When fifteen-year-old Nathan discovers that his older brother Al, has taken his own life, his whole world is suddenly torn apart.

Al was special, talented and had so many dreams. So, why did he do it?

Convinced that his brother was in trouble, Nathan decided to retrace Al's footsteps. Whilst doing this he meets Megan, Al's former classmate, who is determined as Nathan to keep Al's memory alive.

Together they start seeking answers, but will either of them be able to handle the truth about Al's death when they finally discover what happened?

I had been hearing so many amazing things about this book in the lead up to it's release so much so that I had to buy a copy of it myself. My plan was to read this before attending the NYA Lit Fest at the end of March where Danielle would be doing a signing. Due to everything that has happened NYA has been cancelled but I'm so glad I picked this book up thanks to it and flew through it. It is a heart-breaking, eye-opening, heavy and incredible debut novel that I'm so glad I picked up.

I can't disguise from the fact that this story is extremely heavy. The themes in this book are often far from easy to read. This book tackles topics and themes such as suicide, bullying, poverty and much more and it doesn't sugar-coat them in anyway. This book is actually inspired by the experience of Danielle Jawando herself. As horrible as these experiences will have been for her I hope that this book helps people in the position that she was in.

The characters of this book are flawed in many ways. They make mistakes and wrong choice. They do hurt people sometimes on purpose but mostly on accident. They aren't always sure about how to talk about going on inside their minds and in the world. But when they do open up and share their grief and pain magical things about. The characters learn from one another, they heal, even if just a little, but we heal with them too.

This book is told from two perspectives. Megan's perspective and Nathan's perspective. Both perspectives are so different yet so wonderful. I loved both characters and as I said before they are flawed but you can learn so much from them. Danielle has done an excellent job in her writing to make you feel so connect to these characters throughout the book.

What made the characters feel more real to me was the fact that the book wasn't written in clean English. It is written in a language that fits the characters perfectly. It isn't always perfect English, it is how people speak most of the time in Wythenshawe, Manchester and it is real. It all feels extremely real.

The story is also so real. The characters may be fictional, but the story itself definitely isn't. The struggles, what happens to them and how they deal with it, it is real and it is happening to so many people on a day-to-day basis. The world can be a wonderful place, but it can also make peoples lives hell and with no route out. This book shows that and this book is real!

Overall, And the Stars were Burning Brightly is an important, raw and real book that hits hard. It is a book I highly recommend and it is a book that has to be read! Go and pick this book up, you won't regret it!

A great read,once I started I didn't want to stop reading. It is a powerful rollercoaster of emotions and addresses a sensitive topic really well.

First off: reader caution. This book deals heavily with suicide (both the moments after and the effect on those bereaved by suicide), bullying, the effects of social media, body image and mental health.

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking read as Nathan is struggling to make sense as to why his apparently perfect big brother took his own life - in effect he needs someone to blame. He’s left with the unique type of grief that only those who are bereaved by suicide will experience - the anger, the guilt, the questions, the pain and the anguish. Each chapter, which alternates between Nathan and Megan’s viewpoint starts off with Al’s story and he truly is a beautiful person and the bullying that’s he’s subjected to is heartbreaking.

This is an emotionally hard read, but covers the pain some go through when trying desperately to be honest and true to yourself, but the ‘joys’ of peer pressure and fear prevent us from being our true selves, and also prevent us from seeking help. These are important messages - we shouldn’t feel afraid to seek out help when we need it and we shouldn’t feel ashamed to show our true selves. This is hard enough for an adult, damn near impossible for a teen.

Finally a powerful message from Danielle Jawando;
“Please remember to always be kind, but, most importantly, know that you deserve to be here. It will get better, and it is never your fault, no matter how different you are. So speak up and seek help – there is no shame in admitting that you’re hurting. Like Al, you were born to live. You were born to shine. But, most of all, you were born to burn bright.”
❤️

A desperately sad story of bullying, isolation and suicide. Nate’s creative and loving older brother Al has taken his own life, and in the midst of his shock and grief, Nate is determined to find out what happened to his brother. With the help of one of Al’s only true friends, Nate uncovers a web of bullying and lies and realised how much his brother had kept hidden. The book is unflinching in its delivery and asks important questions of all of us.

Although this book wasn’t quite to my taste and I found it harder to read that I had expected, I do think that it focuses on important subject matters in this day and age. An exploration of social media and the devastating affects it can have on the self-esteem of a young person, alongside bullying in schools (both in person and through social media). A reminder that we need to take time to listen (to words and body language and to what people don’t say) to those we care about. A reminder that it’s ok to be who we truly are and that cruel words can really devastate a person. Maybe this book will remind those in the throes of teenage years, that they are not alone and to find ‘true’ friends to share with and confide in.

And The Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando is simply one of the best books that I have ever read! I honestly don't think that I can fully explain how much I loved this book or why. From the endearing characters to the heartwrenching storyline I loved every moment of reading it, even when I was sobbing my heart out. And I'm talking proper messy, snotty, ugly crying!
Al, 17 years old, takes his own life by hanging himself and his younger brother Nate, 15 years, finds him. The story is then told from Nate's point of view and also Al's friend, Megan's. Nate is adamant that Al wouldn't have done something so terrible without a serious reason and so he sets out to discover what led to Al's death. We see Nate and Megan dealing with issues of cyber bullying, gangs, drugs and family problems. Both also deal with the guilt and the what ifs that you would expect when someone is going through the sudden loss of a loved one. I just wanted to dive in and help Nate. To hug him. To tell him that he shouldn't feel guilty or bad about himself.
Each chapter starts with a paragraph from Al's point of view so we can learn more about him and what he was feeling. Nate's chapters are written in text / slang talk and this is done very well and just develops Nate's character more.
Some children / teen books don't come across quite right and you can feel the adult writing in there but And The Stars Were Burning Brightly was written in a very realistic way, in the way that kids would think about things, such as, Nate imagining his Brother floating up to heaven and getting tangled up in telephone wires and tree branches along the way.
I truly believe this book should be read by as many people as possible. It's incredibly relevant to teens now, especially when thinking about how their actions or inaction can affect others so greatly.

When I requested 'And the Stars Were Burning Brightly' I expected this book to be a heavy one. But I wasn't ready for the author's note at the beginning of the book sharing her own experiences, it set the tone for this heart breaking novel about suicide, grief, social media and online bullying.

The book picks up when Nathan and his family are grieving his brother Al's suicide. The chapters all begin with a little insight into who Al was and is told from Nathan's and Meg's (a friend) perspective.

An important book about the impact of social media on our lives. A book that should be in all secondary schools libraries, raising awareness and sharing this important message of bullying and its consequences.

I'm afraid I struggled to get even past the first chapter with the incorrect spelling which seemed neither for effect or used in speech.
I cannot bear reading something where words in the narrative are not correct

"You know, for a star to be born, there's one thing that has to happen: a gaseous nebula must collapse. The star must compress in on itself, the atoms must squeeze and react before they can create something new. So collapse, crumble, and remember this is not your destruction. This is your birth."

This book. Everything about this book is magical and perfect, in the most heartbreaking way.
The entire thing feels SO real, I felt like I was about to open up Twitter and see stories of Al, to just bump into Megan in a shopping centre, I think this realness is explained in the author acknowledgements, Al's story could have quite easily been Danielle Jawando's story and there is something SO powerful about that.

The book deals with a suicide of 15 year Al, of his family, of his friend, of love, of enemies, of that moment that I'm sure we all felt as teenagers, where you have to decide to stick up for what you know is right or for going along with the cool crowd. It really is a horrible horrible story and subject and I think I cried through more chapters than I didn't but there's this hope, throughout the whole thing, that just keeps you going. It's so hard to describe. I do know that there are all these things that I want to take away from it.: I want to be as resilient as Saul. I want to be as strong as Megan. I want to be more Al.

I've never read anything like it and I don't think there is another book that is quite like this one. I loved it., truly truly loved it. #burnbright,

This will surely prove to be one of the most important books of the year. It certainly ought to be.

Danielle Jawando has beautifully channelled her own trials as a teenager into a heartbreaking book for the teens of today. Her perfect understanding of the risks of social media in the 2020s make it relatable and believable.

And yet, amongst the horror and heartbreak, there is hope. There is a way through, a way out, and no limit to what you can accomplish.

Danielle Jawando also manages to bring in character growth in the form of owning up to your true self, moving away from toxicity and bad self-image but in a way that feels natural, not preachy. There have always been standards set by a select few that the rest of the world uses to judge themselves with. However, the prevalence of social media and the was our lives our so connected means these standards are reinforced to everyone day in, day out. Some excellent people are pushing forward with body positivity movements, mental health awareness, belief in one's own value, and every single thing we can do the combat this toxicity is valuable. And the Stars Were Burning Brightly is an important part of that movement.

I often have difficulties writing reviews but this one wrote itself. I didn't need time to think I just had to sing praises for a transformative story.

Wow, what a moving and poignant novel for our times. It had me from the very start - the story is told from two perspectives Nathan and Megan. It evoked so many feelings of deep aching sadness, anger and a little hope. A well constructed novel and written from the heart. Make sure you have some tissues at hand as it is certainly a book that will make you cry from the very start! I will be buying this book for my library and share it with as many young people as possible - highlighting the very real dangers of social media. However, it not a book just for young adults but a book that everyone should read. Well done Danielle for bringing this to our attention.

Everyone should read this book especially children. People need to know the influence they can have over their peers and the consequences. A slow start but stay with it as it has an explosive end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This was a powerful story, and so necessary when children and teenagers are now subjected to online abuse on a regular basis. The characters were very identifiable and I'm sure young people reading this book would see themselves. The one thing that rankled me slightly was the way the dialect was written, but that may be a personal preference. The story itself was clear and engaging, and I can't wait to see what Jawando does next.

A quick enough read, but it didn't hold my attention. I wanted to enjoy it, and I started off doing so, but my mind was soon wandering, Perhaps a book you need to read at a certain time?

When fifteen-year-old Nathan discovers that his older brother Al, has taken his own life, his whole world is torn apart.

Al was special.

Al was talented.

Al had so many dreams ... so why did he do it?

Convinced that his brother was in trouble, Nathan decides to retrace Al’s footsteps. As he does, he meets Megan, Al's former classmate, who is as determined as Nathan to keep Al's memory alive.

Together they start seeking answers, but will either of them be able to handle the truth about Al’s death when they eventually discover what happened?

I loved this book from the beginning. It helped that I know the area where Al and Nate lived, so it became very relatable.

This is a heart breaking book. It one which should be read by every teenager as a lot of them think that it is “just a laugh” to bully people without a thought for their mental health. I went through every emotion, happiness, joy, sadness, despair, anger, shock etc, the list is endless. As with any good book, the characters become very real and you feel each of their emotions so I wanted to hug them, shout, scream, slap and yell at them. To me, the sign of a great book that you become so embroiled with their lives and stories, you forget they aren’t real!

An absolutely brilliant book.

I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a rollercoaster of a book this is. Nate has lost his brother Al, who committed suicide. This just doesn't make sense to Nate, he can't understand how he didn't know that his brother was struggling, he sincerely felt he had everything to live for. He was talented, smart, unique and going places, he had dreams and aspirations. Nate tries to uncover what provoked his brother to end his life. Prepare to be wrung out reading this, get yourself a comfy spot, a box of tissues and put your phone on silent. It is epic! Think Wonder with attitude and the gritty backdrop of northern England. It is heart-wrenching, honest and every teen should be made to read it. It unashamedly tackles suicide, but also isn't afraid to tackle other issues too (like watching events escalate and not saying anything), I am sure we have all been guilty of this. Please be sure to read the author's notes too, so honest, well done Danielle for having to courage to write this story. I hope with all my heart that this books gains the recognition it so surely deserves.

15 year old Nathan’s life is torn about when he finds out his big brother Al has taken his own life. Al was a talented young man who was so full of passion, and Nathan wonders why he would have done this? Convinced Al was in trouble, Nathan begins to investigate meeting Al’s former classmate Megan on his quest, who like Nathan wants to keep Al’s memory alive. However, when Nathan eventually finds out the truth, sparks are set to fly.

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly, firstly, was a gritty, emotion packed, heartwrenching read that did tug at my heartstrings several times throughout my time reading it. It did, you could say take me on an emotional rollercoaster ride, one where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get off or not. It was so beautifully written and I did find myself hypnotised by the almost poetic like prose.

The way the story was told really resonated with me, and I found it to be a rather unique way to telling such a harrowing tale. We see the story through the point of views of Nathan, Al’s brother and Megan, Al’s friend and former classmate. I really enjoyed how we got the differing views from Nathan, who used violence and anger to show his grief and Megan, who used Al’s memory to change her life and create something amazing. The contrast between these two characters was utterly remarkable and the voices of both characters seemed so vivid and lifelike. What I also found interesting was the sections at the start of each chapter in Al’s voice. This helped me to understand him as a character a lot more, and they were probably some of my favourite bits of writing from the whole book. The plot, also kept me on my toes and every time I guessed the conclusion, something would happen to change my mind. When I did get to the end, I was, as you can guess, in great shock.

The subject matter within And the Stars Were Burning Brightly is rather heavy, especially the topics of suicide and bullying. I’ll admit that some scenes are quite troubling to read, but they bring to life the fact that this does happen in real life and I commend the author for bringing these topics to our attention. The way that the dark side of social media was perceived was also commendable and it really did get me thinking about how despite how good social media can be, it can be very distressing for some people to use with regards to online bullying etc.

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly was an emotional, moving read that really did touch me. The way it brought topics such as suicide, mental health and online bullying to the forefront was inspiring and I can honestly say, it will stick with me.

It’s been a strange time to read And The Stars Were Burning Brightly, a book about suicide in England. While February got incrementally weirder with Brexit, Coronavirus and the tragic passing of Caroline Flack, I could be found hiding away from the world with a cup of tea and Danielle Jawando’s latest young adult novel about the suicide of a brilliant and beloved straight-A student.

Nathan’s brother Al has committed suicide. There was no warning and the only note, if you can call it that, was a drawing of Al surrounded by ominous, threatening figures while he desperately cries for help. For Al was everything to those who knew him: a talented artist, an older brother, a kind friend and a fascinated star-gazer who could tell you any one of a million factoids about space and the universe.

Yet while Al’s gaze was focused on the skies, his world was falling apart around him.

Nathan’s shock at the death of his brother knows no beginning and no end. He can’t begin to understand the reasons why but as he works through his own guilt surrounding Al’s suicide, he becomes determined to find out the reason why.

Megan was one of Al’s closest friends but you wouldn’t know it given how rarely they were seen together in public. As Megan reaches out in the wake of her grief, she finds herself in Nathan’s orbit and his search for the truth.

In a book that explores the devastation of suicide, the depths of grief, the complexity of being an LGBTIQ teen, the trickiness of social media and the ever-present scourge of bullying, there is also time for beauty and wonder as we discover Al’s writing about the universe, stars, hope and his love of art.

And The Stars Were Burning Brightly is set in Manchester, and the reader is ”proper” aware of this as Jawando has captured the local accent perfectly. I grew up not far from Manchester in Rainhill and the characters could be my cousins. While this certainly made the book feel closer to my heart, it is the source of my only (minor) complaint about the novel being the abundance of “wot” and “cos” on the pages. It’s something we see more in British YA novels than American or other countries but I definitely prefer to see proper words.

It won’t impact my rating though because I was crying big, ugly tears on a train to London as I finished this book last Saturday.

And The Stars Were Burning Brightly is a beautiful novel with lyrical writing. Despite its heavy subject matter, Jawando has captured perfectly that moment when the clouds begin to part on grief and we let life back in. It definitely made me want to grab all my loved ones and hold them close to my heart because you never know when tragedy is around the corner.

I give And The Stars Were Burning Brightly a superb five out of five stars and recommend to fans of superior British young adult fiction.

Thank you very much for this wonderful read NetGalley.

This is a story about love, loss, family and friends. I loved that it was set in Manchester and I already knew of many of the places mentioned. Although I've never been keen on writing a dialect with an accent.

I love that each chapter starts with a note from Al to either Nate or Megan with links into what happens in the chapter.

I was sad to hear that this was based on what the author has to go through during her time at school and although I was never bullied to that extent it certainly brought some feelings back. It's also made me think of my friend's suicide in a different way and that's a good thing.

I would certainly recommend this book not just to YA readers but I think a lot of school aged children as it shows that all actions have consequences.

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 privilidge 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 a intricately woven story, where as 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 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.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this early review copy.