The Star That Always Stays; a Review

Hey, everyone! 🥰 How are you? Apologies for the delay in posting, things got busy. 😆

Today I’ve got another review for you! ☺️ This one was such a sweet, fun read, and I’m sure you’d all enjoy it too! 😌

The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson.

4.5 ✨!

🎀🕯️🍦📚👗💜✨

Blurb:

When bright and spirited Norvia moves from the country to the city, she has to live by one new rule: Never let anyone know you’re Ojibwe.

Growing up on Beaver Island, Grand-pere told Norvia stories—stories about her ancestor Migizi, about Biboonke-o-nini the Wintermaker, about the Crane Clan and the Reindeer Clan. He sang her songs in the old language, and her grandmothers taught her to make story quilts and maple candy. On the island, Norvia was proud of her Ojibwe heritage.

Things are different in the city. Here, Norvia’s mother forces her to pretend she’s not Native at all—even to Mr. Ward, Ma’s new husband, and to Vernon, Norvia’s irritating new stepbrother. In fact, there are a lot of changes in the ten-cent movies, gleaming soda shops, speedy automobiles, ninth grade. It’s dizzying for a girl who grew up on the forested shores of Lake Michigan.

Despite the move, the upheaval, and the looming threat of world war, Norvia and her siblings—all five of them—are determined to make 1914 their best year ever. Norvia is certain that her future depends upon it... and upon her discretion.

But how can she have the best year ever if she has to hide who she truly is?

The Star That Always Stays is directly inspired by Anna Rose Johnson’s family history.

I loved this book so much! 🥰 The sweet characters, settings and dynamics were my favorite, and it reminded me of many of my favorite reads such as Anne of Green Gables, Betsy-Tacy, and Little Women. 💜 My favorite parts to read were definitely all he family and friend relationships, and getting to learn more about different characters. It also had meaningful, overtly Christian themes, but it wasn’t too preachy or cheesy as similar books often are, which I was so glad for! 🤗 And it was so cool thinking about the fact that these characters were, for the most part, real people! 😉☺️

Favorite charries:

Norvia 🎀

Virgil 💼

Dicta 🎭

Kitty 🫧

Alymer 😏

CWs: Talk of previous deaths, talk of war. One character uses the phrase “half breeds” in reference to Norvia and her French-Ojibwe family. Silly fortune-telling at a Halloween party.

Age level:

Content wise—all ages! 😉

Reading level—10 and up! 🥰

Before you go, what have you all been reading lately? ☺️ Have any of you read this one? What did you think? 🤔 I’d love to hear! 🤭

That’s all for now. 😉 Thanks so much for reading! 💜 Until next time. 🤗

—Sara Noelle