The Star Maker

by Laurence Yep

If only Artie had kept his mouth shut. But his mean cousin Petey was putting him down, so Artie started bragging. Now he has to come up with enough money to buy firecrackers for all his cousins by the Lunar New Year. Luckily, there's one person he can count on . . . Uncle Chester! Newbery Honor Book author Laurence Yep celebrates family and Chinese New Year traditions in this story of a boy and his uncle who discover that age doesn't matter when it comes to helping out a friend.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Juvenile, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, China

112 pages, Hardcover

First published December 21, 2010

About the author

Born June 14, 1948 in San Francisco, California, Yep was the son of Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep. Franche Lee, her family's youngest child, was born in Ohio and raised in West Virginia where her family owned a Chinese laundry. Yep's father, Thomas, was born in China and came to America at the age of ten where he lived, not in Chinatown, but with an Irish friend in a white neighborhood. After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. Growing up in San Francisco, Yep felt alienated. He was in his own words his neighborhood's "all-purpose Asian" and did not feel he had a culture of his own. Joanne Ryder, a children's book author, and Yep met and became friends during college while she was his editor. They later married and now live in San Francisco.

Although not living in Chinatown, Yep commuted to a parochial bilingual school there. Other students at the school, according to Yep, labeled him a "dumbbell Chinese" because he spoke only English. During high school he faced the white American culture for the first time. However, it was while attending high school that he started writing for a science fiction magazine, being paid one cent a word for his efforts. After two years at Marquette University, Yep transferred to the University of California at Santa Cruz where he graduated in 1970 with a B.A. He continued on to earn a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Today as well as writing, he has taught writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finely tuned in to the realities of the Chinese-American culture in which he was raised, author Laurence Yep has constructed a very nice story about a boy's struggle to find his place in a big family, nestled away in the Chinatown section of a big city in the 1950s. As stated in the preface to The Star Maker, Laurence Yep drew from his own youthful experiences of that era to provide material for this story, though exactly which parts really happened and which are imagined isn't expressly stated. Laurence Yep had established his writing credentials long before this book, and he comes through again here with a story both sensitively rendered and capable of keeping readers guessing until the end, surely hoping to see Artie finally land on top and his prideful cousin Petey be taken down a peg or two. If well-defined characters are the most vital component of a story with the potential to capture the interest of readers, then The Star Maker has everything it needs to be a success.

Artie's family, including the extended branches of aunts, uncles and cousins, is a fairly tight-knit group, though not all of the kids share their elders' views on family unity. Whenever the family gets together, Artie feels trodden on by his cousin Petey, who at age eleven is three years older than he. Petey has a lot of cool stuff in his room, but he always gets mad if any of his cousins beat him at one of his games, and everyone knows that if Petey gets mad then he won't let you play with his fun assortment of toys. In fact, he seems to enjoy refusing his cousins access to his belongings. Sometimes Petey's smug attitude is a little more than Artie can stand, but Artie really puts his foot in his mouth at a family party one night when he boasts that not only is he planning to buy fireworks for the upcoming Chinese New Year, he's also going to purchase them for every one of his cousins. Petey is all too happy to spread news of Artie's rash promise around, and it looks like Petey is going to have yet another victory to rub Artie's face in when the New Year rolls around. How could Artie possibly earn the money to buy fireworks for all of the kids in his large family?

Sometimes, though, there's a level of understanding between members of one generation and the next that defies common comprehension. Like Artie, Uncle Chester grew up as the smallest, youngest member of his family, and was often teased because of it. Chester knows what it's like to be defeated at every turn by a relative like Petey, and he's decided that the time has come to put the arrogant eleven-year-old in his place and give Artie the nice moment of personal triumph that he deserves. Uncle Chester's intentions are good, but he still has a few problems of his own to deal with that date back to the teasing he received as a kid, and old habits of financial negligence and irresponsibility are hard to break quickly even with the sincere help of a boy like Artie. There's more incentive for Uncle Chester to right his ship than just to please his nephew, though, and if the family will band together and throw their support behind the uncle that everyone likes to be around, then maybe Chester's story can find a happy ending after all. And if Uncle Chester can find happiness and security, then he's going to make sure that Artie has both of the same.

"And sometimes when you hear something often enough, you believe it. So I guess that's why he thinks he's a bum―even when he's not."

―The Star Maker, P. 71

There's much to like about The Star Maker, but I would say that its greatest value is in how it compares and contrasts the stories of Artie and Uncle Chester, each with their own unpleasant memories to deal with and figure out how to rise above as they try to help each other. Uncle Chester can see history possibly repeating itself with Artie, and he wants to make sure that the boy doesn't form any of the barriers of self-recrimination and self-doubt that he, himself, has had such a tough time breaking through because of the teasing he endured when he was younger. Negative emotions left unchecked can eventually harden on a person like cement, and then they're very difficult to break free of later. A small victory against someone like Petey could do wonders for Artie, and Uncle Chester isn't afraid to make sacrifices to get it to happen, a selfless approach to interacting with others that Artie observes and emulates. Perhaps being like the "black sheep" of the family can be a good thing after all.

My favorite part of The Star Maker is when the fireworks go off in the dark night sky at the Chinese New Year, popping and crackling and showering the air in front of Artie's family with dazzling sparks as they welcome the new year together. Not all of Artie's problems have been solved, and Uncle Chester still has room for improvement, as well, but I think that is the point of the story. What's life without continuing to make adjustments and improvements, getting better with time as one sees what works and what doesn't and then learning from it? The future is a bright place for Artie, and not just because of the fireworks lighting up the night sky. He has a nice life with his family, full of possibility and sure to be packed with surprises. What more could he want than that?

I liked this book, and Laurence Yep's tender portrayal of a time and place that is clearly very important to him will make a connection to readers who have their own large families and family traditions that bond the generations together and allow them greater understanding of each other. The Star Maker is well worth taking the time to read, in my opinion, and there's a good chance that I would give it two and a half stars.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sincerely written story about Artie, a Chinese boy, living in Chinatown in the 1950s. Artie is the youngest of his cousins and he is often teased. To retaliate, Artie promises to get fireworks for the Chinese New Year, but this promise is difficult for him to manage on his own. Artie's Uncle Chester promises to help him get the fireworks. However, Uncle Chester falls on challenging times and may not be able to help Artie after all. Uncle Chester runs into some money problems, but in the end, sells his expensive watch to pay for his debts and purchase fireworks for Artie. My favorite part of this book is the relationship between Artie and Uncle Chester which is grounded in family loyalty and mutual respect. Throughout the novel the author highlights areas of Chinatown and family celebrations. The plot is easy to follow and the themes in the book include peer pressure, family traditions, and friendship.

Yep responsibly adds a commentary at the beginning of the book describing that firecrackers were a big part of his life growing up in Chinatown; however, nowadays firecrackers are considered illegal and Yep warns people to stay away from them. This book could be used in a "Think Aloud" to help students understand the processes needed to comprehend text. Another useful strategy includes using sticky notes to engage students in organizing their thoughts or questioning the text. This book is best suited for grades three through six.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Language - G, Sexual Content - G; Violence - G
Artie is always getting picked on by his cousin Petey and one day he gets so mad about being insignificant and useless that he makes a promise. Artie promised to buy everyone firecrackers for Chinese New Year. He has only a few months till then and not even he thinks he can do it.
This was a nice short story. It was pretty entertaining with all the Chinese New Year traditions that got mentioned. However, I think my little sister would enjoy it more thing I did.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Auni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This is a children’s book written based on Chinese culture and I applaud the author for being able to come up with a right representation of it in a very simple and understandable way.

I really love the close-knitted relationship portrayed among the relatives in this book especially the bond that existed between Artie and Uncle Chester. It felt really genuine. The whole story was really heartfelt despite it being short.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tired of being bullied and called names by his older cousin eight-year old Artie foolishly boosts that not only will he have firecrackers for Chinese New Year's he'll have enough firecrackers for everyone. Uncle Chester promises to help Artie keep his word but time is running out and it doesn't look good. Yep develops Artie and Uncle Chester nicely as well as the background of the colorful San Francisco Chinatown of the 1950s.

[Liisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great cultural book for youth and young adults. I love the preface and afterwards learning more about the customs the author got to experience.

[Kayslee | The Fangirl Fulfilled · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little story based on the author's real-life experiences of lighting fireworks in celebration of Chinese or Lunar New Year.

[Stacy Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Artie is the youngest of all of his cousins and is perenially picked on by his cousin Petey. During on holiday gathering (Thanksgiving) Artie boasts that he will supply firecrackers to ALL of his cousins for the Chinese New Year. The only issue is that Artie has no money and when he does he can't hold onto it for long. Enter Uncle Chester. Uncle Chester is Artie's youngest uncle, the baby of the family, he moves from job to job, bets on the horses, he is a bachelor, he is what Artie would be if he were grown up. Uncle Chester becomes aware of Artie's promise and makes a promise that he will supply the firecrackers for Artie. The two bond as Uncle Chester takes Artie around Chinatown. Uncle Chester introduces Artie to his friends. Along the way Uncle Chester takes him into the comic shop ran by Mimi and she soon becomes a part of the story.

Midway through the story Uncle Chester runs into a bit of bad luck and is broke. He can't pay his bills, he is eating meals with all of his brothers and sisters, he becomes distant from Artie and Mimi. Artie is worried about Uncle Chester and he is worried about the firecrackers. To solve the problem Uncle Chester sells his prized watch to pay his debts in time for the Chinese New Year.

Literary Quality - Yep does a superb job of introducing characters to Chinese traditions surounding the Chinese New Year. The characters develop almost like a switch. One minute their thoughts are centered on themselves and the next they are wanting to support others. This is the case with Artie. He wants his firecrackers so he isn't picked on. He doesn't like Mimi. He very quickly makes changes to his attitudes with little reflection. The plot is well paced and keeps the reader engaged.

Originality - The exploration of Chinese New Year brings a unique aspect to this story. This book will make a great addition to children's collection because it explores many aspects of family that are universal.

Clarity - Yep does a great job of explaining new concepts within the story. The text is engaging and easy to understand. This is a great chapter book for students who are making a transition from beginning chapter books to longer text.

Interest to Children - Children will be interested in finding out how Artie is able to supply the fireworks and show up his mean cousin Petey. We all have a mean cousin Petey somewhere in our lives and that hook alone will draw children. The exploration of other cultures is entertaining as well.

Acceptance by children - Children would like this story. The plot is easy to follow. The characters are easy to understand. The conflict is something they will all understand.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurence Yep

Laurence Yep is the 2005 recipient of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and "The Star Maker" tells the story of Artie and Uncle Chester, who are both the youngest family members of their generations. While being taunted by his older cousin Petey, Artie brags that he will provide everyone in his family with fireworks in time for the fast-approaching. Chinese New Year. Artie soon realizes that his goal is harder to reach than he thought, and Uncle Chester comes to Artie's aid even though he is in a predicament of his own. Uncle Chester is also painted as being unreliable, which makes the reader worry that he will be unable to keep his promise to help Artie. Artie learns about selflessness in the process, when he learns that Uncle Chester helped him even though he himself was going through rough times. Artie is also jealous that Uncle Chester is paying a lot of attention to Mimi, and worries that he loves her more than him. Artie eventually realizes that he is just being selfish and learns to share Uncle Chester's attention with Mimi. This book nicely incorporates information about Chinatown in San Francisco, Chinese traditions and customs, and also gives a look into Chinese-American life from the viewpoint of a child.

This text could be used in the classroom to discuss Chinese culture, along with Chinese-American culture. The story is told from a child's point of view, with the main problem being that Artie brags and promises that he can do something that he s not entirely sure he can accomplish. I feel that most children have had a similar experience and will be able to relate to Artie's situation! Artie's experience with Uncle Chester's new girlfriend, Mimi, is another aspect of the story that I feel is very relatable to children. Teachers can use these situations in the story to relate to students' real life experiences. Students who identify with Chinese culture can identify with this story and can share how they celebrate the Chinese New Year in their own homes.

I feel that "The Star Maker" is a WOW book because of how well it incorporates culture and history into an entertaining fictional story. The basis of the problems Artie faces in this tale are problems that students can easily relate to their own lives, and therefore can more easily connect to the story even if they don't know about the culture.

[Marcos Martinez]

This book is a simply written short book. It is only 100 pages long with but has some small drama. I did not feel to much for this book because the drama in this book is about children and firecrackers. The book's main character is Artie, a Chinese child who lives in Chinatown, USA. During a family dinner one day he gets tricked by his mean cousin and promises to buy all of the kids in the family firecrackers for the Chinese New Year, which is only around two months away. He recruits the help of his uncle Chester to buy firecrackers for everyone. Uncle Chester is a young single man who bets money and can't keep a job, but he is a honest man and is always smiling and laughing. He takes Artie out to the Golden Gate Park and other places to pick up groceries for a family dinner. Uncle Chester knows just about everyone and Chinatown and finds a puppy that belongs to a woman who lives in the more expensive aide of town. As a reward he is given an expensive watch which he loves. As they continue through town buying what they need, Uncle Chester shows off his watch. Since everyone knows and likes Uncle Chester, Artie is getting oodles of free presents like dessert, toys and comic books. Eventually Uncle Chester gets into some debt before The Chinese New Year which is bad because you must pay your debts before the New Year. So he has to sell his watch to pay his debts and buy fire crackers for Artie. This makes Artie feel horrible because he thinks it is his fault. Eventually Artie stays true to his promise and, with Uncle Chester, have a great Chinese New Year and set off oodles of firecrackers with the family. In the end Uncle Chester and everyone else lives happily every after and gets married to Mimi, a woman who owns a store. I personally don't like that this book has just about no action and the setting does not change practically at all. This book is a okay book that I would give 1.5 out of 10 stars. I would not read this book again.

[Meg Mirza · Rating 2 out of 5]

This middle-grade novella takes us back to San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950's. Eight-year old Artie is the youngest amongst all of his cousins, and unfortunately, prone to frequent bullying by his elder cousins, especially thorn-in-his-side Petey. Goaded into bragging about his prowess with fireworks, Artie tells his extended family that he'll gift them all with fireworks for the Chinese New Year. Seeing that he's taken on an impossible task, Artie's doting, yet ne'er-do-well Uncle Chester decides to step-in and help out. But, will even his help be enough to close the gap and get Artie the firecrackers he's saving up for?

It's a uniquely Chinese-American story, and Yep handles the balancing act between cultures perfectly. There's even a subplot about a possible girlfriend for Uncle Chester. The characters experience several improbably lucky turns, as well as a few setbacks, but everything wraps up very neatly. While some of the racism of those times is implied, it is not overtly part of the story. The slight 112 pages are padded by a lengthy apologist introduction by Yep, explaining that while fireworks are a central part of the story and they were legal in the 1950's, but they certainly aren't (in most states, anyway) considered safe for children to handle nowadays. The story is appended with an explanation of some Chinese customs, including information about the Chinese zodiac. Readers who enjoy The Star Maker will probably also like Being Teddy Roosevelt by Claudia Mills, featuring another plucky, can-do protagonist. I'll put this in the hands of second and third graders who are looking for something a little meatier than Magic Tree House or Junie B. Jones, but aren't quite ready for a lengthier chapter book yet.

[Sarah BT · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the Book: Artie is the youngest and smallest cousin, which means he is always getting picked on. At one family gathering Artie can't take the bullying from his cousin Petey, so he bragged that he would get everyone firecrackers at the Chinese New Year's celebration. Now Artie has to come up with the money, but he knows he can count of his Uncle Chester to help him out. That is until Uncle Chester has a string of bad luck.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: The Star Maker is a short, simple book that would be great for a classroom read alound for young tweens. The setting is very vivid and the descriptions of San Francisco and Chinatown come to life in the story. I really enjoyed the authors notes at the end about traditional Chinese New Year's celebrations and I think this would make a great read for students learning about Chinese New Year.

The story itself is a bit simple and the characters could have been developed more. I liked the relationship between Artie and Uncle Chester and it was nice to see a positive adult in Artie's life who was helping him with his cousins and encouraging him. Since Uncle Chester was the youngest of his generation, he understood Artie and watched out for him.

The book is short-just 100 pages, so it could be read quickly. I think it would also be a great early chapter book for younger readers who are moving up into chapter books. A nice story of tradition and family.

Book Pairings: Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han (both books have strong family stories and I think they would pair nicely for young tweens)

[Katieb (MundieMoms) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When young Artie is picked on by a cousin of his, his mouth gets the better of him and Artie finds he's made a bet that he may not be able to fulfill. Uncle Chester isn't going to allow his nephew to grow up feeling like an outsider in the family like he did, and is determined to help his nephew keep his promise to get fire crackers for his entire family for the Chinese New Year.

Together both Chester and Artie end up teaching each other a lesson. Families aren't perfect, we make mistakes, but no matter, no one can make you feel bad about yourself, unless you let them. I really enjoyed seeing the traditions Artie's family celebrated and how the Chinese New Year and the fire cracker display all tied in with the story. I liked that though Artie and Chester have a huge gap in their ages, they both teach each other something about keeping your word, and being a true friend.

I liked the setting and getting a glimpse of what it's like being apart of the Chinese-American family during the 50's in CA. It really set the tone for the story. The Star Maker is a story about over coming conflict, family dynamics, and true friendships. I feel this is a great book for kids in grades ages 3rd through 6th, as they will be able to relate more with Artie and what he's going through

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

When young Artie is picked on by a cousin of his, his mouth gets the better of him and Artie finds he's made a bet that he may not be able to fulfill. Uncle Chester isn't going to allow his nephew to grow up feeling like an outsider in the family like he did, and is determined to help his nephew keep his promise to get fire crackers for his entire family for the Chinese New Year.

Together both Chester and Artie end up teaching each other a lesson. Families aren't perfect, we make mistakes, but no matter, no one can make you feel bad about yourself, unless you let them. I really enjoyed seeing the traditions Artie's family celebrated and how the Chinese New Year and the fire cracker display all tied in with the story. I liked that though Artie and Chester have a huge gap in their ages, they both teach each other something about keeping your word, and being a true friend.

I liked the setting and getting a glimpse of what it's like being apart of the Chinese-American family during the 50's in CA. It really set the tone for the story. The Star Maker is a story about over coming conflict, family dynamics, and true friendships. I feel this is a great book for kids in grades ages 3rd through 6th, as they will be able to relate more with Artie and what he's going through.

[Childrens Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I'm a resident of San Francisco, I always enjoy Laurence Yep's novels for his inclusion of the familiar locations around the city. This book did not disappoint, with mentions of Chinatown's unique shops and the historical locales of bygone days like Playland at the Beach and Golden Gate Park's petting zoo. The story itself could have been better developed and edited, however. One glaring example of this is in Chapter 7, where there are very similar paragraphs on pages 57 and 61. The straightforward emotional conflicts of the protagonist Artie will appeal to readers just beginning with chapter books, but for those readers who are looking for complexity of characters or a challenge in writing style you may want to direct them elsewhere.

By Michelle K.
Brisbane Public Library

[Arthur Pengerbil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Level: Grades 2-4

When Artie promises his mean cousin that he will give everyone firecrackers on the next Chinese New Year celebration, he immediately regrets it. How will he ever come up with enough money to buy all those firecrackers? Sympathetic to Artie's problem is Uncle Chester - a fun loving everyman who is wildly popular in Chinatown where Artie's family lives. Uncle Chester promises Artie that he will help - but when Uncle Chester's seemingly endless money starts to run out, Artie begins to worry.


Similar books you might like:

The Skirt by Gary Soto

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

Being Teddy Roosevelt by Claudia Mills




For more book reviews from the HPPL Youth Department, click here.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun, short read and perfect to read during Lunar New Year! Laurence Yep gathers from his own childhood experiences of growing up in a Chinese community, and all the festivities that take place before and during the Lunar New Year. I loved how the characters were so close as a big family and it reminded me of my own childhood, when my grandmother would hustle and bustle around the kitchen, getting ready for New Year, and all my aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather around the dining table ready to share a New Year's meal. A great book for the younger ones to learn more about Lunar New Year, and all the traditions of our ancestors.

[Erma Talamante · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about Chinese New Year's, family, and so much more.

Artie is a boy that gets bullied by his cousin, and brags about something he shouldn't. He learns over the course of the story how to best deal with a bully - with help from adults, standing up for himself, and proving the bully wrong.

Artie learns also about why it is important to keep your word, and the importance of family from his Uncle Chester, and the shopkeeper, Mimi.

Written from a child's perspective, the lessons are simple and honest, without the condescending fluff of most moralistic children's stories. Much better than the simple style suggests.

[Mason · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is an ok book. But i definently do not think it will win the newberry award. I know every book has one boring part, but this one had too many. It was about a boy and he goes to a family dinner and he has this annoying cousin and one day his cousin dares him to bring firecrackers for all of china town. So he goes out with his granfather to go get some groceries and other stuff for his grandmother. Well grandpa knows lots of people and in each store he gets a little something for free. WILL HE BE ABLE TO GIVE EVERYONE IN CHINATOWN FIRECRACKERS?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about Chinese New Year and Chinatown and Chinese customs, but even more, it is about families, and about confidence, and about finding your place. Instead of being a story that focuses only on the Chinese-American experience, this is a story that focuses on the human experience, with a Chinese-American backdrop. It features a likable protagonist, relatable issues and frustrations, and a fairly short length, all of which should appeal to the target audience (grades 3-5, but possibly 2-6).

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

1953 Chinatown San Francisco. Eight year old Artie is the youngest in his family. Everyone always picks on him especially his cousin Petey. When Petey calls him a mouch, Artie boasts that he'll buy everyone firecrackers for Chinese New Year. He has no idea how he'll afford that many firecrackers, but his favorite uncle, Uncle Chester, promises to help Artie find a way..

I loved the characters in this story especially Uncle Chester and Artie. The story also provided a very vivid picture of how Chinese New Year in 1950s Chinatown was celebrated.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

1953 Chinatown San Francisco. Eight year old Artie is the youngest in his family. Everyone always picks on him especially his cousin Petey. When Petey calls him a mouch, Artie boasts that he'll buy everyone firecrackers for Chinese New Year. He has no idea how he'll afford that many firecrackers, but his favorite uncle, Uncle Chester, promises to help Artie find a way..

I loved the characters in this story especially Uncle Chester and Artie. The story also provided a very vivid picture of how Chinese New Year in 1950s Chinatown was celebrated.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Laurence Yep's typical novels, and I am meaning this in a very positive way. I am a big fan of his novels, always enjoying the glimpses it allows me into China and Chinese Americans' past, their culture and traditions. I have to admit, even though i have read many of his books, that only through this novel, I realized that Yep's family originates from Southern China. A quick read, this is yet another story that celebrates families and their love for and support of each other. Very beautiful.

[Allison Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowledge: List the main characters in the story.
Comprehension: Describe a time when Petey put Artie down and what he bragged about.
Application: Illustrate the Lunar New Year from Artie's perspective.
Analysis: Identify a time in your life when you had to come up with enough money to buy firecrackers.
Synthesis: Tell a classmate about the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
Evaluation: Choose a character from the book who is most like you and describe 3 characteristics that are similar to that specific character.

[Richelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is about a large Chinese-American family living in San Francisco in the 1950's. The main character is Artie, the youngest of the cousins. He has a special bond with his Uncle Chester, who is the youngest of the aunts and uncles. The book does a good job of explaining what it is like to grow up with a big, close-knit extended family as well as telling about different Chinese customs, especially Chinese New Year celebration.

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is based on Laurence Yep's boyhood memories of Chinatown and celebrating the Chinese New Year. It takes place durng the early 1950's with a family that gathers often for dinner and celebrations. Artie has a cousin that bullies him relentlessly. His Uncle Chester feels a connection to Artie because he, too, was bullied. They spend time together. Uncle Chester has a hard time keeping a job and blows money on horse racing. Together, they learn some important life lessons.

[Caitlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved this book. This is an adventure for a boy from Chinatown. The boys name is Artie. He promises his very rude and mean cousin Petey that he would buy and give his whole family fireworks. He is depending on his Uncle Chester to give or buy him fireworks. Uncle Chester has a lot of problems himself. Artie is so worried about his fireworks because if he doesn't get the fireworks by the first day of Chinese New Year,he will be made fun of by Petey to his entire school and family.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Star Maker is about a boy who is the youngest in his family. He tries to seem older by making a bet with his mean cousin- promising fireworks for the whole (HUGE) entire family, by Chinese New Year. His favorite uncle overhears his nephew and knows he's getting way ahead of himself. So he decides to help him out by help buying the fireworks. But the boy soon learns that money is tight and you can't always keep a promise. But in the end the boy gets a BIG suprise he has beeen waiting for.

[Handan]

While not as complex as most of my favorites growing up (L'Engle's Time quartet, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings), this is a simple but well-told (and should be more shared) story of growing up. The repeated emphasis on the protagonist's focus on other's happiness, sometimes rather than his own, and recognition of how we influence each other, is a wonderful ideal to share with others, regardless of age.

[Sam Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good family dynamics for the most part, but there was very little conflict - I felt pretty certain that Uncle Chester was going to help Artie, even when he was down on his luck. I also was unimpressed with how easily and perfectly everything ended. Having said that, the writing was at times pretty wonderful. If nothing else, I'd like to read some more Laurence Yep.