Title: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
Author: Junauda Petrus
Narrator: Junauda Petrus, Bahni Turpin, & J. D. Jackson
Publisher: Listening Library
Release Date: 2019
Genre: Fiction, LGBTQIA+, Magical Realism, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Duration: 9 hrs, 20 mins
Reading Level/Interest Level: Grades 8-12
Awards or Honors: Coretta Scott King Honor Award (2020)
Plot Summary
Audre, a Black teen living in Trinidad, is caught by her mom in a romantic entanglement with the preacher’s daughter and sent to the states to live with her dad. Mabel, a Black teen living in Minneapolis, has begun to question her sexuality upon realizing she isn’t really attracted to her boyfriend. Audre and Mabel used to spend time together as children, so when Audre comes to stay in Minneapolis for good, the two reconnect. Under the impression that Audre is a “church girl,” Mabel isn’t sure they will have much in common, but she quickly realizes she has feelings for Audre, even though for now they are just friends.
At a routine doctor’s appointment, Mabel discovers that she is sick, and her off feelings over the past few months start to make sense. As her health takes a turn for the worst, she relies more and more on Audre, who frequently visits and cares for her with remedies from back home. With so much time spent on her own, Mabel becomes interested in astrology as well as reading a book by a man who was wrongfully imprisoned. Mabel’s relationship with Audre blossoms into something more as Mabel continues to fight for her health and Audre remains at her side.
Author Background
Junauda Petrus-Nasah describes herself as a “creative activist, writer, playwright, and multi-dimensional performance artist” (Petrus, n.d.). A writer in all aspects, she has written and directed films and plays, as well as wrote her first novel, The Stars and the Blackness Between Them. Much of her work is centered around the trauma of her own ancestors from the Caribbean as well as tales of womanhood and queerness.
Critical Evaluation
To be very honest, I didn’t like this audiobook. There are definitely some great things
about it, such as the voiceover work and the lyrical nature of the prose that makes everything come to life, but it really wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel like there was much going on plot-wise: the story was more about feelings, ambiance, and magical realism descriptions of scenery, tastes and smells. There were also some very strange sections toward the end of the audiobook where we would spend 30 minutes on Mabel’s dreams that I felt didn’t really have anything to do with the story. The introduction of the book with the same title as this one about a man who was wrongfully imprisoned that Mabel becomes obsessed with felt out of place as well.
For a book categorized as romance, I didn’t feel like there was a romance between Mabel and Audre. They definitely had a deep friendship that developed over the course of the audiobook, but the romantic aspect was fairly one-sided at the beginning, and then very rushed in the last few chapters. Overall, I do see why some people loved this audiobook and why teens who love listening to audiobooks and are fans of the magical realism and realistic fiction genre would gravitate towards it, but it didn’t quite hit home for me.
Creative Use for a Library Program
Invite an astrology expert to the library to deliver personalized horoscopes and birth charts for teen attendees.
Speed-Round Book Talk
If magical realism, atmospheric scenes, Black girl magic, and good vibes are your thing, you won’t want to miss this book. Two stories from opposite sides of the world that converge into one, feel the building relationship between our leads as they navigate the ups and downs of life and love.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
There are no challenges to this item, though it does contain sexual content, language, and drug use that may be mature for some age groups. The genre of magical realism does keep any descriptions from being overly graphic and introduces a sense of whimsy that I think makes this book fine for teens to listen to.
Reason for Inclusion
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them is a unique audiobook that is suited well for those who like to listen to stories. The lyrical nature of the author’s words spins a beautiful listening experience with two diverse voices that teens will be drawn to.
References
Goodreads. (2019). Junauda Petrus [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17236132.Junauda_Petrus
Layaart. (2020, June 17). The stars and the blackness between them [Image]. Tumblr. https://layaart.tumblr.com/post/621222186176348160/the-stars-and-the-blackness-between-them-is-such-a
Petrus, J. (n.d.). About me. Junauda Petrus. https://junauda.com/about-author/
Petrus, J. (2019). The stars and the blackness between them [Cover Image]. Listening Library. Retrieved from https://junauda.com/the-stars/
Sapphiclitnet. (2020, August 24). Take your feelings and hold them [Image]. Tumblr. https://sapphiclitnet.tumblr.com/post/627326397476683776/take-your-feelings-and-hold-them-with-softness
The Heart of a Book Blogger. (2019, September 24). Aesthetic: The stars and the blackness between them [Image]. Retrieved from http://theheartofabookblogger.com/aesthetic-the-stars-and-the-blackness-between-them
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