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The Language of Stars
Sarah is forced to take a summer poetry class as penance for trashing the home of a famous poet in this fresh novel about finding your own voice.
Sarah’s had her happy ending: she’s at the party of the year with the most popular boy in school. But when that boy turns out to be a troublemaker who decided to throw a party at a cottage museum dedicated to renowned poet, Rufus Baylor, everything changes. By the end of the party, the whole cottage is trashed—curtains up in flames, walls damaged, mementos smashed—and when the partygoers are caught, they’re all sentenced to take a summer class studying Rufus Baylor’s poetry…with Baylor as their teacher.
For Sarah, Baylor is a revelation. Unlike her mother, who is obsessed with keeping up appearances, and her estranged father, for whom she can’t do anything right, Rufus Baylor listens to what she has to say, and appreciates her ear for language. Through his classes, Sarah starts to see her relationships and the world in a new light—and finds that maybe her happy ending is really only part of a much more interesting beginning.
The Language of Stars is a gorgeous celebration of poetry, language, and love from celebrated author Louise Hawes.
Sarah’s had her happy ending: she’s at the party of the year with the most popular boy in school. But when that boy turns out to be a troublemaker who decided to throw a party at a cottage museum dedicated to renowned poet, Rufus Baylor, everything changes. By the end of the party, the whole cottage is trashed—curtains up in flames, walls damaged, mementos smashed—and when the partygoers are caught, they’re all sentenced to take a summer class studying Rufus Baylor’s poetry…with Baylor as their teacher.
For Sarah, Baylor is a revelation. Unlike her mother, who is obsessed with keeping up appearances, and her estranged father, for whom she can’t do anything right, Rufus Baylor listens to what she has to say, and appreciates her ear for language. Through his classes, Sarah starts to see her relationships and the world in a new light—and finds that maybe her happy ending is really only part of a much more interesting beginning.
The Language of Stars is a gorgeous celebration of poetry, language, and love from celebrated author Louise Hawes.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2016
27 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
Louise Hawes
17 books58 followersI live in North Carolina, where time moves more slowly than it did in New York. That means my day can include writing, working with new writers, yoga, and hanging OUT with my sweet teacher, Mother Nature.
I have two grown children, both teachers. They are, deliciously and, to me always surprisingly, among my two best friends on the planet.
I'm a teacher as well as an author, serving proudly on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program, and at Mainely Writing, an intensive week-long writing retreat on the coast of you know which beautiful New England state.
What's new? A collaborative graphic novel, A FLIGHT OF ANGELS, comes out from Vertigo/DC Comics in November!
I have two grown children, both teachers. They are, deliciously and, to me always surprisingly, among my two best friends on the planet.
I'm a teacher as well as an author, serving proudly on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program, and at Mainely Writing, an intensive week-long writing retreat on the coast of you know which beautiful New England state.
What's new? A collaborative graphic novel, A FLIGHT OF ANGELS, comes out from Vertigo/DC Comics in November!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 1, 2016
"I guess the key to writing big
is feeling big.
You have to want
and feel and taste
more than you can ever
get down on paper.
That forces you to pay attention,
take notes.
And choose."
It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the book.
But when words
start to sound
like lyrics...
Smile.
Take it in.
is feeling big.
You have to want
and feel and taste
more than you can ever
get down on paper.
That forces you to pay attention,
take notes.
And choose."
It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the book.
But when words
start to sound
like lyrics...
Smile.
Take it in.
January 30, 2018
2/5 Stars
Unfortunately, there were just so many things that I disagreed with in this book.
The premise actually isn't too bad. Poetry plays a big role in the book and I thought it would be a coming of age story. You know, discovering yourself, how to stay true to yourself, that kind of thing. That just wasn't what I got in this book.
My biggest issue was the romance. The romantic lead's name is Fry and he was just so sexist. And not only that but even the main character would say things that were sexist. There were times when I really wanted these things to be challenged but they never were and it was so aggravating. For example, at one point in the story, the main character, Sarah, says that she wishes that she could be like a princess in the olden days because all they had to do was clutch their skirts. She didn't like that Fry didn't want her to be a damsel in distress. Another instance is when Fry compares girls to cars. Girls are human beings, cars are objects, there's a difference and the two should not be compared. However, this particular scene is not challenged.
The book in general was also slow moving. I did read it in a day (for the biannual bibliothon) however it definitely felt like it took a while to get through. I also found that the story was kind of predictable and did guess what was going to happen at the end.
Overall this book wasn't my favorite. I really wished I could've loved it however the sexism was extremely off putting.
Unfortunately, there were just so many things that I disagreed with in this book.
The premise actually isn't too bad. Poetry plays a big role in the book and I thought it would be a coming of age story. You know, discovering yourself, how to stay true to yourself, that kind of thing. That just wasn't what I got in this book.
My biggest issue was the romance. The romantic lead's name is Fry and he was just so sexist. And not only that but even the main character would say things that were sexist. There were times when I really wanted these things to be challenged but they never were and it was so aggravating. For example, at one point in the story, the main character, Sarah, says that she wishes that she could be like a princess in the olden days because all they had to do was clutch their skirts. She didn't like that Fry didn't want her to be a damsel in distress. Another instance is when Fry compares girls to cars. Girls are human beings, cars are objects, there's a difference and the two should not be compared. However, this particular scene is not challenged.
The book in general was also slow moving. I did read it in a day (for the biannual bibliothon) however it definitely felt like it took a while to get through. I also found that the story was kind of predictable and did guess what was going to happen at the end.
Overall this book wasn't my favorite. I really wished I could've loved it however the sexism was extremely off putting.
March 9, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
March 30, 2018
In 2008 some teenagers broke into what had been Robert Frost's former home and trashed it. Their sentence included taking a course in Frost's poetry. Hawes used this story as an inspiration for this novel. Instead of a dead poet she used a local author who was still alive and who decided to teach a poetry course to the vandals.
Read
December 5, 2016DNF...wanted to love this. Poetry! YES!....but I picked it up and put it down too many times, and I don't know if I'll pick it up again. If I had to read the word popularity again, I'd scream.
April 2, 2022
Probably a 3.5. It started out a little slow but grew in the telling. Sarah was a good, fickle, teen protagonist. Rufus Baylor was a great wish fulfillment grandpa and poetry mentor. H snuck up on us as we read to be a great character. It feels like the author sensed that too, as H became more prevalent throughout the course of the narrative, even as Fry shrank from a never-very-developed character to almost absent (narratively appropriately) entirely in the last third or so. A good conversation or term paper could probably be written about whether the author purposely built Fry as a paper-thin character to reflect Sarah's feelings toward him or he was simply poorly drawn and an unfortunate miss in the book. The rest of the book managed fine without him, so that's something.
June 20, 2021
ugh it was so long and boring
October 28, 2017
The Language of Stars, by Laurie Hawes is a coming of age tale about Sarah, a teen who loves to act. The book focuses on Sarah, her boyfriend, and his friend, as they deal with the aftermath and consequences of a party they throw at a famous poet’s family home. The teens find themselves stuck taking a poetry class with none other than Rufus Baylor, the poet whose house they destroyed. Sarah ends up falling in love with poetry, making surprising, lifelong friendships, and finding truths about herself.
I really enjoyed this read, with very few critiques. I found myself connecting easily with Sarah, as she is a very realistic character. Laurie Hawes uses excerpts of poems she wrote and weaves them throughout the book, which ties the story together. Hawes writes with a clear, realistic, poetic voice, which I liked.
The only criticism I had of this book was the ending. I felt like every loose end got tied up, and there was no room for the reader’s interpretation or thought. The story should have ended with room for speculation.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves realistic fiction, poetry, and humor. This book is not a very difficult read, so I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a major challenge.
August 27, 2016
When a group of teenagers throw a wild and destructive party in what was the home of a famous poet, the judge orders the teens, including Sarah Wheeler, to repair the house and take a poetry class--taught by the poet, himself.
The Language of Stars beautifully celebrates creativity in youth and age, combining a story of redemption with the transformative power of poetry. While I'm not part of the novel's YA readership, I still found Sarah's journey compelling and poignant. Her sometimes foolish choices and her longings, disappointments and hopes brought back my memories of being Sarah's age and being inspired by a very special teacher who expanded my consciousness with the study and writing of poetry. Like Sarah, I learned that meaningful work and creative expression are a kind of salvation.
Louise Hawes intersperses her polished prose story with poems written by the various characters--Sarah, the other students, and their master teacher--capturing each character's voice and experience so clearly in that individual character's verse that I sometimes forgot that one skillful writer created them all. The Language of Stars stirs and heightens the senses--a worthy accomplishment!
The Language of Stars beautifully celebrates creativity in youth and age, combining a story of redemption with the transformative power of poetry. While I'm not part of the novel's YA readership, I still found Sarah's journey compelling and poignant. Her sometimes foolish choices and her longings, disappointments and hopes brought back my memories of being Sarah's age and being inspired by a very special teacher who expanded my consciousness with the study and writing of poetry. Like Sarah, I learned that meaningful work and creative expression are a kind of salvation.
Louise Hawes intersperses her polished prose story with poems written by the various characters--Sarah, the other students, and their master teacher--capturing each character's voice and experience so clearly in that individual character's verse that I sometimes forgot that one skillful writer created them all. The Language of Stars stirs and heightens the senses--a worthy accomplishment!
August 29, 2016
2 stars for the cover
1 star for the plot
1 star for the brilliant poem at the ending
1 star for the plot
1 star for the brilliant poem at the ending
Read
September 18, 2016Sweet like sugar & equally as bad for you
September 27, 2020
❝𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉,❞ 𝑹𝒖𝒇𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆. ❝𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕.❞
The Language of Stars tells about a wonderful story about how a prominent poet, old as he is, changed the lives of people residing at Whale Point.
• • • • •
I totally love the plot of this novel from how a mini-party of bunch of teenagers affected their lives and the lives of the people around them. It showed how a poet touched the lives of the individuals at Whale Point.
When Rufus Baylor, the poet, found out that his house was set on fire by bunch of minors, he decided to teach them poetries instead of other consequences and from then on, the dull lives of these people became meaningful and colorful.
• • • • •
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
| Sarah |
I started to hate her character when she dumped her friends— the Untouchables — because of her boyfriend! However, Sarah made me admire her at the end for finally standing her ground and speaking what she really likes and wants to become. Moreover, her life's turning point after the poetry classes surprised me that instead of wanting to become a poet, she decided to be part of a theater. I thought she would be the former and I did not see the other one coming which makes me love it more.
| Rufus |
Oh, man! Rufus Baylor is the man! I love poetries even before I read this but this man made me fall in love with it more!
❝𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒎 𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.❞
I couldn't stop admiring how he shines hope and showers light to an individual's life. He was able to change the lives of people, he fixed the broken, he led the lost and he inspired the unmotivated.
| Shepherd |
Shepherd's character development is stunning from a man who keeps on screaming to his employees, including his own daughter, whenever they've done wrong to a father who supports what Sarah really wants to be and this is because of Rufus Baylor!
| Katherine |
Mothers indeed only want what's best for their kids but once in a while, they should pause and ask themselves if what they want is really what their kids want, too. Because Katherine keep on building up a world for Sarah that the latter never really wanted to. But I understand where she is coming from and gladly, she finally let go of the dream she failed to achieve, the dream that she passed to Sarah, and allowed her daughter to live her life.
| Hector |
I also admire the character development of this guy who was once waiting for a signal from Fry, to a guy who finally learns how to speak his heart.
| Fry |
As for Fry, I don't really know if he really loves Sarah or just the thought of loving her. What a jerk! Thank goodness Sarah broken up with him!
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
The narration is good until the writer included the sounds of waves, television, sea gulls and other irrelevant sounds. Also, those narration inside the parenthesis. It could have been better if the scene/background was described/written the other way around instead of some CRRKKKK! SHHHNNNG! and such that I had to skip those parts.
Overall, I really love how the events turned out. It is indeed true that doctors, engineers, and other science-related courses are the foundation of the society, but the poets, they are the heart of it.
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
I would highly recommend this to people who love poetry as this would make you fall in love more! I would also recommend this to the readers who are not fond and haven't tried reading poetries yet because this would surely open a new door towards a more beautiful and wonderful reading journey and a better appreciation to the surroundings (and field of arts).
The Language of Stars tells about a wonderful story about how a prominent poet, old as he is, changed the lives of people residing at Whale Point.
• • • • •
I totally love the plot of this novel from how a mini-party of bunch of teenagers affected their lives and the lives of the people around them. It showed how a poet touched the lives of the individuals at Whale Point.
When Rufus Baylor, the poet, found out that his house was set on fire by bunch of minors, he decided to teach them poetries instead of other consequences and from then on, the dull lives of these people became meaningful and colorful.
• • • • •
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
| Sarah |
I started to hate her character when she dumped her friends— the Untouchables — because of her boyfriend! However, Sarah made me admire her at the end for finally standing her ground and speaking what she really likes and wants to become. Moreover, her life's turning point after the poetry classes surprised me that instead of wanting to become a poet, she decided to be part of a theater. I thought she would be the former and I did not see the other one coming which makes me love it more.
| Rufus |
Oh, man! Rufus Baylor is the man! I love poetries even before I read this but this man made me fall in love with it more!
❝𝑯𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒎 𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.❞
I couldn't stop admiring how he shines hope and showers light to an individual's life. He was able to change the lives of people, he fixed the broken, he led the lost and he inspired the unmotivated.
| Shepherd |
Shepherd's character development is stunning from a man who keeps on screaming to his employees, including his own daughter, whenever they've done wrong to a father who supports what Sarah really wants to be and this is because of Rufus Baylor!
| Katherine |
Mothers indeed only want what's best for their kids but once in a while, they should pause and ask themselves if what they want is really what their kids want, too. Because Katherine keep on building up a world for Sarah that the latter never really wanted to. But I understand where she is coming from and gladly, she finally let go of the dream she failed to achieve, the dream that she passed to Sarah, and allowed her daughter to live her life.
| Hector |
I also admire the character development of this guy who was once waiting for a signal from Fry, to a guy who finally learns how to speak his heart.
| Fry |
As for Fry, I don't really know if he really loves Sarah or just the thought of loving her. What a jerk! Thank goodness Sarah broken up with him!
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
The narration is good until the writer included the sounds of waves, television, sea gulls and other irrelevant sounds. Also, those narration inside the parenthesis. It could have been better if the scene/background was described/written the other way around instead of some CRRKKKK! SHHHNNNG! and such that I had to skip those parts.
Overall, I really love how the events turned out. It is indeed true that doctors, engineers, and other science-related courses are the foundation of the society, but the poets, they are the heart of it.
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
I would highly recommend this to people who love poetry as this would make you fall in love more! I would also recommend this to the readers who are not fond and haven't tried reading poetries yet because this would surely open a new door towards a more beautiful and wonderful reading journey and a better appreciation to the surroundings (and field of arts).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2020
Sarah couldn't believe, that she had gone to being part of the drama-geek clique to dating one of the most popular boys in school. When he wanted to throw a party at one of her favorite landmarks, she doesn't resist. However, things go awry, lots of things are broken and destroyed, and Sarah finds herself in trouble with the law. Her penance? To be part of the landmark's cleanup team, and to take a poetry class from none other than the owner of said home, who happens to be a famous poet. It may have started out as a punishment, but it resulted in Sarah finding herself and her voice.
I rather enjoyed spending the summer with Sarah. When I first met her, everyone else was making decisions for her. Her mother was pushing her towards a medical school track, while her boyfriend pulled her away from her friends and the things she loved to do. She didn't seem able to find the words, or the courage, to assert her own desires.
When she begins her poetry classes with Rufus Baylor, he inspires her. He taps into the words that she always had within her, and encourages her to use them. The friendship that developed between Rufus and Sarah was really beautiful, and I also greatly enjoyed the poems that were shared over the course of the story. It was wonderful to see Sarah build a relationship with her father, and to stop seeing him through her mother's lens.
Rufus didn't just inspire Sarah, he brought a new energy to the whole town. People were tapping into their creativity, and bonding together as a community. One of the things that factors largely into my enjoyment of a story is if it made me feel something, and I will admit, I shed some tears as I read this book, which means, job well done by Hawes.
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I rather enjoyed spending the summer with Sarah. When I first met her, everyone else was making decisions for her. Her mother was pushing her towards a medical school track, while her boyfriend pulled her away from her friends and the things she loved to do. She didn't seem able to find the words, or the courage, to assert her own desires.
When she begins her poetry classes with Rufus Baylor, he inspires her. He taps into the words that she always had within her, and encourages her to use them. The friendship that developed between Rufus and Sarah was really beautiful, and I also greatly enjoyed the poems that were shared over the course of the story. It was wonderful to see Sarah build a relationship with her father, and to stop seeing him through her mother's lens.
Rufus didn't just inspire Sarah, he brought a new energy to the whole town. People were tapping into their creativity, and bonding together as a community. One of the things that factors largely into my enjoyment of a story is if it made me feel something, and I will admit, I shed some tears as I read this book, which means, job well done by Hawes.
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June 23, 2025
Revitalizing a love I didn't think I lost.
I'm going to apologize first and foremost, because I've had this book since probably 2017. I picked it up at our local library solely for the cover and the intriguing title. And it stayed on my bookshelf for the longest time. I've only gotten the idea to read it a few months ago (March 2025) when I had gotten a break from school. A friend and I had decided to do a cafe reading date, and this was the book I brought with me.
I don't regret bringing it, nor do I regret not having read it until now. I don't believe who I was all those years ago would have enjoyed it as much. Who I am and all of the experiences I've gone through has shaped me to wholly understand Sarah's story.
Now, let's actually talk about it.
It starts off with us meeting Sarah, showing us how she wound up with the people she now finds herself with. Slow, but sweet. It really shows the slow journey towards self-discovery and redemption. Everything just about made sense.
You could read a bit of the time this was written through the characters. But, teenagers all the same. Dealing with their angst, their loss of identity, what they see as their modus of control. Self-expression and poetry weren't well-looked at by teens. But seeing them go through it, step-by-step, then I'm happy.
This book reminded me why, when I was an angsty teenager, I turned to writing and poetry. I had lost that side of myself without noticing. But I was able to gather bits and pieces of adoration for the art form through the most lyrical sense of writing on these pages.
And with that, I'm glad to say I'm writing again. And I feel freer.
It ended a tad bittersweet. And to me, that's just perfect.
I'm going to apologize first and foremost, because I've had this book since probably 2017. I picked it up at our local library solely for the cover and the intriguing title. And it stayed on my bookshelf for the longest time. I've only gotten the idea to read it a few months ago (March 2025) when I had gotten a break from school. A friend and I had decided to do a cafe reading date, and this was the book I brought with me.
I don't regret bringing it, nor do I regret not having read it until now. I don't believe who I was all those years ago would have enjoyed it as much. Who I am and all of the experiences I've gone through has shaped me to wholly understand Sarah's story.
Now, let's actually talk about it.
It starts off with us meeting Sarah, showing us how she wound up with the people she now finds herself with. Slow, but sweet. It really shows the slow journey towards self-discovery and redemption. Everything just about made sense.
You could read a bit of the time this was written through the characters. But, teenagers all the same. Dealing with their angst, their loss of identity, what they see as their modus of control. Self-expression and poetry weren't well-looked at by teens. But seeing them go through it, step-by-step, then I'm happy.
This book reminded me why, when I was an angsty teenager, I turned to writing and poetry. I had lost that side of myself without noticing. But I was able to gather bits and pieces of adoration for the art form through the most lyrical sense of writing on these pages.
And with that, I'm glad to say I'm writing again. And I feel freer.
It ended a tad bittersweet. And to me, that's just perfect.
April 7, 2022
Wow. Moving, thought-provoking, and so beautiful. It has all the feels, lol! This book is about multiple roads diverging in a wood and deciding which one to take. All of the characters go on this journey together, walking through the woods, and in the end they each must choose a path. This book is about the protagonist going from being Sarai to Sarah.
It all starts with our protagonist being in the wrong place at the wrong time and not doing anything to stop something terrible from happening. The story was inspired by an actual event that occurred in 2008, at the historic home of Robert Frost, but don't worry about that just yet because the author includes additional information in the epilogue. The result is that a group of unlikely high school students are required to take a summer poetry class that proves to be life-changing.
This book will take you inside the mind of a poet, and give you a new appreciation for the art form. The characters' poems are included between the chapters. And I can't speak for the print book, but the audiobook has such a great rhythm, and the voice feel so authentic. I think the negative reviews from people that didn't connect with the writing somehow missed the author's intent, which is conveyed so well in the audiobook performance. As an adult reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I would especially recommend it to teenage girls who are in the same phase of their life as Sarah, having to make some of the same choices.
It all starts with our protagonist being in the wrong place at the wrong time and not doing anything to stop something terrible from happening. The story was inspired by an actual event that occurred in 2008, at the historic home of Robert Frost, but don't worry about that just yet because the author includes additional information in the epilogue. The result is that a group of unlikely high school students are required to take a summer poetry class that proves to be life-changing.
This book will take you inside the mind of a poet, and give you a new appreciation for the art form. The characters' poems are included between the chapters. And I can't speak for the print book, but the audiobook has such a great rhythm, and the voice feel so authentic. I think the negative reviews from people that didn't connect with the writing somehow missed the author's intent, which is conveyed so well in the audiobook performance. As an adult reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I would especially recommend it to teenage girls who are in the same phase of their life as Sarah, having to make some of the same choices.
April 5, 2022
This was solidly competent throughout--which was kind of surprising to both me and Jeff. Fry never came together as a character, and it feels like the part where Sarah was just imagining him--a truly teen girl thing to do, invent a boyfriend and superimpose him on an actual person--is some of the reason but not the primary reason. H, however, what a delightful little weirdo!
I understand this book is not realistic. The most famous person in town is a POET. All these people all over town swoon over Rufus Baylor. Rufus is written so very endearingly that it makes sense in-universe. But oh my god, like anyone in America cares about poets. Characters call him the most famous poet in THE WORLD multiple times. As if the most famous poet in the world would be American! Lol and a half. That's all fine, though, I like that bit of fantasy--that poetry-grandpa Rufus Baylor is so kind and talented and special and famous.
But the part where Fry skipped court-mandated classes with no consequences? COME ON. If anything is court-mandated, there is attendance taken and that attendance is reported to the judge. There are consequences to skipping things that are court-mandated--and Fry skipped MULTIPLE classes. If anyone in this book is in need of consequences, it is sex-pest, potential rapist Fry. Kid made me nervous the whole book. YUCK.
I understand this book is not realistic. The most famous person in town is a POET. All these people all over town swoon over Rufus Baylor. Rufus is written so very endearingly that it makes sense in-universe. But oh my god, like anyone in America cares about poets. Characters call him the most famous poet in THE WORLD multiple times. As if the most famous poet in the world would be American! Lol and a half. That's all fine, though, I like that bit of fantasy--that poetry-grandpa Rufus Baylor is so kind and talented and special and famous.
But the part where Fry skipped court-mandated classes with no consequences? COME ON. If anything is court-mandated, there is attendance taken and that attendance is reported to the judge. There are consequences to skipping things that are court-mandated--and Fry skipped MULTIPLE classes. If anyone in this book is in need of consequences, it is sex-pest, potential rapist Fry. Kid made me nervous the whole book. YUCK.
May 25, 2018
More of a 3.5 really. "The Language of Stars" has a great premise based loosely on a real event when a bunch of teenagers were arrested for vandalizing Robert Frost's home and were sentenced to classes about his poetry as part of their punishment. Hawes reimagines it with a living poet, Rufus Baylor, who decides to teach the delinquents himself.
The good part was you can feel the love of poetry in every chapter. And the poetry of a "world famous poet" sounds professional so it isn't clunky when it's praised for its beauty. Although one con is there is way too much "our poet" and "greatest poet" embelishment that it gets too repetitive to maintain that allure and turns into saintly haigography. However the rest of the surrounding cast, from the social class starved mother to the self-absorbed boyfriend, were given complicated characterization that helped the interpersonal scenes.
But for all the pausing for moments of beauty and insight, the story dragged and retrode its lines. There were also moments of stylized script prose, written with sound effects that just didn't work well for characters or narration.
If you like slow meandering stories that focus on poetry and introspection this novel will speak your language.
The good part was you can feel the love of poetry in every chapter. And the poetry of a "world famous poet" sounds professional so it isn't clunky when it's praised for its beauty. Although one con is there is way too much "our poet" and "greatest poet" embelishment that it gets too repetitive to maintain that allure and turns into saintly haigography. However the rest of the surrounding cast, from the social class starved mother to the self-absorbed boyfriend, were given complicated characterization that helped the interpersonal scenes.
But for all the pausing for moments of beauty and insight, the story dragged and retrode its lines. There were also moments of stylized script prose, written with sound effects that just didn't work well for characters or narration.
If you like slow meandering stories that focus on poetry and introspection this novel will speak your language.
September 4, 2022
"Sometimes a person does the wrong thing. And ur can be years before he gets a chance to do the right one."
The greatest mistake can be the greatest story ever told. For Sarah, the one night where all goes wrong in a party, opened the way of meeting her mentor and finding her voice in the power of poem.
Having the town's notable poet, Rufus Baylor, as their teacher in a class meant to make them realize how wrong they were for burning the Baylor's house turned out to be the start of transforming them to become the better versions of themselves.
A poetic narration of stories about love, coming of age conflicts, families, healing, and redemption, this book is also filled with poems and vignettes for students and teachers on how poems are meant to be experienced not to be learned and memorized.
Not all poems have words that rhyme. Just like life. All the things happening do not go as planned but like words, these things when put together can form the greatest ode on earth - the celebration of life and living that life to learn.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5
The greatest mistake can be the greatest story ever told. For Sarah, the one night where all goes wrong in a party, opened the way of meeting her mentor and finding her voice in the power of poem.
Having the town's notable poet, Rufus Baylor, as their teacher in a class meant to make them realize how wrong they were for burning the Baylor's house turned out to be the start of transforming them to become the better versions of themselves.
A poetic narration of stories about love, coming of age conflicts, families, healing, and redemption, this book is also filled with poems and vignettes for students and teachers on how poems are meant to be experienced not to be learned and memorized.
Not all poems have words that rhyme. Just like life. All the things happening do not go as planned but like words, these things when put together can form the greatest ode on earth - the celebration of life and living that life to learn.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5
August 12, 2020
the language of stars- bought the book in 2018 but start reading it in 2020😅. at first i thought it was the usual almost cliche story of highschool girl leaving her nerdy friends for a famous boyfriend.. with splitted parents.. pretending to be cool with anything just to impress the said prince eventhough she misses her old pack. although they include breaking and entering as well as underage drinking.. i mean how many stories have you read that use this exact same background for the story? is it always like this in other schools? i dont think it was the case when i was in highscool. or was i too comfortable in my own small bubble that i didnt realize that?
in the story, the mistakes brought out the actual hero.. the poet came and change the whole story🤔. he made sarah got to thinking about her life and future.. i like the fact that there were poems included in the book too..
in the story, the mistakes brought out the actual hero.. the poet came and change the whole story🤔. he made sarah got to thinking about her life and future.. i like the fact that there were poems included in the book too..
June 14, 2018
This whole book felt a little obvious and also, I can't disagree that this older, famous man's special attention to this teen did feel suspicious to me. I couldn't really get into liking Rufus, I couldn't quite buy into his character. I believed more in his faults, which the narrator seemed to gloss over or ignore too much. I thought it was weird and creepy how he was able to charm everyone with little to no effort. I don't know, the messages and lessons learned in this book aren't bad ones-they're good for teens to buy into and learn from-but I just wasn't really buying it. Also, this maybe just a problem with my particular tastes in audio, but I hated listening to written sound effects everywhere in this book. It just wasn't for me, overall.
May 23, 2021
UGGGGHHHHHH.
This book...*sigh*...THIS BOOK!
This whole book was a weird and somewhat uncomfortable experience.
Firstly, the relationship between Sarah and the poet teacher (I refuse to say his name) was very uncomfortable and weird. First she refers to him as "our poet." Ew. Then, she refers to him as "MY POET!" EWWW. YOU DON'T OWN HIM!! And he's an old cracker! She's like nine. Teen. May. Be. Old. Er.
Maybe I didn't like this book because it was about poetry or "the power of verse" (ew), and I'm not a fan of poetry or "verse."
No, I would NOT recommend this to a friend.
Thank you VERY. MUCH.
This book...*sigh*...THIS BOOK!
This whole book was a weird and somewhat uncomfortable experience.
Firstly, the relationship between Sarah and the poet teacher (I refuse to say his name) was very uncomfortable and weird. First she refers to him as "our poet." Ew. Then, she refers to him as "MY POET!" EWWW. YOU DON'T OWN HIM!! And he's an old cracker! She's like nine. Teen. May. Be. Old. Er.
Maybe I didn't like this book because it was about poetry or "the power of verse" (ew), and I'm not a fan of poetry or "verse."
No, I would NOT recommend this to a friend.
Thank you VERY. MUCH.
February 8, 2018
I picked up this book, because I saw it at the library and I thought it would be okay. It was amazing! The main character seemed like a real person. The mentor/poet was not at all what you expect, in a good way. The poetry included in the book is beautiful. The plot paints a beautiful story between family, friends, and new people you meet along the way. This is now my favorite realistic fiction book.
April 20, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
I’m not into poetry but somehow, this book managed to hook me up. I loved Rufus Baylor, the poet in this book. He is so sweet, charming and fragile. But, I couldn’t stand it when the main character, Sarah, keeps on fangirling over him. And everything about Sarah screams Me, Me, Me. Fry is also so ridiculous.
The writing in this book is beautiful but the characters, I just didn’t really care about them. I kept reading only because of Rufus Baylor (why do I sound like Sarah LOL)
I’m not into poetry but somehow, this book managed to hook me up. I loved Rufus Baylor, the poet in this book. He is so sweet, charming and fragile. But, I couldn’t stand it when the main character, Sarah, keeps on fangirling over him. And everything about Sarah screams Me, Me, Me. Fry is also so ridiculous.
The writing in this book is beautiful but the characters, I just didn’t really care about them. I kept reading only because of Rufus Baylor (why do I sound like Sarah LOL)
September 20, 2021
The Language of Stars by Louise Hawes is a heartfelt book the celebrates poetry. Sarah is a great character who is relatable...to an extent. I disliked the relationship between Sarah and Fry. Some of their interactions are just a bit too much, to say the least. Rufus Baylor is a well-rounded character as well-- I wish I could meet him! I recommend this book if you like poetry, realistic fiction, and the high school setting.
August 8, 2023
A clearly very sentimental book, and easy to lose yourself in the romance of its premise. I do think stories about amazing writing sometimes struggle when the amazing writing has to be done by someone who is perhaps very good at writing but not necessarily amazing. I don't know. Perhaps it's unfair, but while I enjoyed the poetry within the book, it never felt at the level that the story demanded. Otherwise, a VERY good read.
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February 23, 2019The poet Rufus Baylor is more alive to me now than my real idols. I enjoyed this exploration of a teen girl finding that love is a multiplier not a subtracter, that noticing is what makes us alive, that telling the people you love what you really want is not always going to explode. Thanks Louise Hawes for a charmer of a book. I loved living in that world.
October 13, 2021
I love how it kinda gives me Tuesdays with Morrie vibes and the poems in the book are great as well. But I thought the first guy is relevant to the story or was planned to be relevant but somehow the author focused on the creative process of writing poetry. I admire the protagonist as well her choice in the end is something that I wasnt expecting.
June 30, 2022
At first, I thought that the book was all about infatuation love but it isn't. I am not into poetry but each chapter tells me to continue. A great one although there are some lines or words that I can't understand. Thank you mr. Rufus Baylor for all the tips you have shared on how to handle students. Thank you Ms. Louise Hawes for this compelling book. ❤️
June 20, 2025
I really loved the poems written on this book. I loved the part
And would it matter, really,
after all is said and done,
who made which piece of glory?
Who, this moon? Who, that sun?
The pen drops from your hand,
but there’s still more to say.
So I must write our final line,
which is simply
stay.
And would it matter, really,
after all is said and done,
who made which piece of glory?
Who, this moon? Who, that sun?
The pen drops from your hand,
but there’s still more to say.
So I must write our final line,
which is simply
stay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2018
Great for grade 8-up based on a true event where teenagers vandalized Robert Frost’s Vermont Home. Hawes took that event, moved the story to NC and had the famed poet himself teach the very students who burned his house to the ground while they rebuilt the home. Loved all of it.
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