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Stardust
Attending public school for the first time after her part in a popular television sitcom is written out, Haley Loring impersonates her own character in order to attain popularity and worries if her new friends will accept her for herself. Reprint.
- GenresMiddle Grade
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
1 person is currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Alane Ferguson
42 books265 followersAlane Ferguson was born in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1957. She attended the University of Utah and Westminster College where she studied journalism. Later, Alane became interested in writing for children, mostly, she says, to follow the example of her mother, successful author Gloria Skurzynski. Her mother has written over fifty-seven books for children, while Alane is currently completing her thirty-second. Alane and her mother co-authored a series for National Geographic. Their novel, WOLF STALKER, was the first work of fiction National Geographic had published in its as of then 109 year history. WOLF STALKER was nominated for the 1998 Mystery Writer's of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award and the newest and 13th book in the series, NIGHT OF THE BLACK BEAR, was launched in spring of 2007. A recipient of the 1990 Edgar Allan Poe Award as well as the Belgium's Children's Choice Award for her young adult novel SHOW ME THE EVIDENCE, Alane was also a nominee for her third young-adult mystery, POISON. She received a 2007 Edgar nomination for her young adult novel, THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER, the first in the Sleuth Forensic Mystery series. Alane won the Children's Crown Classic Award for CRICKET ANDTHE CRACKERBOX KID, the American Bookseller's Association's "Pick of the List" for her picture book entitled THAT NEW PET, and has been on numerous ALA Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Readers and Young Adult's Choice list.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 20, 2022
Have you ever wondered about what it’s like for child actors to go to regular school, after their show ends? Haley, a.k.a. “Samantha Love” on t.v., is about to find out!
Ahh, the nostalgic feelings I got from reading this! Written in the 90’s, before the Internet and cell phones were everywhere. In fact, at one point Haley’s mom is using their new cordless phone, and she’s jealous! And, everyone watched the same t.v. shows at night, then went to school the next day and talked about them. (Woe betide the person who misses an episode; spoilers galore!)
I think middle-grade readers would eat this one up! They might have to ask an adult a few questions about the 90’s, though!
Ahh, the nostalgic feelings I got from reading this! Written in the 90’s, before the Internet and cell phones were everywhere. In fact, at one point Haley’s mom is using their new cordless phone, and she’s jealous! And, everyone watched the same t.v. shows at night, then went to school the next day and talked about them. (Woe betide the person who misses an episode; spoilers galore!)
I think middle-grade readers would eat this one up! They might have to ask an adult a few questions about the 90’s, though!
December 7, 2021
This was one of my favorite books when I was in elementary school! I just found it again thanks to reddit. What a walk down memory lane!
Weirdly enough, long after I'd forgotten the main character's name, I remembered the description of the agent. Everything in her office was either red, black, or white, and the agent herself had black hair, pale skin, and red lipstick. It's funny the things that stick with you.
Weirdly enough, long after I'd forgotten the main character's name, I remembered the description of the agent. Everything in her office was either red, black, or white, and the agent herself had black hair, pale skin, and red lipstick. It's funny the things that stick with you.
July 28, 2012
This was my favorite book as a kid!
November 3, 2020
Unless you can look younger or older than you are, once you hit eleven, Hollywood doesn't like you. At least according to this.
But I like haleys struggle to go back to being normal, learning who and what she was when it didn't involve Samantha love.
But I like haleys struggle to go back to being normal, learning who and what she was when it didn't involve Samantha love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
Review Coming Soon
September 5, 2011
A year or so ago I was reading one book blog or another and I came across someone asking if anyone had heard of a book they remembered from their childhood. I don’t remember the specific description but something about it intrigued me, and when the book was identified as Stardust by Alane Ferguson, I ordered it.
Having read it… I am really curious to know what they said that interested me. This was your basic Young Adult novel written in the early ’90s. Nothing particularly special about it.
Basically, a child actress who’s worked on the same TV show since she was 2 years old gets fired for being too ‘old’ at the ripe old age of 11. Her family moves from the glamor of LA to a small town in the midwest. The actress goes to school for the first time in her life and is forced to interact with people her own age.
Of course, she immediately makes friends with the ‘cool’ kids and when they tell her not to hang out with the two brainy/nerdy kids she actually likes, she complies. Of course, she eventually realizes who her ‘real’ friends are and of course the ‘cool’ kids then accept said ‘real’ friends and everyone is happy.
Just once, I’d like to see the protagonist in a story like this tell the ‘cool’ kids to fuck off from the beginning. For Christ’s sake!
Having read it… I am really curious to know what they said that interested me. This was your basic Young Adult novel written in the early ’90s. Nothing particularly special about it.
Basically, a child actress who’s worked on the same TV show since she was 2 years old gets fired for being too ‘old’ at the ripe old age of 11. Her family moves from the glamor of LA to a small town in the midwest. The actress goes to school for the first time in her life and is forced to interact with people her own age.
Of course, she immediately makes friends with the ‘cool’ kids and when they tell her not to hang out with the two brainy/nerdy kids she actually likes, she complies. Of course, she eventually realizes who her ‘real’ friends are and of course the ‘cool’ kids then accept said ‘real’ friends and everyone is happy.
Just once, I’d like to see the protagonist in a story like this tell the ‘cool’ kids to fuck off from the beginning. For Christ’s sake!
September 21, 2012
This book happened to be my absolute favorite for many years while I was growing up. I don't think it changed until the Harry Potter books were relased and they quickly replaced this fun little novel as my favorites.
But I digress, Stardust is a short little easy read about a girl who learns to cope with her downfall from stardom to ordinary pre-teen.
The thing that I always liked most about this book was the imagery the author uses to expound on the settings in the book. She created such a cozy and peaceful little town and neighborhood in which the main character moves into, I couldn't help but feel I was actually there while reading.
Not to be judged as classic literature or anything, but I would reccommend this to anyone who wants to escape into a sweet happy world of imagery for a while.
But I digress, Stardust is a short little easy read about a girl who learns to cope with her downfall from stardom to ordinary pre-teen.
The thing that I always liked most about this book was the imagery the author uses to expound on the settings in the book. She created such a cozy and peaceful little town and neighborhood in which the main character moves into, I couldn't help but feel I was actually there while reading.
Not to be judged as classic literature or anything, but I would reccommend this to anyone who wants to escape into a sweet happy world of imagery for a while.
March 21, 2010
This was a cute book. In our celebrity culture, so much emphasis is placed on getting there, but sometimes just as interesting a story can be found in getting out. Stardust focuses on that issue with Haley Loring who has such a difficult time adjusting to being normal that she channels her previously popular TV persona in her daily life because that’s what people seem to expect. Unfortunately, being a sassy, smartalec creates as much situational comedy in real life as it does on TV. In real life, nobody is there to shout “Cut!”.
Sweet soft romance flavors the book as Haley learns to be herself and live with the consequences.
Sweet soft romance flavors the book as Haley learns to be herself and live with the consequences.
December 22, 2008
A cute "morality tale" about being true to yourself.
When a famous child star is over the cute child stage and moves to a small town she tries to fit in with the rest of the 6th graders, but everyone loves her TV character so much she is expected to still be that character.
When a famous child star is over the cute child stage and moves to a small town she tries to fit in with the rest of the 6th graders, but everyone loves her TV character so much she is expected to still be that character.
December 7, 2014
I think this book would be perfect for girls 10-12. I picked it up at the library on a whim, and read it in a couple of hours. It's a story of a former child-star coming to grips with the fact that she isn't the star anymore. The plot isn't deep, but the book moves along.
November 12, 2012
This is a cute book, but by now I'd say it's probably horribly dated.
April 16, 2010
Interesting for kids, good to discuss discovering and being yourself. Not a difficult read. Main character a little cheeky, but in the end everything turns out well.
January 28, 2015
Grade: B
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews