The Star reflects the contemporary phenomenon of fame without substance, a part of our celebrity-soaked culture.
Marion, a wooden doll, her friend Harley and their dog Polka enter the imaginary World of Fame where Marion becomes a glamorous Star. But she learns painfully that stardom has a use-by-date. Her experience changes her forever but her true friends still love her.
The story explores the superficiality of stardom and the value of true friendship.
Ages: 9-11
Jenny Mounfield
With our TVs sprouting instant stars almost daily with such shows as: Australian Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and Australia's Got Talent, is it any wonder today's kids crave the limelight? The Star is a timely tale that addresses the reality of fame and shows readers just how one dimensional and fleeting it can be. Although touted for kids 10+, I can see younger children, particularly girls being drawn to this title. The Star is well-written and well-told, but while the dangers of stardom are certainly noteworthy, I do hope kids won't be put off these aspirations altogether. After all, a life lived without dreams is a life only half-lived.
Guest, 14/05/2010
