Lucky stars

Lucky Stars ©2005

  
      "Frank's tender novel centers on a pair of troubled teens who find themselves, and each other, through music (and through an abandoned duck named Dirk).Talented singer Kira moves to New York City to live with her father, an out-of-luck musician whose wife has left him with their two small boys. While performing with him in the subway, she meets Jake, who has trouble speaking because of a severe stutter, and his eccentric best friend, Eugene.  They connect when they come across each other and a duck thrown out in an alley, which Kira agrees to adopt; their relationship strengthens when they join their school's chorus. Frank credibly presents the characters and their problems: through the teens' alternating perspectives, readers learn that Kira's dad drives a cab at night, forcing her to cook and care for her brothers, and Jake's been skipping school and even lies to his parents about seeing a speech therapist. Their chorus teacher encourages them to find their "joyous" selves within and, thanks to some plotting from Eugene plus a mutual love, they begin to do just that. Readers can't help but applaud."   --Publisher's Weekly 


"A stray duck and an enthusiastic music teacher show three middle school kids how to find their own voices and sing in harmony. Kira has a beautiful voice that her unemployed musician father exploits by conning her to sing in the subway with the family ensemble.  Humiliated, Kira refuses to sing. Jake is a good student, but cuts classes to avoid the embarrassment of his stutter and well-meaning offers of speech therapy from teachers. Jake and his gregarious, garrulous best friend Eugene get together with Kira when they rescue a stray duck in a snowstorm. But as Kira and Jake become more than friends, Eugene's friendship with Jake may be threatened. All comes together when the three join Ms. Hill's chorus. Here Jake finds his voice, Kira reclaims hers and the natural entertainer in Eugene emerges. In alternating voices, Kira and Jake tell their funny and touching story with Eugene's foghorn voice coming in for the final coda. Readers will thank their lucky stars when they meet this trio."  --Kirkus  

"Deft characterization, an authentic sense of place, and a good mix of serious and funny scenes . . .The author handles the delicate balance between friendship and love with sensitivity and offers a satisfying, realistic conclusion." --School Library Journal

Bank Street Best Books of the Year
Kansas State Reading Circle Middle School Titles                                            

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