Made of Stars by Kelley York – a Review

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Description:
When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.

The reason they’ve never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance’s quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off.

Then Chance’s mom turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance and his dad. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent…they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?

Review:

Made of Stars by Kelley York is a surprising different type of story that I have read in the YA genre.  This is not dystopian, but a simple warm and heart wrenching story of three young adults, whom we meet when they were children, with the focus of most of the story taking place when they were 18.  Made of Stars was my first book by York, and it was so well written. It kept my attention from the start, even when the story changed a bit, and you saw where it was heading, York just kept me turning the pages. 

Our protagonists are a threesome, Hunter and Ashlin, who are half siblings, as they share the same father, but each live with their mother. Each summer they would stay with their father, and enjoying their time together.  York made them both so great, as their closeness, and loyalty to each other was sweet, and you loved them both.  Into this mix, was Chance, a local boy who became their trusted and adored friend.  Chance spent more time with Hunter and Ashlin, then he did at home; being young, neither would wonder why.  Chance, was sort of their leader, and he reminded me a bit of Peter Pan, fun loving, playful, daring and fearless.  All three of them were very close, each looking forward to the time they spent with each other.  Due to an injury to Hunter & Ashlin’s father, two years pass before they come back to spend the winter with their father.  They are now 18, planning their lives to go to college.  Hunter has a girlfriend, Rachel, who will spend part of the winter with them. 

But now that they are older, things have changed somewhat.  Both Hunter and Ashlin are excited to see Chance again, and privately each have strong feelings for Chance.  But when Rachel is with them, she notices how Chance looks at Hunter, & suspects the feelings might be the same.  Ashlin, who begins to realize that Chance loves Hunter, tries to talk to Hunter. But he refuses to acknowledge that Chance is anything more then a very close adored friend.  Even though this is an important part of the story, the main focus changes to a deep concern for Chance. Hunter and Ashlin begin to find out the Chance has been lying about his life at home, and when they see bruises on him, they suspect the worst. 

The emotional revelations change everything, as the story heads to an exciting and tragic climax.  The close bond of the threesome is pushed to the limit, as they face the terrible truths, which will change everything.   Throughout the story, you sensed not all was as it seemed about Chance, and the future for the threesome was headed toward something very dark. What happens?  You will need to read to find out.

I do have to say that Kelley York has impressed me with her wonderful writing, in this different story. I loved her characters, and the closeness of the siblings, as well as how all of them felt for Chance.  This was a wonderful story, and even though this is considered YA, Made of Stars can be read by everyone. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher