The Stars Beneath Our Feet (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781524701246)

"The right story at the right time. . . . It's not just a narrative; it's an experience. It's the novel we've been waiting for." --The New York Times

A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother's death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity. Winner of the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for New Talent and soon to be a major motion picture directed by Michael B. Jordan!

It's Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mom aren't celebrating. They're still reeling from his older brother's death in a gang-related shooting just a few months earlier. Then Lolly's mother's girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos. Lolly's always loved Legos, and he prides himself on following the kit instructions exactly. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward.

His path isn't clear--and the pressure to join a "crew," as his brother did, is always there. When Lolly and his friend are beaten up and robbed, joining a crew almost seems like the safe choice. But building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape--and an unexpected bridge back to the world.

David Barclay Moore paints a powerful portrait of a boy teetering on the edge--of adolescence, of grief, of violence--and shows how Lolly's inventive spirit helps him build a life with firm foundations and open doors.

A New York Times Notable Book
A Time Magazine Top 10 Children's Books of the Year
A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of the Year
Six Starred Reviews

"A fast and furious read in which we meet some amazing people, people that stay with us. David Barclay Moore is an exciting new voice. We definitely haven't heard the last of his brilliance." --Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming

"The Stars Beneath Our Feet is about the weight of the world on the back of a child, and the creative tools necessary to alleviate that pressure. I found myself rooting for Lolly, and you will too." --Jason Reynolds, Coretta Scott King Honor Winner for As Brave As You

Author: David Barclay Moore
ISBN-10: 1524701246
ISBN-13: 9781524701246
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Language: English
Published: 09/19/2017
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.94lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.70w x 1.20d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.4
Point Value: 8
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 191434 / Stars Beneath Our Feet

Award: John Steptoe New Talent Award - Winner

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2017 pg. 135
Publishers Weekly 07/10/2017
Voice of Youth Advocates 08/01/2017 - Recommended - Hard To Beat
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2017 - Book Of Special Distinction
Kirkus Reviews Fall Preview 08/15/2017 pg. 55
BookPage 10/01/2017
Shelf Awareness 10/06/2017
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2017 pg. 110
Shelf Awareness 12/19/2017
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2018 - Superior,Well Above Average