Your Constant Star

Gr 9 Up—This YA novel is told in three parts, each from the perspective of very different teens: Faye, the "good girl" who was abandoned in a Chinese market and adopted by white Canadian parents (and yearns after her Belarusian crush); Bev, Faye's pregnant former neighbor who seeks her help; and Mannie, the father of Bev's baby, who gets his kicks by joyriding in stolen cars. Written in present tense, the book's immediacy will engage readers, while the first-person narrative varies according to the character's personality. For example, Mannie's short, choppy sentences reflect his drug-addled mind, but also invite teens' empathy even as he continues in his reckless behavior and occasional vulgarity. Hasiuk has a knack for description, with phrases such as "like two peas in a faux-suede pod" to provide a visceral portrayal of a couple that blow-dried snow from their walk way before sitting down on the couch. However, some loose ends will nag at readers, including the Belarusian, who is absent until the epilogue, and the unlikely action that sets the plot in motion: Why would a girl who moved away at age eight seek help from her "sort of" former friend? Common YA themes abound, including loyalty among friends and the iconic search for identity. More interesting is the book's exploration of opposites, especially Faye's Chinese/Western heritage, which leads to her yin-yang conclusion: "what's most beautiful and what's most brutal are just two halves of the same whole."—Toby Rajput, National Louis University, Skokie, IL