Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Vivid, unique fantasy highlights friendship, family.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
STAR DAUGHTER tells the story of Sheetal, whose mother is a star who descended from the sky, fell in love, and married a human man. Sheetal has always had to hide what she truly is for her own safety, but as her 17th birthday draws near, she begins to transform and to experience star powers she never knew she had. She doesn't know how to control her powers, though, and accidentally puts her father in the hospital, barely clinging to life. She decides to go up into the sky to meet her star family at last, knowing that they can give her their blood, which has the power to heal her father. She strikes a bargain with her star grandmother to perform in a contest that will determine the next house to rule over all the stars. If Sheetal wins the contest, her grandmother will give her the blood her father needs to recover. It quickly becomes clear, though, that the stars -- even her mother -- hide things and only tell Sheetal half the story. And when she learns that a victory might mean she can never go back to earth, Sheetal will need all the help she can get from friends and family to get the cure to her father.
Is It Any Good?
Debut author Shveta Thakrar has created an intriguing fantasy that uniquely blends Hindu mythology and astronomy with a relatable teen protagonist on the cusp of adulthood. Thakrar's talent for descriptions evokes a vivid, sometimes dazzling array of sights and sounds in Star Daughter that draw the reader into a richly conceived and wildly imaginative world. Some of the writing is almost poetic, and the rest of the time it's solid but not exceptional. There's a large cast of colorful, relatable, and fully realized characters in both the real and fantasy worlds.
The pace of the story slows a bit here and there, but the plot is solid. A few twists are easy to see coming, but most of it will keep readers guessing until the very end. Main character Sheetal can be a bit frustrating at times, but she's especially admirable for her loyalty, empathy, and call for compassion. Teens will relate to her struggle into adulthood and her need to find a way to be her best, truest self without having to hide anything from anyone.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive messages and representations in Star Daughter. Why is it important to have access to books and other media about a variety of cultures and people?
Is Sheetal a positive role model? What did you like or not like about her? What are her character strengths and weaknesses?
How much violence is OK in books? Does it matter if it's fantasy violence or not? What about in other media like videos, games, and movies?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : August 11, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 448
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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