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badassbookbestie's review against another edition
3.0
https://bribeebrown.com/a-night-without-stars-by-james-howe/
impybelle's review against another edition
3.0
I suspect that if I'd read this when I was younger, I would have bumped it up at least another star. As it is, too much time has passed and chunks of the book feel dated.
That said, the friendship between Maria and Donald works. Some might argue that the adults are kind of useless, but not all of them are. The nurse who explains what's really happening to Maria and Lorna are both examples of this. Maria's father may not be the most expressive adult in the book, but it makes sense given who he is and *when* he is.
It's a sweet book that will prompt a chuckle or a laugh and maybe make you sniffle, just a tad, before the end.
That said, the friendship between Maria and Donald works. Some might argue that the adults are kind of useless, but not all of them are. The nurse who explains what's really happening to Maria and Lorna are both examples of this. Maria's father may not be the most expressive adult in the book, but it makes sense given who he is and *when* he is.
It's a sweet book that will prompt a chuckle or a laugh and maybe make you sniffle, just a tad, before the end.
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
I was impressed with this James Howe drama. Maria needs heart surgery and this story deals with the fear of what surgery is going to be like. This was a different time. Maria went in the hospital early, like 24 hours early, which they don't do now. She meets other kids on the kid ward having surgery for various things. She meets 2 girls who seem friendly. There is also Donald who the girls nick-name Monster Boy. He was burned severely and he has a chip on his shoulder to protect him.
The story is about finding friends in unlikely places. This book is well written for a middle grade age group and it's a good story. It deals with fear of the unknown, being alone, having friends and friending someone that others don't like and family. It's complex and well done.
James Howe comes through again. It's a serious book.
The story is about finding friends in unlikely places. This book is well written for a middle grade age group and it's a good story. It deals with fear of the unknown, being alone, having friends and friending someone that others don't like and family. It's complex and well done.
James Howe comes through again. It's a serious book.
kieranlit's review
3.0
Eh, it was okay. Donald was believable, but the friends were not. Good thing they weren't major characters. For better stories about health issues, try [a:Lurlene McDaniel|73148|Lurlene McDaniel|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1208390908p2/73148.jpg] books. [b:Someone Dies, Someone Lives|127427|Someone Dies, Someone Lives (One Last Wish)|Lurlene McDaniel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171934326s/127427.jpg|122722] is about heart transplant surgery. It's the first in a series, but can also stand alone. A later book in the series, also about heart surgery, is [b:She Died Too Young|1036299|She Died Too Young (One Last Wish)|Lurlene McDaniel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1180404668s/1036299.jpg|1278050].
sarahmariespectrum's review
5.0
I first got this book when I was 13 and I thought it was going to be another one of those YA novels that you read and it just seems like it's the same as the rest of them out there.
But I was really surprised to find that this dug deeper than that. It really hit home because I, personally, have spent a lot of time in the hospital for surgeries in such when I was younger. Sometimes I was scared to death, and other times I wondered when I could leave. To this day I still do not like doctors, and will argue with them. I liked how I could feel what these characters were feeling--I could relate and that's what I loved about it. It displays a good message on looking beyond outward appearances and seeing deeper than that.
It's a story about friendship, faith, believing, and hope. It's still one of my favorites to this day, and I'd recommend it to any teen.
But I was really surprised to find that this dug deeper than that. It really hit home because I, personally, have spent a lot of time in the hospital for surgeries in such when I was younger. Sometimes I was scared to death, and other times I wondered when I could leave. To this day I still do not like doctors, and will argue with them. I liked how I could feel what these characters were feeling--I could relate and that's what I loved about it. It displays a good message on looking beyond outward appearances and seeing deeper than that.
It's a story about friendship, faith, believing, and hope. It's still one of my favorites to this day, and I'd recommend it to any teen.
calistareads's review
4.0
I was impressed with this James Howe drama. Maria needs heart surgery and this story deals with the fear of what surgery is going to be like. This was a different time. Maria went in the hospital early, like 24 hours early, which they don't do now. She meets other kids on the kid ward having surgery for various things. She meets 2 girls who seem friendly. There is also Donald who the girls nick-name Monster Boy. He was burned severely and he has a chip on his shoulder to protect him.
The story is about finding friends in unlikely places. This book is well written for a middle grade age group and it's a good story. It deals with fear of the unknown, being alone, having friends and friending someone that others don't like and family. It's complex and well done.
James Howe comes through again. It's a serious book.
The story is about finding friends in unlikely places. This book is well written for a middle grade age group and it's a good story. It deals with fear of the unknown, being alone, having friends and friending someone that others don't like and family. It's complex and well done.
James Howe comes through again. It's a serious book.
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