The Language of Stars, Louise Hawes
The Language of Stars, Louise Hawes
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The Language of Stars

Author: Louise Hawes

Narrator: Katie Schorr

Unabridged: 10 hr 5 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/31/2016

Synopsis

Sarah is forced to take a summer poetry class as penance for trashing the home of a famous poet, in this fresh novel about finding your own voice.Sarah has had her happy ending: she is at the party of the year with the most popular boy in school. But when that boy turns out to be a troublemaker who decided to throw a party at a cottage museum dedicated to renowned poet Rufus Baylor, everything changes. By the end of the party, the whole cottage is trashed—curtains up in flames, walls damaged, mementos smashed—and when the partygoers are caught, they’re all sentenced to take a summer class studying Rufus Baylor’s poetry—with Baylor as their teacher.For Sarah, Baylor is a revelation. Unlike her mother, who is obsessed with keeping up appearances, and her estranged father, for whom she can’t do anything right, Rufus Baylor listens to what she has to say and appreciates her ear for language. Through his classes, Sarah starts to see her relationships and the world in a new light and finds that maybe her happy ending is really only part of a much more interesting beginning.The Language of Stars is a gorgeous celebration of poetry, language, and love from celebrated author Louise Hawes.

About Louise Hawes

Louise Hawes is a teacher and the author of more than a dozen novels for readers of all ages. She has served as writer in residence at the University of New Mexico and the Women’s University of Mississippi. She was also a John Grisham Visiting Writer at the University of Mississippi. She helped found the MFA degree program in writing for children and young adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she is a teacher. Follow her on Twitter @LouiseHawes; on Instagram @Hawes252; and visit her on the web at LouiseHawes.com.

About Katie Schorr

Katie Schorr is an actor and writer in New York. Her one-woman show, Take Me. Seriously, ran for six months at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and she performs throughout New York in new works at the Ensemble Studio Theatre and Ars Nova, among other theaters. She has appeared on VH1’s Best Week Ever and costars in the web series Head in the Oven with Saturday Night Live actor Bill Hader. Her audiobook credits include narrating the novels in Alyson Noel’s bestselling Immortals series. Of her work on the series, AudioFile magazine has said, “Narrator Katie Schorr has a wonderfully raspy, youthful voice, which she puts to good effect on the cast of teenage characters.”

Reviews

Goodreads review by Maria Myka

"I guess the key to writing big is feeling big. You have to want and feel and taste more than you can ever get down on paper. That forces you to pay attention, take notes. And choose." It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the book. But when words start to sound like lyrics... Smile. Take it in.......more

Goodreads review by Emma-Grace

2/5 Stars Unfortunately, there were just so many things that I disagreed with in this book. The premise actually isn't too bad. Poetry plays a big role in the book and I thought it would be a coming of age story. You know, discovering yourself, how to stay true to yourself, that kind of thing. That ju......more

Goodreads review by Jeff

Probably a 3.5. It started out a little slow but grew in the telling. Sarah was a good, fickle, teen protagonist. Rufus Baylor was a great wish fulfillment grandpa and poetry mentor. H snuck up on us as we read to be a great character. It feels like the author sensed that too, as H became more preva......more

Quotes

“[Sarah’s] struggle with the decision to be true to herself is one that many teens will recognize.” School Library Journal

“A story about a girl learning to love the possibilities that come with independence: the chance to discover one’s true self and desires, while forging a path forward that might fulfill them.” Publishers Weekly

“Hawes excels in crafting rounded characters with varied home situations teens can relate to…A tale of self-discovery well suited for art-inclined readers who feel themselves on the fringe.” Kirkus Reviews

“A rewarding character study [about] the power of creative expression. This is a tale of forgiveness, listening to the world, and looking beyond the surface.” Booklist

“Readers will find much to savor in this book, an inspiring redemption story and an ode to the transformative power of verse.” Horn Book

“Narrator Katie Schorr’s voice is soft as she begins Sarah Wheeler’s first-person story. This gentleness conveys the meekness of a girl who is cowed by her boorish father, controlling mother, and domineering boyfriend…Schorr captures Baylor’s melodic Southern tones, disarming charm, and growing tenderness toward Sarah..Schorr’s excellent portrayals are crucial to a this character-driven novel.” AudioFile

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