No Shelf Control

By Kate Korsh

Never Seen the Stars is one of those books that hurts in just the right way. With powerful, raw characters and thought-provoking story lines, you are instantly drawn in. Whether it be the pain or the possibility of the future, Never Seen the Stars has you waiting for more, and aching with grief for what has already passed.

Rating:

Review:

Hattie Murph has never seen the stars. Only, she didn’t know it was because she was going blind, just like her dad did. Slowly losing her vision, unsure for how long she will be able to see. And to make it even worse her best friend Mason just died. But as she’s losing her vision, she begins to see more. Not ready to let go, Hattie begins to see Mason’s ghost. And with everything changing, Hattie has too many secrets. Between her vision declining and visits from Mason, she needs to figure out, how can she move on without losing everything?

Never Seen the Stars is a very powerful look into progressive disabilities and their hidden struggles. Characterized through the lens of a high schooler, Korsh invites readers into the emotional reality of vision loss through the ups and downs it brings. Whether it be Hattie’s struggle to open up about her disability, her panic over its possible rapid progression, or her journey of gradual acceptance, all if it is portrayed beautifully.

Furthermore, many other difficult topics are discussed in this book. Throughout the plot there’s teenage grief and processing, efforts to establish boundaries in many forms, opening up to your own struggles, and more. These themes are woven together thoughtfully, creating a powerful book that challenges the stereotypical belief that teenage lives are a walk in the park.

Beyond the wonderful things about this book, the language and the writing itself often held it back. While the message was powerful and the characters unique, the writing often felt somewhat childish. It carried writing similar to that of a middle grade book with content geared more towards a young adult audience. Because of this, the emotional weight occasionally feels softened, sometimes diminishing the gravity of major moments, and ultimately led me to rating it four stars.

Never Seen the Stars is a moving novel about healing from the past and embracing the possibility of the future, no matter how frightening it may seem. It’s perfect for fans of Dustin Thao’s heart breaking novel You’ve Reached Sam and John Green’s powerful book The Fault in Our Stars. If you’re looking for a unique, powerful read, go check out Never Seen the Stars by Kate Korsh.

Out November 4th, go check out Never Seen the Stars! Available wherever you purchase your books!

Thanks so much to Scholastic Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of Never Seen the Stars in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

FYI, I closed my book to write this 😉