparrow. The grit of reality, juxtaposed with the magic. The chance to step into another culture and learn their customs. To again be reminded of how important these stories are to build empathy and understanding. Marr has articulated a very common new immigrant experience by using powerful metaphors that will engender meaningful conversations with young readers. It will also speak to any reader who similarly embraces their imagination to make better sense of the people and the world around them. This is a book bursting with colour and heart. – LIBBY ARMSTRONG, OWNER, BEACHSIDE BOOKSHOP
A Glasshouse of Stars is heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic. This is a special book from a powerful, compassionate new voice in children’s literature, destined to be read and loved for generations and held close in many hearts (including mine). – JESSICA TOWNSEND, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE NEVERMOOR SERIES
Poignant, authentic and heartbreakingly tender – a touching story of loss and resilience. Shirley Marr gives a face to our deepest fears and proves that even the scariest monsters can keep us company in the dark. –DARIA OSTROWSKA, COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, WESTBOOKS
There is no doubt that A Glasshouse of Stars will be a Middle Grade novel to watch in 2021 … We share Meixing's journey from loss and displacement, from heartbreak and confusion. A Glasshouse of Stars is ultimately, however, a tale of resilience, compassion and hope – with brushstrokes of magic to help illuminate the way. I loved this perfectly balanced book! – PAUL MACDONALD, OWNER, THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP
A Glasshouse of Stars is poignant, thoughtful and an absolute joy to read. By turns tragic and hopeful, this breathtaking book joins the small number of titles that I will happily recommend to readers of any age. It is destined to be one of the best books of 2021, and I can’t wait to see it out in the world! – HANNAH GARDINER, CHILDREN'S BOOK BUYER, BERKELOUW BOOKS
When I finished A Glasshouse of Stars I had the same tingles as when I read The Bone Sparrow. The grit of reality, juxtaposed with the magic. The chance to step into another culture and learn their customs. To again be reminded of how important these stories are to build empathy and understanding. Marr has articulated a very common new immigrant experience by using powerful metaphors that will engender meaningful conversations with young readers. It will also speak to any reader who similarly embraces their imagination to make better sense of the people and the world around them. This is a book bursting with colour and heart. – LIBBY ARMSTRONG, OWNER, BEACHSIDE BOOKSHOP
January 13, 2021
My heart is officially broken. A Glasshouse of Stars was captivating and totally unique, the instructive prose and easy magic put me into a dreamlike state. My heart aches for Meixing the whole way through and it has really got me thinking more about the children who I went to primary school with who used to act in seemingly ‘strange’ ways like Meixing, Kevin and Josh – I think I have a much better understanding of the immigrant experience now and I can’t believe it has taken me this long to really put myself in their shoes. This story is so important. I love the way Meixing explained the relationships between herself (yourself?) and all other characters, such complicated family and friendship dynamics with a few poetic words. In moments it reminded me of some other great books I loved, Room by Emma Donoghue and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Words I would use to describe this book would be: captivating, heartbreaking, poetic, confronting, healing and beautiful. Definitely not just for kids.
Disclaimer: I was able to access an advanced reading copy of this book because I work at the publishing house – I might be slightly biased but I genuinely love this book.
Disclaimer: I was able to access an advanced reading copy of this book because I work at the publishing house – I might be slightly biased but I genuinely love this book.
October 11, 2021
This novel reads very much like speculative literary fiction. The second person narration brings the reader incredibly close to the story, and I think it might be the reason it can hold itself as a book for younger kids. It is hard not to be drawn into the story. However, much of the narrative leans heavily on the speculative themes of the novel and even as an adult reader it is an awful lot to unpack. Readers never have a clear sense of any concrete ideas such as time and place, and there are far more questions than answers throughout the story. It is marketed as geared towards 8-12 year olds, but I think the content lends itself to older readers. It is a good book but it is heavy and often deeply upsetting.
July 30, 2022
I wanted a lighter read after my last book, and figured a children’s book should be safe.
It was not.
This is Meixing’s story of trying to fit in and navigate a new country and new language where she doesn’t know the rules and can’t communicate what she needs. A magical house and glasshouse offer her the small amount of comfort and respite she receives.
I love how this is written. It’s very quiet and second person narration just really made the story stand out. What happens to her is pretty heartbreaking though. The things this little seven year old has to deal with are overwhelming.
It was not.
This is Meixing’s story of trying to fit in and navigate a new country and new language where she doesn’t know the rules and can’t communicate what she needs. A magical house and glasshouse offer her the small amount of comfort and respite she receives.
I love how this is written. It’s very quiet and second person narration just really made the story stand out. What happens to her is pretty heartbreaking though. The things this little seven year old has to deal with are overwhelming.
April 10, 2022
A gorgeous story filled with imagination but also touches on very relevant issues of how refugee / migrant children may be feeling or experiencing as new arrivals to a country.
I highly recommend host families, teachers, people working with refugees and of course children (who this title is actually written for!) to read it. I will be encouraging my own 2 children to read it to help them appreciate the experiences of some of the families I work with and of any refugee children who may join their school in the future.
I highly recommend host families, teachers, people working with refugees and of course children (who this title is actually written for!) to read it. I will be encouraging my own 2 children to read it to help them appreciate the experiences of some of the families I work with and of any refugee children who may join their school in the future.
May 4, 2021
Meixing faces a number of challenges when her family moves to the New Land where the familiar has disappeared. The New Land has a new language, a new culture, school life where the children aren't always welcoming, First Uncle's perplexing house, and a family tragedy. This middle-grade novel will resonate with many readers, young and old, and would be perfect for families to read aloud together.
Shirley Marr's latest novel, A Glasshouse of Stars is a brave and tender-hearted story about a little girl coming to terms with her New Life in a New Land.
This OwnVoices story of migration lays bare the racism and violence that migrants may experience, but Marr contrasts this with lightness, also showing that people can be kind, caring and understanding of the migrant experience.
Marr's protagonist, Meixing is wholly relatable, which comes in part, from the second person narrative style employed within the story. This is an unusual choice as writing from the perspective of second person is extremely difficult to write well without alienating readers, but Marr pulls this off with aplomb!
One of my most favourite elements in A Glasshouse of Stars is the thread of magical realism woven throughout the story. Marr gives us a house called Big Scary whose physical structure reflects the emotional state of her characters. I love the cat in a tuxedo who acts as a gatekeeper to the magical glasshouse in the garden that contains galaxies of possibilities. A Glasshouse of Stars touches on healing and growth. And ancestral spirits make an appearance in line with Marr's Chinese heritage.
A Glasshouse of Stars is a wonderful middle-grade novel told with bravery and sensitivity. Marr has brilliantly captured a child migrant's experience, and I confess to being excited about what Marr will write next. I predict this to be my favourite read of 2021!
Shirley Marr's latest novel, A Glasshouse of Stars is a brave and tender-hearted story about a little girl coming to terms with her New Life in a New Land.
This OwnVoices story of migration lays bare the racism and violence that migrants may experience, but Marr contrasts this with lightness, also showing that people can be kind, caring and understanding of the migrant experience.
Marr's protagonist, Meixing is wholly relatable, which comes in part, from the second person narrative style employed within the story. This is an unusual choice as writing from the perspective of second person is extremely difficult to write well without alienating readers, but Marr pulls this off with aplomb!
One of my most favourite elements in A Glasshouse of Stars is the thread of magical realism woven throughout the story. Marr gives us a house called Big Scary whose physical structure reflects the emotional state of her characters. I love the cat in a tuxedo who acts as a gatekeeper to the magical glasshouse in the garden that contains galaxies of possibilities. A Glasshouse of Stars touches on healing and growth. And ancestral spirits make an appearance in line with Marr's Chinese heritage.
A Glasshouse of Stars is a wonderful middle-grade novel told with bravery and sensitivity. Marr has brilliantly captured a child migrant's experience, and I confess to being excited about what Marr will write next. I predict this to be my favourite read of 2021!
April 6, 2021
Thought-provoking and heart-warming, A Glasshouse of Stars is a story of belonging, sacrifice, family and understanding. Meixing is just 7 when her family moves from a remote island to start a new life in Australia. Everything is strange and new to the family. They don’t speak the language of the New Land, the father doesn’t have a job, a new baby is on the way and there is very little money. They have house to live in as it was left to them by Big Uncle who has just passed away. Meixing’s life has just been turned upside down.
Meixing discovers an old house made of glass in the backyard where she finds the ghost of Big Uncle and a rather strange cat. Inside the glasshouse, she discovers a whole new world. She is the only one who can see this world and begins to visit regularly. School is terrible as she doesn’t speak the language and she is bullied. However, when she and another two children are taken to a special class where they are helped with English, things start to look up. That’s when tragedy strikes. Will Meixing and her family ever learn how to survive in the New Land?
Based on the author’s own experiences, A Glasshouse of Stars is an excellent story about discovering your place in the world.
Thank you to the publisher for our advanced proof copy.
Meixing discovers an old house made of glass in the backyard where she finds the ghost of Big Uncle and a rather strange cat. Inside the glasshouse, she discovers a whole new world. She is the only one who can see this world and begins to visit regularly. School is terrible as she doesn’t speak the language and she is bullied. However, when she and another two children are taken to a special class where they are helped with English, things start to look up. That’s when tragedy strikes. Will Meixing and her family ever learn how to survive in the New Land?
Based on the author’s own experiences, A Glasshouse of Stars is an excellent story about discovering your place in the world.
Thank you to the publisher for our advanced proof copy.
May 2, 2021
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Thank you Penguin Books Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
Well, this book was a bit of an emotion roller coaster!
A Glasshouse of Stars was a brutally heart warming and completely thought provoking, which is brilliant considering it is a middle grade read.
Mexing is seven years old when her family moves to Australia, where everything is strange, odd and unknown. They don’t speak or really understand English, their family has yet to find a source of income and they have a new baby on the way. Life has been turned upside down and they appear to be drowning in life worries rather than finding their feet. Mexing soon finds that her escape from reality lies within a glasshouse, where only she is able to travel to another world.
This really was a book that leaves you with a whole in your heart. The high emotion that comes with this book, makes you feel empathy for those that have to live this similar situation every day.
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Thank you Penguin Books Australia for this book in exchange for an honest review
Well, this book was a bit of an emotion roller coaster!
A Glasshouse of Stars was a brutally heart warming and completely thought provoking, which is brilliant considering it is a middle grade read.
Mexing is seven years old when her family moves to Australia, where everything is strange, odd and unknown. They don’t speak or really understand English, their family has yet to find a source of income and they have a new baby on the way. Life has been turned upside down and they appear to be drowning in life worries rather than finding their feet. Mexing soon finds that her escape from reality lies within a glasshouse, where only she is able to travel to another world.
This really was a book that leaves you with a whole in your heart. The high emotion that comes with this book, makes you feel empathy for those that have to live this similar situation every day.
April 30, 2021
This was such a cute little book. This was sent to me by Penguin Aus and I didn't know it was a middle grade novel until I opened it and saw the large writing. I thought I wouldn't enjoy the story as much, being an adult reading a book targeted toward twelve-year-olds, but believe it or not, I shed a tear.
If A Glasshouse of Stars had been around when I was a kid, it would have been a favourite. It reminded me of The Secret Garden.
The second person point of view takes a while to get used to, but it does exactly as the author intended--puts you in the shoes of an east Asian child whose parents immigrated to Australia. The author did a wonderful job of portraying the fear, confusion and anger that comes along with being dragged into a world you don't understand, and carrying the guilt of not living up to your parent's expectations.
This novel was intriguing, informative, heartbreaking and heartwarming.
If A Glasshouse of Stars had been around when I was a kid, it would have been a favourite. It reminded me of The Secret Garden.
The second person point of view takes a while to get used to, but it does exactly as the author intended--puts you in the shoes of an east Asian child whose parents immigrated to Australia. The author did a wonderful job of portraying the fear, confusion and anger that comes along with being dragged into a world you don't understand, and carrying the guilt of not living up to your parent's expectations.
This novel was intriguing, informative, heartbreaking and heartwarming.
March 30, 2024
Wow. What an incredible story.
I bought this to read as a class book for my year 6’s this half term. I am so glad I did!
We loved it. The way that it is written took a little getting used to. However, after a few reading sessions, one child commented that they didn’t even notice anymore. We were all really invested in the story of Meixing and felt her fear, her heartbreak and most importantly, her hope through her journey.
The stories of Kevin, Meixing and Josh opened up excellent discussions in the classroom about their adversity and how their childhoods compare to theirs. It’s awful to say but it also helped the children to understand what it still happening in our world today with children from different countries.
I’m the final few chapters, I found it really hard to read to the class! I was actually choking up. What a beautiful and magical book that every child should read.
Thank you Shirley Marr!
I bought this to read as a class book for my year 6’s this half term. I am so glad I did!
We loved it. The way that it is written took a little getting used to. However, after a few reading sessions, one child commented that they didn’t even notice anymore. We were all really invested in the story of Meixing and felt her fear, her heartbreak and most importantly, her hope through her journey.
The stories of Kevin, Meixing and Josh opened up excellent discussions in the classroom about their adversity and how their childhoods compare to theirs. It’s awful to say but it also helped the children to understand what it still happening in our world today with children from different countries.
I’m the final few chapters, I found it really hard to read to the class! I was actually choking up. What a beautiful and magical book that every child should read.
Thank you Shirley Marr!
May 8, 2022
This book is amazing! The characters are realistic and enjoyable. There is one main plot twist earlier in the book which surprised me so much, and a couple smaller ones throughout. I would definitely recommend!
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December 28, 2022
Sad but quite hopeful ♥️
Review coming up 💕
Review coming up 💕
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April 15, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Child abuse mentioned
Bullying
Racism
Child abuse mentioned
Bullying
April 15, 2022
★★★★★ - 5 Star Rating
Years pass in the blink of an eye, and she becomes tall, strong and green.
Then, all of a sudden, all the leaves drop off.
The tree becomes completely bare. You know how she feels. Overnight you lost everything too.
But then thousands of soft little buds form at the tips of her branches.
And then she flowers.
This book. Oh my gosh.
Do you ever just stumble across a book, read it, and feel like the universe just placed exactly what you needed into your lap?
I added this book to my TBR with no real plans to read it anytime soon, I then spent days thinking about it until I finally bought it to read. The whole book made my inner child feel more acknowledged than she has in such a long time, and the storyline felt so healing.
A Glasshouse Of Stars deals with the weight of grief, of parental mental illness, of migrantion, and of racism in such a tender way. From what I believe, the book is loosely based off of the authors childhood, and she has delivered these heavy topics in such an age appropriate way.
The magical realism is so beautifully constructed, and getting to follow Meixing as she slowly becomes more self assured and hopeful felt so special.
I really don’t have anything bad to say. This book touched my soul in such a beautiful way, and made me simultaneously ache for my hurt inner child as well as reigniting the want to heal her.
I am not a migrant, nor am I a person of colour, so I cannot comment on those experiences. But for anyone who had to deal with grief, parental mental illness, and parental pressure as the eldest daughter/sibling, I implore you to read this book.
Years pass in the blink of an eye, and she becomes tall, strong and green.
Then, all of a sudden, all the leaves drop off.
The tree becomes completely bare. You know how she feels. Overnight you lost everything too.
But then thousands of soft little buds form at the tips of her branches.
And then she flowers.
This book. Oh my gosh.
Do you ever just stumble across a book, read it, and feel like the universe just placed exactly what you needed into your lap?
I added this book to my TBR with no real plans to read it anytime soon, I then spent days thinking about it until I finally bought it to read. The whole book made my inner child feel more acknowledged than she has in such a long time, and the storyline felt so healing.
A Glasshouse Of Stars deals with the weight of grief, of parental mental illness, of migrantion, and of racism in such a tender way. From what I believe, the book is loosely based off of the authors childhood, and she has delivered these heavy topics in such an age appropriate way.
The magical realism is so beautifully constructed, and getting to follow Meixing as she slowly becomes more self assured and hopeful felt so special.
I really don’t have anything bad to say. This book touched my soul in such a beautiful way, and made me simultaneously ache for my hurt inner child as well as reigniting the want to heal her.
I am not a migrant, nor am I a person of colour, so I cannot comment on those experiences. But for anyone who had to deal with grief, parental mental illness, and parental pressure as the eldest daughter/sibling, I implore you to read this book.
April 26, 2022
This story is heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic. It weaves an intriguing plotline with characters who are very similar to everyday people. Not only does the book provide a hard-to-put-down story, it provides descriptions so vivid, the greenhouse warmth bursts straight out of the page.
July 13, 2025
4.5
Boekentipje voor de Engels-lezers onder ons. Want betoverend mooi, dat is dit 13+ boek, geschreven in het jij-perspectief. The Glasshouse of Stars geschreven door Shirley Marr.
Lees verder op Instagram!
Boekentipje voor de Engels-lezers onder ons. Want betoverend mooi, dat is dit 13+ boek, geschreven in het jij-perspectief. The Glasshouse of Stars geschreven door Shirley Marr.
Lees verder op Instagram!
April 26, 2023
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
This is a touching and poignant middle-grade novel that explores themes of family, friendship, and belonging.
The story follows the a-mazing Meixing Lim, a young girl who immigrates to Australia with her family from a small island that is never identified, but was most likely near China. Struggling to adapt to her new home and feeling like an outsider, Meixing finds solace in her strong imagination and her friendship with an unpredictable boy next door. But when her father dies, leaving her Meixing and her heavily pregnant mother alone in a land where they are newly arrived and both struggle with the unfamiliar language, Meixing must find the courage to speak up and seek help.
Marr's writing is beautiful and evocative, capturing both the wonder and the uncertainty of childhood in a new and unfamiliar place. The characters are richly drawn and multi-dimensional, and the relationships between them feel authentic and heartfelt. The story tackles difficult themes with sensitivity and grace, offering a message of hope and resilience that will resonate with readers of all ages.
It should be mentioned that this entire book is written in second person POV ("you said"). I'm not quite sure how Marr managed it, but most fiction written in second person tries to make the character feel like the reader. In this instance, second person POV worked well for an entire novel because Marr made the reader feel like the character. The audiobook was skilfully narrated, and I think having the book read out loud made the second person POV much easier to digest. It might be more jarring always reading 'you' in print.
Overall, A Glasshouse of Stars is a deeply moving and thought-provoking story that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Highly recommended for anyone who loves stories about family, friendship, and the power of the human spirit.
This is a touching and poignant middle-grade novel that explores themes of family, friendship, and belonging.
The story follows the a-mazing Meixing Lim, a young girl who immigrates to Australia with her family from a small island that is never identified, but was most likely near China. Struggling to adapt to her new home and feeling like an outsider, Meixing finds solace in her strong imagination and her friendship with an unpredictable boy next door. But when her father dies, leaving her Meixing and her heavily pregnant mother alone in a land where they are newly arrived and both struggle with the unfamiliar language, Meixing must find the courage to speak up and seek help.
Marr's writing is beautiful and evocative, capturing both the wonder and the uncertainty of childhood in a new and unfamiliar place. The characters are richly drawn and multi-dimensional, and the relationships between them feel authentic and heartfelt. The story tackles difficult themes with sensitivity and grace, offering a message of hope and resilience that will resonate with readers of all ages.
It should be mentioned that this entire book is written in second person POV ("you said"). I'm not quite sure how Marr managed it, but most fiction written in second person tries to make the character feel like the reader. In this instance, second person POV worked well for an entire novel because Marr made the reader feel like the character. The audiobook was skilfully narrated, and I think having the book read out loud made the second person POV much easier to digest. It might be more jarring always reading 'you' in print.
Overall, A Glasshouse of Stars is a deeply moving and thought-provoking story that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Highly recommended for anyone who loves stories about family, friendship, and the power of the human spirit.
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July 22, 2021I loved this story about courage and imagination and the importance of kindness.
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