A Handful of Stars

by Barbara Girion

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684171678
• ISBN13: 9780684171678
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 179 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Touches the Hearts of Readers

Fifteen year old Julie Meyers starts her sophomore year on top of the world. She's receiving high praise from her drama teacher, whom she really admires, she has a cute boyfriend on the basketball team, and she's always invited to all the great Friday night parties. She's really part of the "in" crowd. She is really loving high school. Then Julie begins having strange blackouts, which she comes out of feeling nauseous and dizzy. They are infrequent at first and no one makes much out of them. Then the blackouts begin to increase, and her school friends start speculating that she may be stoned or just plain crazy. After several visits to the doctor, it is discovered that Julie has epilepsy, and the blackouts are actually seizures. Suddenly Julie finds herself out of the "in" crowd, her boyfriend becomes distant, and she is pulled from one of the school's major stage productions, for fear she may have a seizure while performing. Life becomes very lonely and depressing, and Julie wonders if she will ever smile again. This story is very touching and true to life. I read this for the first time as a child, and loved it just as much when I read it again as an adult. Many young readers will relate to Julie's situation, whether it be from epilepsy, or any other condition that makes others view you as different. Barbara Girion has tapped into those feelings.