The Stars and the Blackness Between Them

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them is an American young adult fiction book by Junauda Petrus. It was released on September 17, 2019 by Dutton Books, and tells the story of a Trinidadian girl sent to live in Minneapolis after her mother discovers that she has a girlfriend. The Stars and the Blackness Between Them received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award.[1]

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
First edition hardcover
AuthorJunauda Petrus
Cover artistCharles Chaisson
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung adult fiction
Published2019 (Dutton)
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages320 (Hardcover edition)
ISBN978-0-5255-5548-3

Synopsis

Audre is a 16-year-old girl who lives in Trinidad.[2] At the urging of her mother, she attends church, but forms a romantic relationship with the pastor's granddaughter, Neri. After they are caught engaging in sexual activity, Audre is sent to live in Minneapolis with her father, where she meets Mabel.[3] Mabel is questioning her own sexuality, and the two become friends. As they prepare for the upcoming school year, Mabel finds out she has a life-threatening illness. Audre supports Mabel as she undergoes treatment, and conjures her healing using spiritual practices learned from her grandmother.[4]

Publication

2019, United States, Dutton Books, ISBN 978-0525555483, 17 September 2019, Hardback.[5]

Critical reception

The book was received positively by critics. Kirkus Reviews described The Stars and the Blackness Between Them in a starred review: "Through a nonlinear storyline and two secondary characters, Afua and Queenie, the author beautifully interjects elements of magical realism while delving into the complexities of spirituality. Readers seeking a deep, uplifting love story will not be disappointed as the novel covers both flourishing feelings and bigger questions around belief and what happens when we face our own mortality."[4] In a second starred review Publishers Weekly wrote, "Petrus’s earnest debut successfully, touchingly combines elements of fantasy, bittersweet realism, and potent, affecting spirituality to tell the coming-of-age story of two complex, beautifully drawn young black women whose friendship and love draw them together even as Mabel’s failing health pushes them apart."[6]

Awards

The book received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award.[7] It was also named a Kirkus Reviews 2019 Best Book[4] and is a 2020 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee.[8]

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References
  1. "American Library Association announces 2020 Youth Media Award winners" (PDF). ALA. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  2. Junauda, Petrus. "The Stars and the Blackness Between Them". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  3. "The Stars and the Blackness Between Them - Book Review". Common Sense Media. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  4. "THE STARS AND THE BLACKNESS BETWEEN THEM by Junauda Petrus". Kirkus Reviews.
  5. Petrus, Junauda. The stars and the blackness between them. New York. ISBN 978-0-525-55548-3. OCLC 1080276137.
  6. "The Stars and the Blackness Between Them". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  7. "The 2020 Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, and Coretta Scott King Award Winners". Barnes & Noble Reads. 2020-01-27. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  8. "Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2020) Nominees Round Up, November 29 Edition". The Hub. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
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