About This Book
Holly Starcross is a poignant chapter book about a fourteen-year-old girl who, after eight years, finally meets her father. This significant reunion forces Holly to confront long-held beliefs about her parents' divorce and her own identity. The narrative sensitively explores the complexities of family relationships, the impact of separation, and the journey of understanding and forgiveness. It's a story that resonates with children navigating complicated family structures, offering a gentle yet honest look at the emotional landscape of a child caught between two parents. While the protagonist is fourteen, the themes are presented in a way accessible to the older end of the 4-11 age range, particularly those 9-11, encouraging empathy and reflection on personal history.
When fourteen-year-old Holly Starcross meets her father for the first time in eight years, the experience changes the way she thinks about him, her mother, and even herself.
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Discussion Prompts
1
How does Holly's understanding of her parents change throughout the book? What causes these changes?
2
What emotions do you think Holly experiences when she first meets her father? How do these feelings evolve?
3
The book explores the idea of 'truth.' How do different characters perceive the truth about the past?
4
If you were Holly, what questions would you want to ask your parents?
5
How does this story show that families can be complicated, but still full of love?
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