Book Review: Made of Stars by Kelley York

Made of Stars
Author:  Kelley York
Publisher:  Entangled Teen, 320 pages
Publication Date:  October 1, 2013
*ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley

From Goodreads:
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:
This is an honest and powerful coming of age novel.  To be honest, I was expecting it to be a mystery from the summary, and although there is something mysterious going on with Chance, the story is really about him and his relationship with Hunter and Ash, two siblings.  They have spent many summers with Chance, but they realize they don't really know him at all.  He's been keeping secrets and basically lying to them all this time.  

The story is told from the POV of both Hunter and Ash and you see how much Chance means to each of them.  He's a complex, dark character who is broken and hides who he really is.  Because of that, I didn't feel like I really got to know Chance, but you get glimpses of a caring, tortured boy.  He has a huge impact on the siblings, especially Hunter, who is dealing with his feelings for Chance.  And you find out how much of an impact Hunter has had on Chance.

There was an ominous quality to the writing and throughout the novel, there's an intensity and a feeling of impending doom.  It's a touching heartbreaking story.

Posted by:  Pam