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Stella by Starlight

Sharon M. Draper,

Sarah Jane Coleman (Illustrator)

Start date: March 1, 2015

Finish date: March 31, 2015

Discussion: Book of the Month - 2016

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Feb 25, 2015 Carol Royce Owen rated it really liked it

Teachers take note! Here is a new one from Sharon Draper that is sure to be one you will want for Civil Rights studies. The book is Stella by Starlight and gives a portrayal of a black community's existence in the deep south during the 1930s.

Stella is a young girl growing up in Bumblebee, North Carolina in 1932, a town with both blacks and whites, but with stores and businesses that will allow blacks, but some which do not. It is a time when segregation still exists, but voting rights have been Teachers take note! Here is a new one from Sharon Draper that is sure to be one you will want for Civil Rights studies. The book is Stella by Starlight and gives a portrayal of a black community's existence in the deep south during the 1930s.

Stella is a young girl growing up in Bumblebee, North Carolina in 1932, a town with both blacks and whites, but with stores and businesses that will allow blacks, but some which do not. It is a time when segregation still exists, but voting rights have been given to blacks, although few dare to try to register. Stella's dad and two others do dare, however, and with Ku Klux Klan trouble already stirring in their town, they know their actions could result in more. Stella accompanies her dad to register and sees first hand the injustice as white men need only sign their name while blacks are forced to take a test on the Constitution and pay for registering.

This is a book about decisions that black people were forced to make in their daily lives, whether to be submissive, and remain in bondage to some white people who wanted to ground them underfoot, or whether to rise up for their rights. Stella, herself, faces decisions, too. Having been a witness to a recent KKK rally, does she have the bravery to write about it for an essay contest? Can she face the white doctor, a known KKK member, to get medical help? Can she overcome her own doubts and write down all of her thoughts and ideas even when she doesn't think she's very good at it?

There is no "happily ever after" in this book, because as we know, that's not how history happened for many blacks in the south. There was hatred. There was fear. There was injustice. But there were also those who went about their jobs every day, making a living so they could support their families. White people and black alike, who were willing to give when hardship and devastation came, even when it meant going against family beliefs. And there were those who were willing to rise and take a stand so the evil would know it would not always win. Grades 4-8 ...more

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Dec 22, 2015 Barbara rated it liked it

Shelves: community, power, cooking, friendship, health, religion, animals, elderly-characters, teachers, poverty

Bumblebee, North Carolina in 1932 has its share of good and bad individuals, but for some reason, the novel's protagonist, fifth grader, Stella, is especially aware of the events that occur around her. Perhaps it's the fact that she and her little brother see the KKK's burning fire or that she accompanies her father and two other men who register to vote and then cast their votes later on in the Presidential election. Suddenly, though, Stella is aware of the dangers that surround her family and Bumblebee, North Carolina in 1932 has its share of good and bad individuals, but for some reason, the novel's protagonist, fifth grader, Stella, is especially aware of the events that occur around her. Perhaps it's the fact that she and her little brother see the KKK's burning fire or that she accompanies her father and two other men who register to vote and then cast their votes later on in the Presidential election. Suddenly, though, Stella is aware of the dangers that surround her family and friends and comes to realize the courage it takes to stand up against the racism and prejudices that exist in her community. Readers familiar with the books of Mildred Taylor that are set in rural Mississippi during a similar time period will recognize many of the inequities that are highlighted here--separate and unequal schools, discarded books that are distributed to the students in Stella's school, night riders determined to keep blacks in their place, bullies who keep the peace by pushing those smaller and younger than them around. Through it all, even Stella's awareness that the town's doctor is also part of the Klan and his refusal to offer help to save her mother, the author threads elements of hope in the way the community members rally around one another, finding joy in hymns, church and community gatherings, sharing what everyone has, and in the brave actions of a few who are willing to speak and act so that things will change. Although at first I found Stella's attempts to write distracting, eventually I came to enjoy watching her develop her own writing voice and I considered how powerful that written voice might become one day. After all, the civil rights movement would need plenty of writers. Even though I enjoyed much about this book, the one-dimensional portrayal of Dr. Packard who, not only is a bigot but also abuses his wife and daughter, was disappointing as was the coincidence that his daughter just happens to enjoy writing and visits the same pond where Stella likes to hang out. And while I'd like to think that Stella's father and his friends would have passed the literacy test that allowed them to register and later cast their votes, that's probably wishful thinking. Given the strong grasp on the town's political system and laws that the Klan seemed to have, they probably would never have been deemed to have had a high enough score to pass. Despite some of its flaws, the book still manages to leave readers enraptured by its characters and Stella's family while also shedding a light on a shameful part of American history. ...more

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Feb 18, 2015 Michele rated it liked it

I liked the character of Stella -- she was strong, real, and completely convincing. i found the plot, however, to be contrived. (Stella saves the life of the white girl whose father, just days before, refused treatment to Stella's dying mother.) This time period has been fictionalized more realistically by many other authors (Mildred Taylor, Christopher Paul Curtis, to name just a few). This is not the book I would recommend to my students interested in stories dealing with discrimination, civil ...more

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Dec 01, 2015 The Styling Librarian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-school, historical-fiction

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper – Historical Fiction – 5th grade and up – Beginning a book with a brother and sister sneaking around outside at night was interesting. Having them notice the Klue Klux Klan across the lake lighting a cross was a powerful eye opening start. I loved the main character, Stella, and her thoughts on life and school. Really appreciated how she struggled with writing at school but was also a writer at the same time. Reading bits on how her writing skills develope ...more

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Aug 03, 2015 Julie Williams rated it really liked it

Set in the months before FDR's first election, this book tells the story of an African American family and their community. Stella and her brother Jojo witness a gathering of the KKK which sets the whole community on edge. In addition, there is tension between the whites and blacks regarding the upcoming election and health care in the town.

So...my opinion. I loved the beginnikng of the book. The conflict was powerful and realistic. There was a lot of tension and concern about what the KKK might ...more

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Jul 26, 2015 Christina rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-school, 2015-kids-ya, 2017-caudills, 2017-6th-grade-challenge-list

This book, set in 1932 North Carolina, drew me in right away with its opening chapter in which Stella and her younger brother, Jojo, observe the Klu Klux Klan practicing its rituals in a woods at right. Despite overt prejudice by the whites in the town, the Klan's burning of a neighboring black family's home, white men beating her friend Tony, and the town's white doctor refusing to treat her mother's life-threatening snakebite, Stella perseveres through it all. She witnesses her father courageo ...more

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Mar 12, 2015 Gina rated it liked it

Shelves: children-s-books

I felt like I got insight into life, in 1932 for the African Americans. I would consider this a historical fiction. It started out a little slow but once I got into in, I enjoyed the story.

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May 16, 2015 Kirsten rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-readers, historical-fiction

This book does exactly what historical fiction should do--puts us in the shoes (or in the case, the bare feet) of someone whose life we can never experience. Stella grows up in the segregated South of the 1930s. She learns from everyone and everything around her--elderberries only taste good brewed for tea, how to find a hidey-hole, unexpected people can come to your rescue, how to cure a snakebite, and you can be brave even if you're scared. She feels, first hand, the hate of the Klan as well a ...more

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Jan 04, 2015 Karen Arendt rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, historical-fiction, diversity

A story that needs to be heard by children. Stella is a strong, likable character. I enjoyed the southern culture that came through in the story from the foods to the legends.

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