Where the Forest Meets the Stars

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Until, one day, Ursa, shows up at Joanna’s rental. Ursa is a young girl, a bit quirky, who doesn’t seem to have a home. She tells Joanna she’s been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. Joanna is too practical to buy this story and insists that the girl go home…Until the girl finally convinces here there is no home. Joanna thinks eventually she’ll find out more so she can help Ursa… Where the Forest Meets the Stars is an enchanting novel about a lost girl and the lives she touches with her indomitable spirit. Readers will be taken by Glendy Vanderah’s rich and relatable characters, and the way in which she weaves their stories together.” —Janis Thomas, bestselling author of What Remains True and All That’s Left of Me I can see why this is classified as science fiction, and why others do not. It depends on which story version you believe. The classification can be an indicator of which is true. At first, I thought this could be an interesting read, but I kept putting it off because I wasn’t feeling a contemporary fiction novel. This one turned out to be pretty good. I wasn’t a huge fan of all the profanity and honestly, the author could have changed how Gabriel found out about his mom’s affair, even though it didn’t go into details. Each of the main characters has been hurt in their lives but when they come together they build each other up and become even stronger than they were alone. Where the Forest Meets the Stars Parent Guide Where The Forest Meets The Stars” was a beautiful and gratifying reading experience that will be hard to beat with any book that follows.

Reading Level: Adult Touchy Topics in Where the Forest Meets the Stars Photo by Ryan Hutton on Unsplash I'll admit as I was reading this, I vacillated between wanting to get to Ursa's "real story" and hoping that she was perhaps telling the truth, despite the fact that such a resolution might require me to suspend my disbelief. But at its core, Where the Forest Meets the Stars is a story about friendship, love, bravery, and how the family we choose is often more important to us than the family we belong to, so I decided it didn't matter how Vanderah wrapped up her story. My main gripe with the book is that it seemed to me to be deliberately mislabeled. Dubbed a "sci-fi" story, and knowing that one of the characters was literally from another planet, I expected more of a "K-Pax" sort of alien. What I got was a really whiney little girl who wasn't all that likable. And frankly, I wouldn't have believed her tale of being an alien either if I'd been one of the adults in the story. Yes, the overuse of the words, "___" said was an issue for me too. It would pull me out of the story way too often. I eventually automatically started replacing it with other ways it could have been written, mentally. Again taking me out of the flow. Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah is a wonderfully heartwarming tale about the challenges that life throws our way, but how the power of love can heal all.

Reviews

This book was truly unique, a breath of fresh air! I’m afraid my words cannot do it justice. This is an absolute must read, the kind of book that will always have a piece of your heart.

We know that something will happen to reveal Ursa’s story but it is much more tragic and terrifying than could be imagined! Depression can take many forms from mild to severe, and can be caused by hereditary, environmental, or both factors. Discuss how Gabe’s history with his mother, father, sister, and George could have contributed to his social anxiety and breakdown in college. Do you think Jo’s understanding of Gabe’s depression and Gabe’s own view of how severe it was were the same? In Glendy Vanderah’s gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again. I can usually easily figure things out about a story, but this was one that truly kept me switching what I believed was going on, and I could easily go with either one after finishing the story. The classification is what will satisfy my view on which. Or not, if I choose. lol There are books you read that you enjoy, there are books that you love, and then there are the books you hold in your heart. Having just finished Glendy Vanderah's stunningly beautiful debut novel, Where the Forest Meets the Stars, I know it will be one to cherish. What a special book this was.Cleverly plotted and building to an intense crescendo in the final chapters, Where the Forest Meets the Stars is a beautiful and unforgettable debut.” —Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author

But there is something rote about this book. The potential for emotion is there, but the carry-through is not. Turns of the plot are simplistic, such as when the male lead, who allegedly suffers from depression and agoraphobia, recovers after a few heart-to-hearts. Dialogue is flat, adding to the cardboard feel of the characters.How did your view of Ursa change as you read the story? Discuss why the author chose to leave the reader questioning who Ursa is at the end of the story. Did you agree with Jo when she said the purpose of Ursa’s five miracles was to give her time to find a new home?