Barry can punch anyone hard enough to make them see a whole sky full of stars, though that's not really his style. Barry and Alby have been friends...
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reviews
Dec 08, 2009
Allie
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 06, 2009
Emily
rated it: 
Fiction/Friendship/Boxing
The Whole Sky Full of Stars is about two friends, Alby and Barry. Barry has recently lost his father to cancer and is still dealing with the loss. Alby is gambler and smooth talker who continually finds his way into trouble. Alby convinces Barry, who is a trained boxer, to fight in a competition that will yield money for Barry's mother and for Alby's gambling debt. The story takes place over a few days and talks about standing up for what you believe in and t More...
The Whole Sky Full of Stars is about two friends, Alby and Barry. Barry has recently lost his father to cancer and is still dealing with the loss. Alby is gambler and smooth talker who continually finds his way into trouble. Alby convinces Barry, who is a trained boxer, to fight in a competition that will yield money for Barry's mother and for Alby's gambling debt. The story takes place over a few days and talks about standing up for what you believe in and t More...
Dec 08, 2011
Sarah
rated it: 
So this book is a little frustrating, but it does have a lot of action and entertainment value. We are reading about teen friendship and things that can often complicate it. Barry's dad dies and leaves their family with very little but a car. Barry has been friends with Alby for a really long time. Alby, whose family is better off, uses Barry to make up for gambling with a thug from school. Without telling Barry the truth, Alby convinces Barry that he should participate in some kind of fighting
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Dec 08, 2009
Elyse
rated it:
Genre: Drama/Boxing/Betrayal/Gambling
I was pleasantly surprised by what I found in this book. The Whole Sky Full of stars tells of best friends Alby and Barry. Barry's father recently died, so Ably convinces Barry to fight in a boxing match for money. Alby has ulterior motives of his own and does not tell Barry. The cost of the match and the money may be more than both Alby and Barry realize. I thought Saldana told a very compelling story in a short number of pages. The characters we More...
I was pleasantly surprised by what I found in this book. The Whole Sky Full of stars tells of best friends Alby and Barry. Barry's father recently died, so Ably convinces Barry to fight in a boxing match for money. Alby has ulterior motives of his own and does not tell Barry. The cost of the match and the money may be more than both Alby and Barry realize. I thought Saldana told a very compelling story in a short number of pages. The characters we More...
Dec 09, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
Fiction/Boxing/Gambling/Friendship
Barry and Alby have been best friends since grade school and have seen each other through everything. Their friendship is challenged when Alby gets himself into some gambling trouble. He feeds off of Barry's concern for his family's well being and convinces him to enter a boxing match with a cash prize. Barry is more than capable of winning because he trained diligently with his father growing up before his father died, but when he discovers th More...
Barry and Alby have been best friends since grade school and have seen each other through everything. Their friendship is challenged when Alby gets himself into some gambling trouble. He feeds off of Barry's concern for his family's well being and convinces him to enter a boxing match with a cash prize. Barry is more than capable of winning because he trained diligently with his father growing up before his father died, but when he discovers th More...
Nov 08, 2009
Daniel
rated it:
Alby and and Barry have been friends since grade school, but when Barry's father dies, Alby gets himself into gambling debts, and money runs tight for both families, that friendship will be tested to its limits. In a move that blurs the line between friendship and self-interested manipulation, Alby convinces Barry to use his boxing talents in a fighting competition with a cash prize. But the details are largely uncertain and Alby still hasn't learned to control his passions.
Though More...
Though More...
Dec 10, 2009
Margo
rated it:
Genre: Teen Gambling/Friendship/Boxing/Fiction (Rene Saldana Requirement)
Alby and Bary have been best friends ever since Alby stood up for Bary in grade school when he was new in town. When Alby runs up a debt from gambling, the only solution is to ask Bary to compete in an amateur boxing tournament with a prize. Bary is convinced that his share of the prize money will help his impoverished family. When Alby finds out the prize money is one hundred dollars, a t-shirt, and a trophy More...
Alby and Bary have been best friends ever since Alby stood up for Bary in grade school when he was new in town. When Alby runs up a debt from gambling, the only solution is to ask Bary to compete in an amateur boxing tournament with a prize. Bary is convinced that his share of the prize money will help his impoverished family. When Alby finds out the prize money is one hundred dollars, a t-shirt, and a trophy More...
Nov 28, 2009
Terry
rated it:
This book is about two teen boys, one who is in over his head due to gambling losses and the other whose family is suffering financially since his father died. The gambling teen comes up with a plan: they are going to solve both of their financial problems by entering the other teen (who just happens to have a wicked punch) in a boxing competition. Of course, there are the necessary secrets and betrayal that give the story some "umph." Unfortunately, the writing isn't as smooth as i
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Oct 09, 2009
Charlotte
rated it:
friendship/sports/coming-of-age
Barry and Alby have been best friends since the first grade, and when Alby gets himself into a bit of trouble, he uses Barry's natural boxing talent to advantage; but in the process of doing so, Alby hurts their friendship and finds himself in a different, but more damaging kind of trouble. I thought this book was pretty good, especially for how short it was. You see the story from both Alby's and Barry's points of view, and in such a short book, the ch More...
Barry and Alby have been best friends since the first grade, and when Alby gets himself into a bit of trouble, he uses Barry's natural boxing talent to advantage; but in the process of doing so, Alby hurts their friendship and finds himself in a different, but more damaging kind of trouble. I thought this book was pretty good, especially for how short it was. You see the story from both Alby's and Barry's points of view, and in such a short book, the ch More...
Jan 25, 2010
Wylie
rated it:
This book is an okay read. It's about two teenagers who struggle to to maintain their friendship. Barry, a heavily-built young man, has financial problems and tries not to rely on anyone but himself. Strangely enough Alby, Barry's best friend, comes from an upper-class family and is quite stubborn. Because of this trait, Alby finds himself in debt to the baddest kid from school. He didn't want a lecture, so he skipped out on his dad. Instead he enters Barry in a boxing tournament and wins prize
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Dec 10, 2009
Abigail
rated it:
The companionship of Alby and Barry is touching as they grow to depend on each other and no one else. After the death of Barry's pop he is left with nothing except his dad's car. We watch as Alby's personality gets Barry and himself into trouble when he gets tied up with a card shark. They need money and fast. It seems that Alby's scheming can end up hurting his friend more deeply than he had anticipated. I really enjoyed this novel because i think companionship between boys is so wonderful.
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Dec 09, 2009
Brittany
rated it:
Genre: Coming of Age / Friendship
When best friends Alby and Barry team up to relieve Alby's debts they learn the true limits of their friendship. Alby convinces Barry to box for money for his destitute family and Alby tries to bet on him to repay earlier gambling debts. As Alby forces Barry into the fight, their friendship strains and Barry learns of Alby's lying ways. It's a simple story of trust and friendship and growing up that is a fine read, but nothing truly spectacular. The wri More...
When best friends Alby and Barry team up to relieve Alby's debts they learn the true limits of their friendship. Alby convinces Barry to box for money for his destitute family and Alby tries to bet on him to repay earlier gambling debts. As Alby forces Barry into the fight, their friendship strains and Barry learns of Alby's lying ways. It's a simple story of trust and friendship and growing up that is a fine read, but nothing truly spectacular. The wri More...
Mar 19, 2010
Peter
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 13, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
THE WHOLE SKY FULL OF STARS is a story about the strong bonds of friendship. Through the experience of the main characters readers will learn that true friendship can survive.
Barry and Alby have been friends against all odds. Barry's father's recent death from cancer has put a huge financial strain on life for him and his mother. They never had much before and now that is stretched even thinner. A More...
THE WHOLE SKY FULL OF STARS is a story about the strong bonds of friendship. Through the experience of the main characters readers will learn that true friendship can survive.
Barry and Alby have been friends against all odds. Barry's father's recent death from cancer has put a huge financial strain on life for him and his mother. They never had much before and now that is stretched even thinner. A More...
Sep 25, 2007
Christina
rated it:
Excellently written, just not my type of book. Two young men, best friends since childhood, decide to enter a boxing competition. They both need the prize money--the boxer's going to use it to help out his mother, who works two jobs to support them since her husband died. His friend, however, has a wealthy father, but he refuses to ask him for money to bail him out of a bad gambling debt. Most of the book is the nonboxing friend trying to talk his pal into entering the fight; the rest of it is t
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Dec 09, 2009
Rebecca
rated it:
Genres/Categories: coming of age story, friendship, boxing, gambling
Sometimes your best friend can be the person that hurts you the most and betrays your trust. That's the stuggle Barry has with his best friend Alby. Barry has lost his father recently and is now struggling to find a way to help his mom support the two of them, while Alby has everything, and yet Alby only suggests Barry enter a boxing tournament so that Alby can pay off his debt to another person. Saldana tells a s More...
Sometimes your best friend can be the person that hurts you the most and betrays your trust. That's the stuggle Barry has with his best friend Alby. Barry has lost his father recently and is now struggling to find a way to help his mom support the two of them, while Alby has everything, and yet Alby only suggests Barry enter a boxing tournament so that Alby can pay off his debt to another person. Saldana tells a s More...
Dec 10, 2009
Gary
rated it:
Story of two best friends who drive in a classic car to hatch a hair-brained scheme to make money after the death of Bobby's father. Barry is a great boxer, and Alby has gambling debts so they embark on a big fight that can solve the problems, whether Barry knows it or not. A tale of friendship and growing up and focusing on trust. The action is well-written for a teen novel and the book keeps a fast pace. Obviously meant for teenage boys, the book can also be ideal for reluctant readers.
Mar 12, 2010
Maggie
rated it:
This book is multicultural only for the fact that the main characters are Hispanic and the dad occasionally says things "in Spanish" (written in English but using the words 'He said in Spanish, "..."'). This book focused much more on friendship, doing what's right, and being a good person. It was a very short book, but had some tough issues (Father dying, illegal gambling, teenage loansharks). However, I felt the end was a bit contrived and too tidy, but I'm not sure a tee
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Dec 09, 2009
Katie
rated it: 
Barry and his mother are struggling financially in suburban Texas, so Alby (Barry's friend who is deep in debt) doesn't have a hard time convincing talented boxer, Barry, to enter a sketchy competition. Although winning (and earning only a small amount of money), Alby gains a greater sum by betting. Barry refuses any of the money, and turns back to his previous life focused on supporting his mother. Alby's father arranges a process for Alby to redeem himself. This novel seemed to have so much po
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Dec 06, 2009
Jessica
rated it:
This is the story of friendship between two teenage boys who are each dealing with different personal issues and have to learn how to adjust their friendship to help one another. One is dealing with his father's death and poverty, while the other feels distant from his parents and is struggling with some serious gambling debts he got himself into. It tells a story about loyalty and forgiveness. It was a quick read, and although I didn't find anything spectacular in the novel, I would recommend i
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Mar 12, 2010
Carolyn
rated it:
Story of a young Hispanic boy whose father has passed away and whose "friend" gets him involved in a boxing tournament to earn some prize money to help his widowed mother. The friend has some selfish motives and uses the boy to his own advantage.
Although the book is essentially a multicultural novel, it doesn't really feel that way which is why it can be universally applicable for all ethnic groups. Young boys may find the book interesting also.
Although the book is essentially a multicultural novel, it doesn't really feel that way which is why it can be universally applicable for all ethnic groups. Young boys may find the book interesting also.
May 26, 2010
David
rated it: 
This was a great book that explored the friendship of two friends, Barry and Albie. Barry does everything he can to help his mother earn money after his father dies. Although Albie appears to be helpful and has real desires to, he also uses Barry to pay off a debt he formerly made. With Albie using Barry like this, a real test of friendship encounters.
Dec 10, 2009
Lissa
rated it:
Barry and Alby have been friends for virtually as long as they can remember. Now in high school, Barry’s father is dead and Alby is slipping into dangerous habits. Wanting to get out of debts, Alby convinces Barry to participate in a boxing match. Though he does not tell Barry his motives, Alby continuously pushes Barry. Though he becomes suspicious, Barry still fights but at the end of the night, the pair hit a rough patch that they may never heal from. This is an easy read with a very moral c
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Dec 10, 2009
Kara
rated it:
Latin/coming of age/violence
In many ways I liked this book, but in others I was so frustrated with it. It is about two friends who have been friends for a very long time. Barry's father just recently died of cancer, and barry is still dealing with his death, while Alby has a gambling problem. Alby convinces Barry to fight in this match for money because they both need it. I really liked how Saldana showed what it is like to have a gambling problem. It was so frustrating for me t More...
In many ways I liked this book, but in others I was so frustrated with it. It is about two friends who have been friends for a very long time. Barry's father just recently died of cancer, and barry is still dealing with his death, while Alby has a gambling problem. Alby convinces Barry to fight in this match for money because they both need it. I really liked how Saldana showed what it is like to have a gambling problem. It was so frustrating for me t More...
Feb 02, 2010
Lanell
rated it:
Not a favorite of mine - took me way to long to get through. I found the characters lacking the same authenticity and teenage voice found in Paul Volponi and Sharon Draper's works dealing with a similar subject matter. Too much "crying" and boxing for my taste.
Oct 06, 2011
Amy
rated it:
This book wasn't too much more than a simple, linear plot with highly moralistic undertones. It was a pleasant read, but I can't really say much more than that. Yes, it explores the ideas of friendship and integrity, but I found it a bit flat.
Sep 30, 2010
Kristin
rated it:
This is a fantastic book that both boys and girls will enjoy. It pulled at my heart strings and reminded me of the power of family and friendships.
Feb 11, 2010
Trevor
rated it:
Saldaña, Jr. has written a story about two guys who are good, genuine, young men navigating the ethics of friendship in this quick and satisfying read. Even if readers may feel like they have the ending all figured out, they won’t have all of it sewn up. Saldana conveys the deep emotional experiences of Alby’s and Barry’s working through the hurt of misused friendship especially well. It definitely took me by surprise and I felt the eyes swelling as the book headed toward its close. Add this t
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Oct 20, 2011
Austin
rated it:
This was our first lunch time book club book selection. The students had mixed feelings about this short novel.
Dec 20, 2008
Jess
rated it:
Very short read, totally different book, gives an interesting point of view.
