Where the Forest Meets the Stars
by Glendy Vanderah
Synopsis
After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.
The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.
Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?
Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.
by Glendy Vanderah
Synopsis
After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.
The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.
Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?
Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.
Review
This story is quite unlike any others I've read. Granted, this may be because I tend to stay away from books about families. Let's not think about what that says about me. Let's move on.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars is about Joanna, a lonely woman, who meets Ursa, a captivating little girl who seemingly appears out of nowhere. It's truly a story of the random connection between strangers and how those strangers can ultimately become like family. Joanna, along with her neighbor Gabriel, try to figure out the mystery behind Ursa's appearance. We learn a lot about survival, sadness, family, and miracles as the story continues.
There were instances where the story lagged, perhaps with tidbits that weren't all that essential to the main story, However, it's a story that has left me thinking about it long after I finished it, and it has really made me think about the concept of "home" and family. I recommend readers give this book a try as any book that leaves you thinking about it some time after truly has something about it to make it special.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars is about Joanna, a lonely woman, who meets Ursa, a captivating little girl who seemingly appears out of nowhere. It's truly a story of the random connection between strangers and how those strangers can ultimately become like family. Joanna, along with her neighbor Gabriel, try to figure out the mystery behind Ursa's appearance. We learn a lot about survival, sadness, family, and miracles as the story continues.
There were instances where the story lagged, perhaps with tidbits that weren't all that essential to the main story, However, it's a story that has left me thinking about it long after I finished it, and it has really made me think about the concept of "home" and family. I recommend readers give this book a try as any book that leaves you thinking about it some time after truly has something about it to make it special.
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