In Sight of Stars, Gae Polisner
In Sight of Stars, Gae Polisner
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In Sight of Stars

Author: Gae Polisner

Narrator: Michael Crouch

Unabridged: 9 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/13/2018

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Klee’s father was the center of his life. He introduced Klee to the great museums of New York City and the important artists on their walls; he told him stories made of myths and magic. Until his death.Now, forced to live in the suburbs with his mom, Klee can’t help but feel he has lost all the identifying parts of himself―his beloved father, weekly trips to the Museum of Modern Art, and the thrumming energy of New York City. That is, until he meets wild and free Sarah in art class, with her quick smiles and jokes about his “brooding.” Suddenly it seems as if she’s the only thing that makes him happy. But when an act of betrayal sends him reeling, Klee lands in what is bitingly referred to as the “Ape Can,” a psychiatric hospital for teens in Northhollow.While there, he undergoes intensive therapy and goes back over the pieces of his life to find out what was real, what wasn’t, and whether he can stand on his own feet again.Told in alternating timelines, leading up to the event that gets him committed and working towards getting back out, Gae Polisner’s In Sight of Stars is a gorgeous novel told in minimalist strokes to maximal effect, about what makes us fall apart and how we can put ourselves back together again.

About Gae Polisner

Gae Polisner is the award-winning author of several books, including The Memory of Things, named a Golden Archer Children’s Choice Award recipient; The Summer of Letting Go, named a Nerdy Book Club Best YA 2014 and recipient of a Teen Ink Editor’s Choice Badge of Approval; and The Pull of Gravity, a 2012 Bank Street Best, 2012 PSLA Top Forty, and a Nerdy Book Club Best YA for 2011. She also cohosts Teachers Write!, a virtual writers camp for teachers and educators.

About Michael Crouch

Michael Crouch is an actor based in New York City. His audiobook narration has won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, and Best of the Year accolades from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. He can also be heard on national commercials, cartoons, video games, and the animé series Pokémon XY and Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jeff on January 08, 2018

I loved this book from start to finish. It’s an achingly fierce exploration of the way the world wounds us and heals us. If you love exquisitely written coming-of-age stories that will leave you breathless, In Sight of Stars is for you. I wanted to underline every other passage.......more

Goodreads review by aimee (aimeecanread) on January 26, 2018

Whoops, I ended up not finishing this one. The choppy writing, manic pixie dream girl trope, and confusing AF narration were too much for me. At least I managed to uphold my 30-percent-before-I-quit rule. Mini review to come closer to the release date. [DNF @ 30%]......more

Goodreads review by Kelly on September 17, 2017

Finished In Sight of Stars by Gae Polisner. I received a copy for review. This will be published March 13. Klee (pronounced like clay) has been committed. We don't know why, and this book goes back and forth in time, explaining how he got there and, more importantly, how he'll find his way back. I wa......more

Goodreads review by Nora on December 05, 2017

I read this story in an early draft and my first response was..Damn, she nailed it. Ms. Polisner captures the truest sense and expanse of a young man's emotions-- his complicated relationship with his mother, the loss of his dad, and his romantic heart aches. She also beautifully renders his descent......more

Goodreads review by Dawn on December 17, 2017

I received an uncorrected proof from Facebook friend and author, Gae Polisner. This review, however, is written without bias and without a complete summary because...read the book. I hate spoilers. Without giving up the plot I can say it is beautifully written with characters that are still in my mi......more

Quotes

“Gae Polisner’s realistic story about a teenager fighting mental illness is brought to life by narrator Michael Crouch…Crouch takes listeners into Klee’s journey, giving him a poignant, sometimes hesitant, voice during his sessions with Dr. Alvarez, his internal monologues, and his vivid memories. He injects Dr. Alvarez’s voice with caring patience as the psychiatrist slowly gains Klee’s trust. Klee’s mother’s voice trembles with the weight of her own pain as she struggles to understand and support her son. This powerful audiobook—rings true. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile

“The book is ultimately upbeat, tracing Klee’s recovery over a two-week period of inpatient therapy, and in the process readers also learn about artists, including Vincent Van Gogh.” Newsday

“Deals with mental health, Vincent Van Gogh, family, and recovery; all told in some of the most beautiful prose you will probably ever read.” Teen Reads

“Polisner’s short novel destigmatizes mental illness, emphasizing that everyone needs a little help sometimes…[Of] contemporary novels about teens with mental illnesses, this one stands out for its strong writing, likable protagonist, and overwhelmingly positive messages.” School Library Journal

"Readers traversing their own real and metaphorical losses, particularly as they learn to see their parents and themselves as full individuals, will find companionship as they share Klee’s journey toward acceptance of who he is.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“This book is an absolute must-read and the best contemporary novel I’ve read since J. C. Geiger’s Wildman.” Young Adult Book Central (5 stars)

“An intense, sometimes graphic, totally heartbreaking portrait of a character who will keep pages turning.” Booklist (starred review)

"Readers traversing their own real and metaphorical losses, particularly as they learn to see their parents and themselves as full individuals, will find companionship as they share Klee’s journey toward acceptance of who he is.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Polisner’s short novel destigmatizes mental illness, emphasizing that everyone needs a little help sometimes. Readers will laugh, cry, and ache alongside Klee as they follow his recovery…In a sea of recent contemporary novels about teens with mental illnesses, this one stands out for its strong writing, likable protagonist, and overwhelmingly positive messages.” School Library Journal

“An unapologetic and wry story about a teen finding his way out of a personal crisis.” Kirkus Reviews

Awards

  • Barnes & Noble Teen Blog Pick
  • AudioFile Earphones Award
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