The Whole Sky Full of Stars

by René Saldaña Jr.

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 since the first grade. They've always protected one another.

When Barry's pop dies, times are tough and the only thing Barry has of value is his dad's 1964 Ford Galaxie. Meanwhile Alby's got himself into big trouble with a cardshark. So he hatches a plan to make money. To help out Barry, but also to help himself. The problem is, Barry could get hurt, and it just might cost Alby their friendship. How much can you ask of a friend?

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Friendship, Contemporary, Cultural

131 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2007

About the author

René Saldaña Jr. graduated from Georgia State University (Ph.D.) with degrees in English and creative writing. He and his family live in south Texas, where he teaches English and writing at the university level. He is the author of "The Jumping Tree "and "Finding Our Way."

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author came to my daughter's school and she got 3 of his books. He signed all of them for her. Its a good read.

[Emma Refvem · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for Mr Christopher's English 1 class book club, so it was a lower reading level on purpose. I think it could've been a low reading level and not been as dumb, though. The narration kept changing mid-paragraph, the characters weren't always consistent with how they talked, there were literally 3 lines of literary device that jumped out like wtf is this? Idk it was very choppy and uneven but the kids in the story learned a valuable lesson I guess.

[Amanda Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad this book is in my Read 180 library for my lower-reader students. Although I think that this book could have done more showing and less telling, it is written in such a way that it would be very accessible to my lower readers. I enjoyed the story and especially liked the character of Barry.

[Kessia Herring · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the book but it was a little bit of a confusing book because the point of view would switch off from Barry to Alby and sometimes you couldn't tell which one was talking. The beginning started off really boring but got better as it moved into the middle but then got boring again at the end. I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend because it's not very interesting.

Summary

Barry was a really good boxer even though he had never boxed with other people, just a bag. Ably, Barry's best friend, Decided to gamble with a gang and ended up losing really bad and owed a lot of money to this gang. Alby convinced Bary to enter a boxing fight to earn some money for both barry's poor mom and Alby's debt. Barry decides to enter the boxing competition without knowing about alby's debt that he owed. Alby told Barry that the prize would be thousands. Barry won every single fight he fought and ended up winning the prize, a hundred bucks and a shirt. Alby was making bets on barry's fights without bary knowing. When barry found out he didn't want any of the money alby had bet on and stopped talking to alby. A summer later Alby and Barry made up after alby worked for the money he had made from the bets.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

was a recommendation from a ***** bc he said it was one of his fav books as a kid. not a favorite low reading grade book for me, but i get the lesson that was taught.

[Justin Salladino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It had some action from the tournament. It also had a good message about friendship that can be applied to real life.

[Ruben Degollado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing read about the power of friendship and forgiveness. There is one scene in the ring that will bring a tear to your eye. Couldn’t put it down until I read the whole thing!

[Brooklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooklyn peterson

La mrs.nance

Period 6


The whole book of stars is written by Rene saldana, Jr is about friendship and getting through hard times. Barry the main character wants to be a fight but his dad had recently passed to cancer but is best friend Albey was there to help and he helped Barry get through it. I really like this book, there was sometimes were it got kinda boring but it was mostly interesting and fun to read. My favorite character was probably Albey because no matter what he was always there for Barry no matter what. I can tell from the story that Barry and Albey had a strong and fun friendship. My favorite quote was “when it was dark enough, you can see the stars”. I really like that quote because it has a bunch of meanings to it, but for me it means even when your in dark times there's always good and you will be happy again. In the beginning Albey is trying to convince Barry to try fighting because he's always liked doing it and Barry's dad trained him to fight. But his mom never liked the idea of him fighting. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Silvestre Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

***SPOILER ALERT*** Have you ever read a book that just had you wondering what would happen next, so you just keep on reading the book page after page? If not this is the book for you. The genre of this book is realistic fiction. This book is just an amazing book, you and your best friend should read, because it gives great lessons on best friends and stuff. This is probably the best book I have read yet.

Barry and Alby have been best friends since 1st grade, when Barry peed his pants and everyone made fun of him, except his soon to be best friend Alby. Barry is from a Mexican family and one day Barry and his father are looking at a car magazine and they see a vintage ford galaxie, Barry's fathers dream car when he was Younger, so they drive out to South Carolina and buy the car, Barry's father bought it for Barry witch he called a collage fund, a real investment. And on the way they both share very touching words. Barry's father trained some boxers in Mexico and he is training Barry to box too. So one day at school Alby heard some dudes at school say that Barry's mom said she still had it, if you know what I mean, Alby went to go tell Barry what he heard but when he told Barry, Barry punched him in the nose! Alby was in pain and debt, he played cards with a thug named Ciro and lost now he owes Ciro more then three hundred dollars! Alby realized that Barry can punch, and said he should join the Man O Might contest, to clear his debt with Ciro, and to give Barry's mom a break from her two jobs, she has so many work because Barry's father died and they are low on money. Barry refuses to fight in the Man O Might but soon realizes that he should do it for his momma, he does it and realizes that the payout was only one hundred bucks!!!!! He was used by his best friend Alby, just to get out of debt, but Alby made one thousand dollars by Betting on Barry to win. Barry finds out and ends there friendship. It's really sad but they make up and Barry sells the iconic beaut of the galaxie, he really didn't want to because he and his father worked on it, but he got a lot of money for the car and like he said he told his mom to take a week off of work. Very good story! The conflict is person vs nature because Barry and his mother are poor and really can't afford much. It's also person vs person because he and Alby get in a argument that ends there friendship.


I like the way the author used a bit of spa is here and there because it really made the book unique and I really like that. I understood why Alby gambled and bet on him because once we all found out that the payout was one hundred dollars we were shocked because Alby promised Barry big bucks. I also understand why he did this because Alby just wanted the better for Barry and his mother, and also for him so he wouldn't get his lights knocked out by Ciro and his thugs.

My favorite part of the book was when they went and bought and discussed about the ford galaxie because I'm a very passionate car head, I really like cars and enjoy hearing about them, and this made the book ten times more better because they really went into detail of the galaxie. Also I didn't agree with Barry for being mad at Alby because Alby wanted the best for him and Barry and his mother. He actually thought about Barry and his mom and gambled for THEM.

So in conclusion I rate this book 5 stars because it's the best book I have read and it's my favorite book till now. I recommend this book for best friends, people who understand spanish because if you don't you will really miss out on some good parts of the book. So if you really want to cry because of a book, go ahead and check this book out.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. Alby, on the other hand, doesn't need to worry about cash. His dad is a successful car dealer and his mom is a lawyer. Yet, the two boys have been friends since the first grade.

Alby finds himself in some trouble involving his gambling debts. With the help of his friend Barry's boxing skills, he hopes to concoct a scheme to take care of both the boys' needs. The Man o' Might fighting contest offers a chance for Alby to win what he owes in gambling debts, and, hopefully, provide some financial relief for Barry and his mom.

At first reluctant to get involved, Barry finds that preparing for the fight helps him remember the good times with his dad. They used to spend hours together working out on the bag and down at the gym. When they weren't boxing, they were working on an old 1964 Ford Galaxie that Barry might someday drive to the prom.

Will Alby's crazy scheme placing side bets on Barry's boxing abilities have what it takes to ruin their friendship? Rene Saldana, Jr. provides the answer in this fast-paced read that is sure to please even reluctant middle grade boys.

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

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, he decides to gambling on the game and wins over one thousand dollars when Bary wins the tournament. Bary discovers Alby gambled on the game and refuses the money. Their friendship ends because of Alby's lies. Alby spends the summer mowing lawns for elderly neighbors for free to pay off the money he won on gambling. By the end of the summer Alby confronts him and Bary forgives him.

This book is a wonderful male version of "chick lit." The close friendship between the two main characters was carefully sketched to make it reflect the true ties between males. Saldana accomplishes a smooth transition between didactic morals and a great plot. The book was suspenseful because it could have gotten much much worse of Alby had Bary lost the final match, but the morals taught through this version of the story were more effective than the other possibilities. A great book for young male readers, especially reluctant readers because it is quite short.

[Alondra Aguilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a pretty good book for someone who likes the intensity and toughness in a book. Barry, the main character, and his best friends named Alby, have been the best of friends since they were little boys on the block. Barry is a boxer that likes people to feel his pain when they go around and start talking like they know who he is. Having skills like Barry, and feeling like always wanting to be silent by the way he lives after his dad died, it was time to make a change for his own life. I really liked this about him because I can relate in being a boxer and having this urge, too. Alby, being a good friend, thought of the idea to train Barry into being a professional fighter. Barry had already made Alby, “seeing the sky full of stars” (Saldana 2). If he had popped him in the mouth for a little joke, he imagined Barry knocking everyone for money. As Barry gained some enemies, but he kept on pushing through, reminded me of all the boxers who have critics and still keep fighting. Alby would stick with him until the very end. Eventually, Barry had won so many fights that he had enough money to make bets on things he had. Barry’s mom had been in a rush for money, but he kept telling her, “we’re going to be alright. We have enough money now” (Saldana 127). This was a book of a lot of violence that made it hard to read because it has detail, but it was a sense of the real life.

[Bill Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like stories about friendship if so read The Whole Sky Full of Stars.The genre of this book is fiction.This book is about the strength of two boys friendship.For example whatever the situation they would never turn their backs on one another.

This story took place in multiple settings from school to a boxing gym.Alby had gambling issues and lost lots of money in a poker hand so now he owes another kid a lot of money that Alby does not have.So Alby asks his best friend Barry to join a boxing match for money and they will split the profit so Alby can payback the money he owes. The type of conflict is person vs person.

I was disappointed when Alby lost all his money in a poker hand.I found it immature to keep gambling until he lost all his money.I was relived when Barry said he would help Alby get the money to pay off what he owed.Its good that Alby has a good friend.

I was mad when Alby got beat up by a group of guys.It was two guys against one Alby didn't have a chance. I was shocked that Alby didnt tell his parents that he lost money.Which made things worse for him because he has to deal with a lot now.

I would give this book four out of five stars because i really liked it. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a strong friendship with someone like Alby and Barry do.So if you like books with that deal with friendship read this book.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 the fight (it's actually a series of fights all in one day), and how all of this affects their friendship. Especially when the boxer learns what else his friend has been doing during the fights. It was a good sports book, really about friendship. My main complaint was that the point of view kept switching between the two boys. It was told in third person omnicient, but every other paragraph you'd suddenly be getting the thoughts and feelings of the *other* kid. Kind of disconcerting. If you're going to do that I prefer that it alternate by chapter; at least then you have some time to get into that character's head before having to yank yourself out and figure out what this other guy is feeling.

[Daniel Asay · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 not a particularly interesting book to me, I still have to recognize this as a great read. It was short, quick-paced, and pretty locked into the game book format, making it a huge draw for young boys not commonly attracted to books. But it also dealt with thoughtful topics including the loss of a loved one, managing relationships through difficult circumstances, and always making the most honest choices, so there was a lot of meaty content and moral strength for "just another game book." I was very pleased with it. Recommended primarily for boys especially those with a taste for sports and/or gambling. Rough enough for thick-skinned persons but not so violent as to offend sensitive/young readers.

Genre: boxing, gambling, sports/boy book, coming-of-age, peer relationships

[Emily Townsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 the value of friendship.

This book is ok. It does have a good message about friendship, but I wondered how realistic it was. While I don't like cussing in books, I found it odd that these two friends used relatively mature language and rare amounts of slang. I'm wondering if Saldana wrote this as a story for boys and what they really feel, or what he thinks boys really experience. Readers do get inside both Barry's and Alby's heads, although their reactions to each other and the events around them seemed a little unrealistic to me. Overall, it was ok but nothing that I would necessarily recommend.

[Allie Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre/Category: latino literature/boxing/friendship/coming of age/values and morals

Summary: I genuinely liked this book. It was simple and it was short. Barry and Alby are best friends, sticking up for one another, until Alby gets caught up in poker and gets in some major trouble with some card sharks. Desperate for money, Alby decides to use Barry's skills as a top-notch boxer and Barry's responsibilities to care for his mother to motivate him to compete in a boxing tournament with a cash prize attached. His scheme, however, is discovered by Barry and practically ruins the relationship. Together, Barry and Alby learn the power of apology and forgiveness.

I thought this was a moving story about friendship and the work and responsibilities it requires to keep it strong. It also addresses identity and staying true to the values and morals of oneself. The tie-ins to parent involvement were also very emotional, demonstrating the responsibilities one has in a family and the ways that each person can support the another.

[Elyse Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 were real, and I appreciated the contrasting personalities between Alby and Barry. Proving himself a very moralistic writer, Saldana succeeds in conveying themes of friendship, honesty, loyalty, and forgiveness. I think this novel would be an excellent short story to be taught in high schools because of its' strong characters, positive themes, and multicultural appeal. I'd recommend it to any reader over the age of 13.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 competition and makes himself Barry's manager. What Barry doesn't know is that he'll be trading his body and his strength for a prize that was never intended for him in the first place.

Alby is frustrating in that I feel like he's really taking advantage of his friendship with Barry. Barry's having a hard enough time as it is with his dad dying, he doesn't need his friend to submit him into a fighting competition where the stakes are higher than the probable outcome.

[Carmen Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book The Whole Sky Gull of Stars started out with two friends just talking in a yard. Alby and Barry have been best friends since the first grade. Alby confronted Barry about overhearing some guys at school speaking poorly about Barry's mother. All the sudden Alby feels a harsh fist smash upon his face. To his surprise it was his best friend Barry. Shortly after Barry hit his friend he realized he had done it for no reason. This is where Alby gets the bright idea that Barry should become a boxer. Throughout the story there are ups and downs between friendships and debts that need to be paid. There is manipulation, lying, and falling outs. This is a touching story that I recommend to most young readers. Even though I recommend this book to others, it was not one of my personal favorites. I felt the story started very slow. It was uninteresting to my likings, but overall it's a good story for well-rounded readers.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! It started out a little confusing, trying to figure out what was going on. However, as the book went on, I started to see why the Barry was doing what he was doing. He had some serious financial problems, and so did his best friend Alby. As they learned to work together you start to learn more about the characters, and see that they didn't always make the best choice.

I started to not like Alby as much. He started to be a poor friend, and let Barry down. I came to realize how important it is for us to be great friends that help others always to do what is best, even if we don't agree. We need to stand up for what they believe in, and be reliable.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a great book, that ties in boxing with life problems, and being able to know who our true friends are and if they're reliable.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 to listen to the thinking process of Alby because I have an uncle who has a serious gambling problem. Saldana pegs a gamblers thought processes to a T. But from an outside perspective it is frustrating because I wouldn't think like that. I think that Saldana takes on difficult topics and does a good job of dealing with them.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 story every person can relate to in this novel. If you've never been betrayed by a friend you are one very lucky person, and yet, this novel is not only about your best friend betraying you. Saldana turns a story that could be quite trite into something meaningful as each boy decides what type of man he wants to be and what actions he's willing to take to become that man.

[Stephanie Kenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 that Alby has ulterior motives, he questions the basis of their friendship. This book is an amazing story of teenage friendship and life lessons as these young boys learn from their mistakes and the dangers of gambling-the hard way. This would be a great read for young boys, especially those who are interested in boxing. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good, well written story.

[Shannonmde · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Oh, and what gives me the right to dig my fat nose in your stupid business is the same thing that gave you the right to keep bugging me to come hang out with you after Pop died and I wasn't up for company.You kept it up day in, day out: 'Barry let's go do this, let's go do that; get your mind off things for awhile.' Remember?" Barry turned away and this time didn't look back. To himself he said, "It's called friendship, idiot."50

Spanish speaking characters, but they took a bus overnight to South Carolina to buy a car from McAllen?

Book is a little heavy handed about ills of gambling. (Manager sets up boxer to box, then is betting on the side. Learns lesson about not screwing over boxer (cost loss of friendship).

I’m still ehh on recording this book, but of all the titles reviewed by this author I liked this one the best.

[Amy Lou · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this book knowing basically nothing about it; just reading it because I have to read a YA sports genre from the library from the summer reading program. I did know it was about boxing, but after that, I had no idea the age. Immediately I thought they were 12, because they all acted like 10 year olds. However, I did eventually realize that the main character, Barry, is actually 18, so Alby also must be 17 or 18. This was extremely confusing and annoying. Basically, although the moral and idea of the story is fairly good (but it's still not my genre or idea of fun), the characters were shallow, poorly planned (not to mention there were a total of 5, relying heavily on 2), and immature, while the grammar and manner of speaking was just distracting, although somewhat realistic. I would recommend this book for 10-13 year old boys, or girls who really like boxing. A lot. Good luck.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 character development is thorough and the examined themes are poignant. I think this book would be an excellent read for young adults and would help them better understand the depth of honesty, friendship, and love.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 it could be, and the story is somewhat lacking at points. I'm not sure exactly what I was hoping for with the storyline, but the one in the book wasn't quite it. Teens in middle school in up who are interested in boxing (or who need to learn about the vice of gambling) might be interested in this.

[Sara Daw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like a book about wrestling so much, but I did. Alby is a born hustler who played poker with some neighborhood thugs and has found himself in a tight spot. Barry is his best friend, has recently lost his father, and has spent a lot of time training in wrestling. Alby sees a way to make some quick money off of Barry's wrestling skills, but he can't tell Barry about the tight spot he's in, so he decides to manipulate Barry into participating in a non-professional wrestling match. But like many good books about sports, this book isn't really about sports, but about something else. In this case, friendship and honor. I enjoyed reading it and I hope to read more books by this author. I'd recommend this book for all ages.

[Trevor Oakley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 to the list of good ”thin” books that would make great book-report reads, and to your lists of good books for guys!