The Brightest Star

Gr 6 Up–Grehan’s latest verse novel follows a queer girl and her two friends as they enter high school, offering an insightful and moving exploration of identity. Thirteen-year-old protagonist Stevie openly acknowledges her growing romantic relationship with Chloe. She feels excited about starting high school alongside Chloe and lifelong friend Andrew, even though the upcoming change also triggers her anxiety. While Stevie and Chloe rush to join the school’s Rainbow Club, Andrew begins pulling away from Stevie for the first time. The leisurely paced novel is told in Stevie and Andrew’s dual points of view, and Grehan’s verse skills shine as she creates distinct mental monologues for each. Stevie’s obsession with outer space infuses the story; as the emotional distance between Stevie and Andrew grows, Grehan mines plenty of space-related metaphors to create nuggets of wisdom and beautiful imagery. A follow-up to The Deepest Breath, this novel also works as a remarkable standalone LGBTQIA+ read that begins with the heroine already comfortable in her emerging sexuality, secure in her crush’s reciprocated feelings, and surrounded by adults who model gentle support throughout. Young teens who are exploring their identities or feeling anxious about high school will find this a relatable tale, and the sweet chasteness of the budding relationship is appropriate for middle school collections. Character race and ethnicity are not described.