A Handful of Stars

"A Handful of Stars" tells the story of Lily, a twelve-year-old girl living in rural Maine, whose blind dog leads her to Salma Santiago, a girl her age whose family are migrant blueberry pickers. Despite their different backgrounds, a deep friendship forms as they work together painting bee boxes for Lily's grandfather. The narrative gently, yet powerfully, explores themes of friendship, empathy, and social justice as the girls encounter prejudice and the challenges of migrant life, especially leading up to the local Blueberry Queen pageant. This book is ideal for middle-grade readers aged 8-12, offering a sensitive portrayal of cultural differences and the importance of standing up for what is right.