The Star Outside My Window: Onjali Q. Rauf

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There is a huge range of emotions portrayed in the story through the main characters, from Aniyah and Noah’s total fear when they first arrive, to the excitement of planning their adventure with Travis and Ben to visit her mum’s star and ensure it’s given the right name. The physical and psychological effects of trauma are also shown, when Aniyah cannot speak or eat, with her throat feeling like it is closed, and Noah wetting the bed, along with Aniyah forgetting what really happened when she lost her mum for quite a long time after the event. This could lead to discussions about emotions and mental health with Year 6 children. Following an incident of domestic violence that will forever change their lives, 10 year old Aniyah and her younger brother Noah find themselves in foster care. We follow them on an adventure to London, as they try to find their mum, the brightest star in the sky. My Comments So when a new star is spotted acting strangely in the sky, Aniyah is sure it's her mum, and she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to make sure everyone else knows, too - an adventure that involves breaking into the Royal Observatory of London, a mischievous scurry of squirrels and the biggest star in Hollywood....

First things first, although the book Star Outside my Window is projected as middle grade fiction, but any empathetic adult should definitely give it a go! Shortly after Aniyah's mother's 'disappearance', astronomers observe a huge star hurtling across the solar system travelling closer to Earth than any star has before. When Aniyah and Noah see a news report on the star, they realise it must be their mum making her way up into the sky. And so begins an adventure to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich as the children journey to see their mum through the Great Equatorial Telescope and try to convince the astronomers to name the new star after their mother, Isabella. Their adventure begins, as they rush to make sure the new star is named after their mother. Now, the adventure is fun and compelling reading, but the adult in me wonders if this would give kids ideas - it's all very realistic, risky, and totally possible. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - Mrs Iwuchukwu, the foster mom of these kids is, like her name, unique. She is genuinely loving to the children under her care. Children who have all experienced some form of neglect and abuse before they came to her.As the siblings are moved into foster care, they develop strong friendships with others in the foster home and continue to build their friendships as they embark on ‘The Star Hunters’ Top-Secret Midnight Mission’ to ensure the new star is given its rightful name, the name of Aniyah and Noah’s mother. The novel follows the journey that Aniyah, Noah, Ben and Travis as they travel over 50 miles to name the star. Reading this as an adult was probably quite a different experience to that of the target audience. Much is hinted at and the details are sparse, but they offer enough to firmly place you on the side of these kids and others like them. There are many heartwarming moments in this story but the most lingering feeling is the innocence of the kids who truly believe in their important mission. So much so that you want them to succeed; to get away from the house, get onto that bus, do whatever it takes to get what they want. The instant bond of friendship that Ben and Travis form with Aniyah is another wonderful part of the story. They don't question what she believes in, don't try to dissuade her or tell her what they know about her former life that she doesn't seem to. They just think up ways to help and take the risks needed, all to make her happy. Noah was the character I felt the most for. Knowing things have changed, clinging on to his sister, yet able to get excited about getting to wear a ghost costume and a colander for a helmet, I just wanted to hug him. His portrayal is so authentic and well done. I’ve always wanted to be a Star Hunter. But I don’t want to be the kind that looks for old stars that have already been burning for millions of years. I want to find the brand new ones – the ones that have only just been born and are searching for the people they’ve left behind…’ LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives.

When hearing about a new star just appeared in the sky she decides that it must be her mother. Being a ‘star hunter’ Aniyah knows all about this and when the Royal Observatory posts a contest to name the new star Aniyah must get there so that they correctly name the star after her mother. As the story progresses we learn of the games they used to play with their mum that clearly indicate a life of abuse at the hands of their father. Their wariness and defence mechanisms are tough to read about as an adult. There are some serious feels in this book! The story touches on the affect of domestic abuse on children and the lengths that two siblings go to remember their mother who was lost to abuse. The characters feel very real and you just want to give them a big hug and tell them everything will be ok.

Aniyah is a 10 year old girl who is in the foster care of Mrs. Iwuchukwu along with her baby brother Noah. She doesn’t exactly remember how she ended up in the foster care but all she remembers is her mum’s heart becoming a star. Aniyah also is thinking that her dad is looking for them. When the Royal observatory of Greenwich announces the finding of a new star Aniyah is convinced that it’s her mum and she wants to make sure her mum is not given a wrong name. Hence begins her journey to Greenwich from Waverley village. Her companions in this journey are Noah and the other 2 kids from foster care Ben and Travis. The book details their journey and the story with the naming of the star. So when a new star is spotted acting strangely in the sky, Aniyah is sure it's her mum, and she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to make sure everyone else knows too -- an adventure that involves breaking into the Royal Observatory of London, a mischievous scurry of squirrels and the biggest star in Hollywood... The Star Outside My Window written by Onjali Q. Rauf and has been published by Hachette UK this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2019-10-03 with Juvenile Fiction categories. The Light Jar written by Lisa Thompson and has been published by Scholastic Inc. this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2019-02-26 with Juvenile Fiction categories.

Many children in the book are in foster care. Delicate parts of the process, such as finding out that you are going into foster care, are also shown. As a result, this book review is going to take a slightly different approach. So without further ado... But it's also a story that may cause distress or upset for anyone who is seeing or experiencing abuse in their own home, and is having to be extra-especially brave and strong.

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Aniyah, Ben and their two best foster friends set off in secret to get to the Royal Observatory in London in time to make sure the star is named correctly. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments Aniyah cannot believe the news. ‘ A real, live, burning star moving from one end of [the] solar system to the other, coming close to [the] planet’s atmosphere’…. It can only mean one thing. Aniyah is a star hunter. Since her mother left her and Noah several days ago, forcing their move to the foster home, Aniyah’s been on the look out for their mother. Now she’s appeared in a blaze of glory. There are some books that feel so personal because you relate so much to certain experiences of the protagonist and this was one such for me. The loss of a parent as a young child, is a permanent feeling of being cheated that never really goes away even if you learn to bear the pain and move on. For 10 yo Aniyah and her 5 yo kid brother Noah, it is so much worse because of the way their mother was taken away from them before they were placed in foster care. The Star Outside My Window written by Onjali Q. Raúf and has been published by Delacorte Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2021-01-19 with Juvenile Fiction categories.

This is a really interesting book. It has such description, that it feels like you are really there! ;) As a star hunter, Aniyah's interest in astrology helps her to knows Mum is out there somewhere - and then her foster brothers and her hear about the new star in the sky.I've always wanted to be a Star Hunter. But I don't want to be the kind that looks for old stars that have already been burning for millions of years. I want to find the brand new ones - the ones that have only just been born and are searching for the people they've left behind...' I was looking forward to reading this book but I have unfortunately had to unhaul it due to Onjali's transphobic views that were made very clear during a speech she did in 2019, which you can read the transcript for here: https://womansplaceuk.org/2019/10/01/... Whilst it’s fun to read books about children going on grand fantasy adventures, overcoming impossibly dangerous scenarios in far-flung worlds, this book instead focuses on the inner strength of a child going through a harrowing experience at home. Onjali Q. Raúf takes the delicate subject of domestic violence, and handles it with all the sensitivity, warmth and sincerity that it needs. Why children are our most powerful hope for change/Onjali Rauf/TEDxLondonWomen". YouTube. 6 January 2020 . Retrieved 18 November 2021.