the Silver Star

The Silver Star, Jeannette Walls has written a heartbreaking and redemptive novel about an intrepid girl who challenges the injustice of the adult worlda triumph of imagination and storytelling. It is 1970 in a small town in California. Bean Holladay is twelve and her sister, Liz, is fifteen when their artistic mother, Charlotte, a woman who found something wrong with every place she ever lived, takes off to find herself, leaving her girls enough money to last a month or two. When Bean returns from school one day and sees a police car outside the house, she and Liz decide to take the bus to Virginia, where their Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying mansion that's been in Charlotte's family for generations. An impetuous optimist, Bean soon discovers who her father was, and hears many stories about why their mother left Virginia in the first place. Because money is tight, Liz and Bean start babysitting and doing office work for Jerry Maddox, foreman of the mill in towna big man who bullies his workers, his tenants, his children, and his wife. Bean adores her whip-smart older sisterinventor of word games, reader of Edgar Allan Poe, nonconformist. But when school starts in the fall, it's Bean who easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz who becomes increasingly withdrawn. And then something happens to Liz. Jeannette Walls, supremely alert to abuse of adult power, has written a deeply moving novel about triumph over adversity and about people who find a way to love each other and the world, despite its flaws and injustices. About the Author Jeannette Wallswas born in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in the southwest and Welch, West Virginia. She graduated from Barnard College and was a journalist in New York City for twenty years. Her memoir, The Glass Castle, has been a New York Times bestseller formore thanfive years. Walls lives in rural Virginia with her husband, the writer John Taylor. A Stunning, Heartbreaking Novel About An Intrepid Girl Who Challenges The Injustice Of The Adult World - A Triumph Of Imagination And Storytelling. It Is 1970. 'bean' Holladay Is Twelve And Her Sister Liz Fifteen When Their Artistic Mother Charlotte, A Woman Who 'flees Every Place She's Ever Lived At The First Sign Of Trouble', Takes Off To 'find Herself'. She Leaves The Girls Enough Money For Food To Last A Month Or Two. But When Bean Gets Home From School One Day And Sees A Police Car Outside The House, She And Liz Board A Bus From California To Virginia, Where Their Widowed Uncle Tinsley Lives In The Decaying Antebellum Mansion That Has Been In The Family For Generations. An Impetuous Optimist, Bean Discovers Who Her Father Was And Learns Many Stories About Why Their Mother Left Virginia In The First Place. Money Is Tight, So Liz And Bean Start Babysitting And Doing Office Work For Jerry Madox, Foreman Of The Mill In Town, A Big Man Who Bullies Workers, Tenants And His Wife. Bean Adores Her Whip-smart Older Sister, Inventor Of Word Games, Reader Of Edgar Allan Poe, Non-conformist. But When School Starts In The Autumn, It Is Bean Who Easily Adjusts And Makes Friends, And Liz Who Becomes Increasingly Withdrawn. And Then Something Happens Between Liz And Maddox... 'tragic And Comic At The Same Time... An Outrageous Story, One That Will Break Your Heart' Sunday Independent 'there Isn't A Shred Of Self-pity In This Deeply Compassionate Book' Marie Claire ***half Broke Horses (s&s, 2009) 'has Immense Power And Readibility... What It Does With Aplomb Is To Track The Birth Of A Nation: The Conjuring Of Modern America From A Scorched, Dusty Wasteland' The Times For readers who loved The Glass Castle comes a stunning, heartbreaking novel about an intrepid girl who challenges the injustice of the adult world. It is 1970. 'Bean' Holladay is twelve and her sister Liz fifteen when their mother, a woman who 'flees every place she's ever lived at the first sign of trouble', takes off to find herself. She leaves the girls enough money for food to last a month or two, but it's not long before Bean and Liz board a bus from California to Virginia, where their widowed Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying mansion that has been in the family for generations. Once they've arrived, money is tight, so Liz and Bean start working for Jerry Madox, foreman of the mill in town, a big man who bullies workers, tenants and his wife. Bean adores her whip-smart older sister, inventor of wordgames, reader of Edgar Allan Poe, non-conformist. But when school starts in the autumn, it is Bean who easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz who becomes increasingly withdrawn. And then something happens between Liz and Maddox... 'Tragic and comic at the same time... an outrageous story, one that will break your heart ' Sunday Independent 'There isn't a shred of self-pity in this deeply compassionate book' Marie Claire 'Has immense power and readibility. .. What it does with aplomb is to track the birth of a nation: the conjuring of modern America from a scorched, dusty wasteland' The Times on Half Broke Horses Two motherless sisters--Bean and Liz--are shuttled to Virginia, where their Uncle Tinsley lives in the decaying mansion that's been in their family for generations. When school starts in the fall, Bean easily adjusts and makes friends, and Liz becomes increasingly withdrawn. Then something happens to Liz and Bean is left to challenge the injustice of the adult world.