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The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
The stars align to bring two girls together in this tender novel. After her strict Christian mother catches Audre with her girlfriend, Audre is forced to leave Trinidad and move in with her father in Minneapolis. There, she is warmly welcomed by an old acquaintance, Mabel, who is questioning her own sexual orientation. Audre is surprised to learn of a club for LGBTQ students at her new school, where being queer isn’t such a big deal. When Mabel is unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal cancer, Audre assumes a nurturing role, concocting healthy smoothies and visiting Mabel daily. Devastated by her diagnosis, Mabel finds comfort in astrology. Interspersed among Mabel’s and Audre’s chapters is the story of Afua, a Black man on death row. Wrongly convicted of murder, he has written a book about his experience and the strength he finds in the spirit of his Black ancestors. When Mabel finds this book on her parents’ shelf, she is bolstered by Afua’s courage as he faces his own impending death. Both joyful and heartbreaking, this novel affirms and celebrates the love and spirituality of these Black queer girls. ©2020 Cooperative Children's Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Affirmation
African Americans
Faith, Spirituality and Religion
Illness and Disease
Jail and Prison
Lesbians
LGBTQ+ Persons
Racism
Trinidadians
Diversity subjects:
Black/African
Latine
LGBTQ Character/Topic
Publishers:
Dutton, Penguin Random House
Publish Year: 2019
Pages: 308
ISBN: 9780525555483
CCBC Location: Fiction, Petrus
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