In Sight of Stars
By Mary Cosola,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sweet story of boy's breakdown recovery takes time to gel.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Addresses mental health issues
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Not appropriate for Young Adults
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What's the Story?
At the beginning of IN SIGHT OF STARS, Klee Alden has hit bottom after losing his father to suicide and being forced to move from his beloved Manhattan to a quiet suburb. He misses the close bond with his dad and their shared love of fine art. As the story unfolds between flashbacks and his present situation in a mental hospital, Klee begins to heal and piece together his memories of his father, information about his parents' relationship, and his issues with his girlfriend. He unearths some secrets and uncomfortable truths along the way and learns some big lessons about how to move on through the worst that life can hand you.
Is It Any Good?
This story of a teen boy grappling with deep emotional issues somehow ends up feeling flat. Klee, the central character of In Sight of Stars, is sympathetic, but he's not interesting or engaging enough as a narrator to sustain the reader's interest. Author Gae Polisner alternates the narrative between flashbacks and Klee's current stay at a mental hospital. It is an interesting approach, as the reader goes on a journey with Klee as he uncovers tougher and tougher truths about his life and family situation. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the book, we can't tell when he's hallucinating or when he's thinking things vs. saying them aloud. Polisner was likely intentionally highlighting Klee's state of mind, but it makes for confusing reading and it takes too long for the story to gel and hit its stride.
In Sight of Stars shines most when Klee does the hard work in therapy of seeing his parents for who they are. He learns the important lesson that we never really know what's going on with other people and that it's dangerous to project or speculate on the motivations and actions of others. His growth over the course of his two weeks in the mental hospital is uplifting and an enjoyable aspect of the book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why many young adult novels and movies deal with mental or physical illness, like In Sight of Stars does. What others have you read or seen and liked? What's so compelling about these topics?
Lots of people deal with different types of mental illness, and many forms of mental illness are diagnosed during the teen years. If you were concerned about yourself or someone you know, would you know where to ask for help?
Have you ever made assumptions about the actions or motivations of people in your life? How often are you surprised by the real story about what they did?
Book Details
- Author: Gae Polisner
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Arts and Dance, High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Wednesday Books
- Publication date: March 13, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 2, 2022
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Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Books That Feature Characters Living with Mental Illness
Movies That Feature Characters Living with Mental Illness
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