Painful and oh-too-relevant teen suicide tale. Hard to forget.

Two narrators lift the curtain on one teenager's life and death. Nathan is still reeling and angry after discovering his older brother, talented artist Al, has killed himself. There's no note, he feels guilt, he just wants to understand what happened. Megan, classmate of Al and fellow artist, knew him. She meets Nathan as he tries to investigate Al's life, and, struggling herself with friends caught up in social media worlds, feels that maybe she could do something to help, to honour the misfit friend she barely acknowledged in public.

Snippets from Al's diary, his thoughts for his little brother and his friend, give us insight into an enquiring and optimistic mind. His unexpected death has affected his family badly, though Nathan is the only one asking questions (which I found hard to believe).

There seem to be no reasons for his suicide. Though things are clearly not right, the students at Al's school are all the same as anywhere else - obsessed with the number likes on their photos, sharing videos, trolling each other online. It's a familiar and depressing adolescent world. One that both Nathan and Megan are caught up in, in different ways.

I found this a hard read, the further I got into it, as more and more was uncovered. Both Nathan and Megan undergo some transformative discoveries, and the reader is shown in some fairly graphic detail exactly what did happen to Al. It's fairly upsetting, and unfortunately all too possible.

Very very powerful. Very very sad. Every secondary school needs copies, teachers will want to try and include this in various subjects, with its highly relevant social themes.

For ages 14 and above, some graphic and upsetting content.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

This is a beautifully told story of two teenagers dealing with the aftermath of suicide and about what it means to be yourself. After ignoring his phone call, Nathan is the one to find his older brother Al, a bright student and talented artist, determined to better himself and go to university, has committed suicide, leaving behind no note. Full of guilt that he might have stopped it had he answered the call, and sadness at losing his brother, Nathan is determined to find out why Al did it,
Megan was Al's friend, though she never acknowledged it in public. She starts to wonder what she could have done to have made a difference. Questioning her choices, and those of her friends, her paths cross with Nathan and a tentative friendship begins.
I love a story told from two perspectives, and this didn't disappoint. We see the two characters questioning their choices, their friendships and their place in the world. I really enjoyed it, and loved the positive message it gives young people.

This was an excellent book and so so devastating. I didn't want it to end because I fell in love with the characters so much.

A brilliantly written, but very sad novel which I am pleased I have read, but did find the start of the book slow to get into but once you get into the minds of these 2 characters it really takes off. Very heart wrenching, sad, tragic, special... not much more than can be said. The Author portrayed the agony of Nathans family so well, it was hard to read at time. Very topical book and one that everyone should read, not just the young adults that this is written for.

This book was absolutely beautiful. It portrayed the emotion of family and friends trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one through suicide so eloquently. Dealing with issues such as bullying, peer pressure and the pressure of social media, the book really made me think. Highly recommended.

A beautiful story which at times is difficult to read because it deals with suicide and bullying.
It deals with the subject which most teenagers have to deal with and that is fitting in and if they don’t the ensuing bullying be it face to face or online through social media.

Such a sad book but one everyone should read. I think it is the type of story that should be put into the curriculum of high schools and all students should read and maybe some (I guess not all) would get the measure of how terrible bullying is. The story is about Nathan whose brother committed suicide due to bullying and the secret Al kept to himself until he could no longer cope. Nathan needs to find out why Al committed suicide and he is especially traumatised as his brother tried to ring him and he ignored the call. It leads him down a road where he meets Megan who was also a friend of Al who shared the love of art. The story unfolds slowly so you can appreciate the characters and their interwoven lives but no one realises the hurt Al is in which is something we all fail to do on some level. Nathan needs to find out the whole story of Al’s suicide and the culminates in him finding the outcome – does it help him, probably not but brings some piece. Megan is sweet natured and caring and helps Nathan come to terms with his loss. Nathan’s family play a big part in the story and try to help him but he is too far into his grief to understand. The story ends well. It helped to understand the depth of hurt in the story from the author’s notes and she has written this from experience which I wish she had not suffered

If I wasn't sobbing by the end of 'And the Stars Were Burning Brightly' then I definitely was by the end of the author's note. This is such a powerful book and focuses on a topic that we desperately need to talk more about. It is 100% a book that you need to be in the right place to read as there is a lot of trigger warnings but it is done brilliantly.

This a book which deals with teen suicide and its aftermath, in terms of grief and the search for answers as to why someone might take their own life.
The author states in her notes that she was the victim of extreme bullying at school which ultimately led to her own suicide attempt, so the book is clearly very personal and meaningful to her.

At the start of the book, Al takes his own life. The book has 2 narrators, Megan and Nathan and the story is told by them in alternating chapters. Megan was a friend of Al's at school and Nathan is Al's younger brother. Al did not leave a note, explaining his actions, and Nathan is searching for the reasons why his brother would have wanted to kill himself. Megan is seeking to find a way to honour Al, who was an A grade student and talented artist, while dealing with her own teenage difficulties of friendships and relationships. Al's death also reignites her grief for her father who has previously passed away.

The subject of suicide and the handling of the feelings of those left behind is deftly handled by Jawando. It never feels sensational or overdone. Jawando focuses on the feelings and reactions of Al's siblings and friends, the adults in Al's life, his mum and teachers are included, but I felt the book was more powerful by focusing on the feelings of Al's contemporaries, and the effect of social media, and the pursuit of "likes" on their young lives.

I felt the book tackled the subject of grief really well. It affects every grieving person in different ways, and Nathan's grief for his big brother is clearly difficult, not just for him, but for all those around him, who are struggling to understand his pursuit for "answers" about Al's death.

This being a work of fiction, there is a neat ending where justice is meted out, and answers are obtained. I think again Jawando wrote that very effectively, as it could have felt pat or convenient, and it didn't.

I don't know if I would have been able to read this book if I had been personally affected by the subjects raised, not without a bit of distance first anyway. It is a difficult subject to write about and Jawando deals with it really well, without straying into melodrama, but in some ways that made it feel more real.
I would definitely recommend this book for parents who are trying to understand their teenagers and wondering what they might be getting up to however!

This is a powerful book about grief and loss, set on a council estate in the north of England. I related immensely, immediately. The two main characters, Nathan and Megan, were distinct and both very easy to feel sympathy towards. The story wasn't breakneck, but that was a good thing considering the subject matter.

I have to say that if you're not in the right place to be reading about bullying, suicide or grief then this is probably not the book for you, as it hits hard.

Well written and thoughtful character-led drams that packs a strong emotional punch. Explores themes of bullying, family, responsibility and grief and leaves the reader with much to think about. An engaging - and occasionally heartbreaking - debut.

This has to be one of the hardest hitting books I've read for a long time. Seriously, it made me sob.
A sad, heart wrenching and emotional story about the serious implications of bullying.
I would say the first half of this book is a bit of a slow burn, there's alot of distributing backstory and defining characters. In the second half the story line starts to come through and the emotion sets in.
There was no sugar coating in this book, it really screamed out some truths about grief, mental health, suicide and the impacts social media can have on people's lives. I found myself truly hoping that Al would be alive at the end of the book, but that's not true to life.
One thing that really struck me was that in a note from the author Danielle Jawando; she reveals that a very similar thing happened to her when she was at school and she attempted to take her own life as a result. This is by far the most emotional thing about this book as it makes the story more than 'just a story' it's real and it's really happened to people out there. As much as I loved reading this book, it really left me emotionally shaken.

Overall a fabulous, tear jerking read that I'll definitely never forget.

Wow! This book is gut wrenching and heartbreaking from the first chapter.

Nathan’s family is torn apart by Al’s suicide. Al is a talented artist with a bright future that is going to take him to Cambridge and far away from the Manchester estate where he lives. Nathan is racked with guilt having missed a call from Al just before he died and being unable to save him.

Angry and grieving he tries to work out what was going on in Al’s life. The story that unravels is shocking, and even sadder based on the writer’s own experiences of school.

Nathan’s emotions are raw and beautifully realistic. Moments of normality and happiness are contrasted with grief and overwhelming anger. His growing friendship with Megan is tentative and builds slowly into something genuine and positive. Despite the heartbreak the ending of this book is hopeful and heart-warming.

The level of bullying that is revealed is shocking, but what is more shocking is the casual way the young people involved dismiss the impact of their actions on other people. Hurtful comments are laughed away as being “banter” and the internet and social media are places for bullies to hide. This book shows how far more needs to be done to protect young people and support their mental health.

The relentless peer pressure amongst groups of so called friends blurs the lines between bullies and victims. Some of the people who bully Al are also victims of bullying and nastiness themselves. The desire to fit in to a group and the lengths people will go to do should not be underestimated.

Some of the things Nathan discovers are clear to the reader much sooner, but this doe snot in any detract from the impact they have on the characters when they put the pieces together.

This book is both fantastic and horrific at the same time because of the realism. I will definitely be recommending it 🙂 Thank you Netgalley for the digital copy in return for an honest review.

I really liked this book. It's very personally about suicide and bullying and a kid trying to pick up the pieces after a suicide. I loved Nate and Megan and liked the book in general.

AND THE STARS WERE BURNING BRIGHTLY is the kind of book you do need a snapshot of insight into before you enter, in this case, I do recommend reading the blurb. This is a story about suicide, grief, bullying and social media. It is powerful and painful, chilling and stunning. I think it’s a really important book and it’s 100% worth the emotional investment.

The book started and ended with an author note, I had the privilege of hearing the author read the beginning note and the first chapter at a publisher event. There wasn’t a whisper in the room and I fought tears listening to her. The reading experience is pretty much like that, the story and the characters plunged me into their worlds, wrapped me up in their fraught emotions and spat me out a bit of wreck.

Nathan was the brother, grieving his older sibling and questioning everything; he needed the why to these events, some reason and he was determined. Alongside Nathan were family, other siblings, his mother, his friend, Al’s friend Megan and some nasty characters. This was an intricately woven story, whereas the reader you were alongside Nathan, searching for answers.

My chest goes all tight, knowing that I’ll never see him for real again, that he’ll only ever be this person in a photo.

Eli’s character was tangibly written, believable in his cruel manipulations and plain bullying. Tara and Lewi were more subtle in their connections to the situation and how events finally wove together was pretty shocking. Social media was the weapon wielded in this book and some of the elements took my breath away.

The picture of grief was palpable, I could feel the anger, despair and sadness rising out of the pages, I’m not an easy crier at books but I was an easy crier at this book. Nathan’s emotions had the power to affect me deeply as did Al’s short chapter starters.

For me, as a Mancunian, this book was a gift in dialogue and narrative. It was written as Mancunians speak, quite literally and I found it easy to sink into. I don’t think this element will be difficult for any other readers, but you might wonder for the first few pages as you settle into this.

Danielle Jawando captured the issues in this book with honesty, she didn’t hold back on the difficult stuff, this was an absolute strength of this book. These issues shouldn’t be diluted to make it more palatable, your heart should break as you navigate this with the characters. I am beyond impressed with this fictional debut and I will be watching avidly for more from this author.

I will buy this for our library, but probably restrict it to Y9 and above due to the subject matter. Danielle writes brilliantly, and although I found the subject difficult at times as it was a little close to home. My daughter had mental health issues in her early to mid teens, and I feel that despite reading the book I can't really discuss the suicide The story is quite intricate, with the lives and relationships portrayed in a very human and complex way, at times hard to read but so powerful. I can't wait to read her next book....

I really enjoyed this book - once I started I found I could not put it down and kept coming back to it. It's a beautifully written story about grief, family, suicide and the horrific effects of bullying in teens, and it has a wonderful mystery engine that kept me turning the pages - the perfect combination. It's full of heart and beautiful imagery and lingered with me long after I finished.

This is a beautifully written book that tackles some very hard topics. TW for suicide and grief. Nate's voice is refreshingly different in the YA world at the moment. It was nice to read a diverse British voice. The story of Al unfolds slowly, but the pace feels right for the topic. And the way its written feels like somewhere between YA and literary adult fiction.

I really enjoyed this book and wouldn't be surprised if it was snapped up for a Netflix series or film.

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly is an intensely moving and thoughtful book. When his brother, Al, kills himself, Nathan is devastated. He desperately needs to know why: what was going on in Al's life to drive him to this act?

Megan, Al's friend, is just as devastated, but throws her energies into keeping Al's memory alive by displaying his art. These two people meet, and bound by their loss, develop a friendship.

As the book progresses the reader starts to find out more about what was going on in the life of Al, and the challenges that face Megan and Nathan: what is a friend? When is a friend not a friend?

Wow, What a read. A beautiful heartbreaking story told via two different characters following a teenage boys suicide. Why did he do it ?, the two characters search for the answers. I was in floods of tears when I found out. I think this book needs to be read by every teenager in high school. Please please read this book. My son is now reading it. I work with children and young people and see the devastation bullying can do. It needs to stop. I read this in 3 sittings found it hard to put down .

PS would make a great movie?series.