A GLASSHOUSE OF STARS BY SHIRLEY MARR

A Glasshouse of Stars is a book about starting life again, adversity, friendship and believing in someone, no matter what.

The story follows newly arrived in Australia, Meixing Lim and her parents. They have inherited a house from an uncle and hope to create a better life in their “New Land”. The house, for Meixing, takes on a personality of its own, with a winking front window and shaggy fur inside. She names it “Scary House” as it talks to her without words and seems to change its size depending on what’s happening around it. There is a resident black and white cat that, soon after she arrives, invites Meixing to explore the broken-down glasshouse in the garden. The inside of the glasshouse is very different to the outside and only some people can see its two sides. Meixing finds solace here and a peace that is hard to come by in the world outside.

Tragedy strikes Meixing’s family soon after they arrive and her already unfamiliar life becomes even harder. Meixing must struggle with learning a new language, a new school, bullies, racists and a very pregnant mother who seems to be avoiding the outside world as much as possible.

Shirley Marr, a first-generation Chinese- Australian, captures the feelings of her child hero beautifully. Told in second person, we follow Meixing through one of the most difficult times in her life. Her thoughts, fears and determination make the reader want to take her hand and help her along — not that she isn’t capable of looking after herself, but because you feel for her so strongly. The themes of racism, self-belief, family and friendship run strongly through this story and readers will gain an insight into just how hard it can be to start a new life in a new land. Is it possible to carry the burden of expectations from a culture that has been ripped from its natural place and transplanted to a new one?

For Ages: 9 - 12 years

Number of Pages: 288

Published: May 2021 Penguin Random House

Themes: Racism, Family, self-belief