Reviews
The Stars in My Heart is about how Sloan, a teen newly diagnosed with POTS, experiences life with chronic illness. She has many curveballs thrown at her throughout the book and is able to handle each one with support from her friends, doctors, and parent. The friendships in this book reminded me of Red Band Society (anyone else ever watch that show?) with how close Sloan, Clem and Harlow become throughout the book.
The POTS representation was fantastic!! The POV of being a newly diagnosed teen felt so authentic. I loved how Sloan grows throughout the book and learns to live with her chronic illness.
Goodreads
This book is super cute and brought up all of the feelings! As someone who is chronically ill, it was easy to relate to a lot of Sloan’s struggles. I also deal with POTS, and it’s something that’s hard to understand until you go through it yourself. The representation in this book also deals with Bipolar Depression and Ewing’s Sarcoma. TSIMH takes a complex experience and relays it through emotional, relatable, cute, and funny prose. I had a really great time reading it. Being a young and chronically ill person isn’t easy, but this book makes you feel a little less alone.
Goodreads
I felt like I was reading a real-life story about Harlow, her friends, and their respective struggles. The author’s writing made the journal so realistic! Some people want to change for the better, but don’t know how or cannot on their own. Sometimes a life changing event is the only thing that is able to help (along with the support of incredible chosen family).
I also like that Harlow listens to music (and shares the names of the songs).. it is a fun, lighter aspect of this book!
Goodreads
this book was important on so many levels, and i hope that it starts conversations. both for able bodied and disabled people. it’s important first and foremost to be understanding about what each person goes through, because, as sydney mentions in her author’s note, every case is different and even if you have the same illness you most likely will not experience all the same symptoms. no one’s experience is more or less valid than the next and that’s something we all need to remember.
Omg my heart. This book brought me all the feels.
A touching story with so many spots that had me tear up a bit. It's definitely worth the read.
Goodreads
Goodreads
Goodreads