Spirals and Stars
Spirals and Stars by Kate Gordon Gordon, published by Wombat Books on September 4, 2024, is a children’s book that explores the complexities of friendship and growing up. Set in 1993, the story follows eleven-year-old Beth McMaugh as she navigates her final year of middle school. With her best friend Ashlee changing and gravitating towards a new group of popular girls, Beth grapples with the fear of losing her friend. The arrival of a new classmate, Jools, adds another layer to Beth’s challenges as she confronts her past and the secrets that haunt her.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into themes of family life, social skills, and the struggles of adolescence. As Beth attempts to save her friendship with Ashlee while also dealing with her own insecurities, the story highlights the importance of finding one’s tribe and embracing individuality. With a page count of 224, this edition invites young readers to reflect on their own experiences of friendship and self-discovery, all while engaging with relatable characters and situations.
Official synopsis Publisher
Its 1993. Beth McMaugh is eleven years old and about to start her final year of middle school. Her best friend since kindergarten is Ashlee, but Ashlee is changing. She wears surf brand clothes now, and watches teenage TV and knows all the words to all the songs by Girlfriend and Peter Andre. Beth is terrified of losing her when they get to senior school, but Ashlee assures her that grade six is going to be the best year ever.
On the first day, though, Beth enters her new homeroom to find Ashlee sitting with Kristy, Abbi and Nikki – the popular girls. The mean girls. What is Beth going to do? Ashlee cant really want to be one of them. They must have trapped her into being part of their group, through some sort of heinous bribery. Beth has to save Ashlee, but how?
Further complicating matters, there is a new kid in class – a strange, loud, smart kid from Brisbane, called Jools, who listens to Queen and is obsessed with science fiction and all things nerdy. So obsessed that, on her first day at her new school, she starts the Cooee Middle School Nerd Club and she wants Beth to be her first member – despite the fact that Beth has never even seen Star Wars! Behind all of this – behind everything – is a secret from Beths past, a secret so terrible it stays with her, every day, whispering in her ear: Wash your hands.
Behind everything is that day at the beach, when Kristy saw her in her worst moment. Is that why Ashlee doesnt want to be friends with Beth anymore? Is that why her mother doesnt want to be near her? Has Beth ruined everything? And if she has, can a nerdy girl with mismatched socks, a rebellious punk, a popular boy and a science fiction movie trilogy set it all to right?
Real Friends, by Shannon Hale, meets Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, meets The Friendship Matchmaker, by Randa Abdel Fattah, this is a story of growing up, of friendship, of finding your tribe and unlocking your hidden talents … plus Star Wars.
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