A Pocketful of Stars

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I know it’s weird not wanting Elle to come round, because she’s my best friend. But Saturday nights are supposed to be our night. Mum and me.

A Pocketful of Stars | Book reviews | RGfE A Pocketful of Stars | Book reviews | RGfE

Abir and Izzy nod solemnly. I hear them whisper to Elle and ask her what’s going on, but I don’t hear her response. I don’t even say goodbye. Now I tend to follow authors much more closely than I did. My favourite MG author at the moment is Katherine Rundell; I always look forward to her next publication. I am also really excited to keep on reading Anna James’ and Cat Doyle’s books. Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Ross Welford and Kiran Millwood-Hargrave. About This Edition ISBN: When we’re alone again we fall into that easy sort of conversation we have when it’s just the two of us. Sometimes we even forget where we are because the Saff and Elle bubble is indestructible – even an army of goblins couldn’t break through it. Liz: An important thing is to trust your instincts – and trust your writing. With Aisha’s book, she felt that the magical element needed to change – which meant quite a lot of reworking – so it was a really brave decision to trust that feeling and go for it. Only you know the story you want to write. Another more practical thing is to push through on a first draft – it’s really easy to start second guessing yourself and want to edit as you go, but try to just write through to the end. The shaping and rethinking comes afterwards – and we’re there to help with that!Abir and Izzy widen their eyes at one another, as if to say ‘how immature’, but I catch Izzy grinning at me. The Branford Boase judges said :‘I love the voice, and the story brought me to tears’; ‘Safiya is a very well rounded, developed character’; ‘a really clever idea, and the story is so well told’; ‘she makes the magic credible’; ‘I was so impressed by the way the friendships developed’. A member of staff approaches her and Mum’s eyes focus again. ‘No thank you,’ she says when the woman asks if she needs any help. ‘I’m just waiting for my daughter and her friend.’ Then she comments on how lovely the woman’s earrings are and her face lights up as she tells Mum that she made them herself. Soon enough they’re in a full-blown conversation about jewellery-making, even though Mum knows nothing about it.

A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Bushby - Ebook | Scribd A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Bushby - Ebook | Scribd

Before I got an agent and book deal writing was my creative escape, and so I spent all of my free time, when I wasn’t at work, reading and writing. I didn’t do much else for a long time! Some blend into others until all you can remember is the memory of a memory of a memory, and you don't quite know where your imagination takes over. Secondly, I loved the fact that each scene in the book was interlinked with popular books like: Harry Potter Series, The Wizard Of Oz, Alice In The Wonderland etc. It actually enhanced the storyline a lot. Being an avid reader, I had read most of the books mentioned in this novel and thus was able to co – relate to the story in a much efficient manner. I really think that this was totally the best part about this book. This was a really wonderful MG novel that explored friendship and family with a lot of nuance and perspective. Alongside that, I wanted there to be one constant in Safiya’s life, something to ground her and make her feel safe: Dad. A lot of Safiya’s strength comes from her father’s stability, even though her fire comes from her mother.What I found appealing in this book were how many ways the teens were creative – as illustrators, writers, game players and makeup artists. Having a form of creative output helps them bond as well as being a constructive pastime. How much do engage in being creative in other ways and how do you let off creative steam in other forms? I love the fact that none of the mother-daughter fights in this book are one-sided - Safiya's mum genuinely says and does things she shouldn't and so does Safiya (and Safiya's grandmother, too, in the memories Safiya witnesses). They're all strong-minded, passionate women who believe strongly in their own points of view - and love each other equally strongly, which makes their arguments even more painful. But the hope and compassion in the ending is heartwrenchingly well done. The tears I cried at the end of this book were so well-earned.

A Pocketful of Stars – HarperCollins Publishers UK

By the end of the story Safiya’s relationships with people in her life are different to those at the beginning. As a teenager, which one was most crucial for her to deal with the changes around her? Rating this is very weird for me because I know the story is better and I should rate it about a 4/5 but I just didn't vibe with it. It wasn't for me and I would rate it maybe a 2.5/5 if I was honest.Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments I ask Elle what she’s been reading, and she asks me about gaming. I tell her that I just ranked up on Fairy Hunters, and she describes a series of books about an undercover alchemist. It’s set in a boarding school, like Harry Potter, and sounds really cool. We agree to have a three-day sleepover, where we binge on our favourite TV shows and films over half-term, and never change out of our pyjamas. Saff, your mum said I could come round tonight for dinner,’ Elle says when she finally catches up with me. This young globular cluster can be seen from the southern hemisphere, in the Dorado constellation, which is Portugese for dolphinfish. Usually, globular clusters contain stars which are born at the same time; however, NGC 1805 is unusual as it appears to host two different populations of stars with ages millions of years apart. Observing such clusters of stars can help astronomers understand how stars evolve, and what factors determine whether they end their lives as white dwarfs, or explode as supernovae.

A Pocketful of Stars | ESA/Hubble - www.spacetelescope.org A Pocketful of Stars | ESA/Hubble - www.spacetelescope.org

OK, fine.’ I think for a moment. ‘How about we count the number of times the cast says hair?’ I suggest. ‘Isn’t that what the story is about?’ I always love it when books have pets because pets are so important to people and they bring a different type of comfort. Pure magic tbhI can’t help but think that maybe Elle’s the daughter Mum should’ve had, the daughter she would’ve wanted. Safiya and her mum have never seen eye to eye. Her mum doesn’t understand Safiya’s love of gaming and Safiya doesn't think they have anything in common. As Safiya struggles to fit in at school she wonders if her mum wishes she was more like her confident best friend Elle. But then her mum falls into a coma and, when Safiya waits by her bedside, she finds herself in a strange and magical world that looks a bit like one of her games. And there’s a rebellious teenage girl, with a secret, who looks suspiciously familiar … Safiya and her mother have a complex relationship: both fiery women who spark off one another. But when her mother slips into a coma, Safiya is lost... until she discovers the magical perfume her mother wears might be the key to saving her. I’m currently working on my second book, and it’s interesting to see how that has shifted. Writing is now, rather bizarrely, my job, and one I love more than I can say, but there are also expectations and deadlines and, with all of that, stress. So, I’ve tried my best to turn to other creative outlets, to help me when I’m struggling to write.