WINNER, CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers 2022
WINNER, WA Premier’s Book Awards – Writing for Children 2021
Shortlisted, Queensland Literary Awards – Children’s Book 2022
Shortlisted, Readings Children’s Fiction Prize 2022.
Nominated, CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022
Published in Australia & New Zealand by Penguin Random House
Published in the US by Simon & Schuster
Published in the UK by Usborne Books
An exquisite, heartbreakingly beautiful gem of a novel for anyone who loved Wonder, Lenny’s Book of Everything, A Monster Calls or When You Reach Me.
Meixing Lim and her family have arrived at the New House in the New Land, inherited from First Uncle who died tragically and unexpectedly while picking oranges in the backyard. Everything is vast and unknown to Meixing and not in a good way, including the house she has dubbed Big Scary. She is embarrassed by the second-hand shoes given to her by the kind neighbours, has trouble understanding the language at school, and with fitting in and making new friends. Her solace is a glasshouse in the garden that inexplicably holds the sun and the moon and all the secrets of her memory and imagination.
Her fragile universe is rocked when tragedy strikes and Ma Ma refuses to face the world outside. Meixing finds herself trapped within the shrinking walls of Big Scary. Her parents said this would be a better life for them all, but it feels like the worst and most heart-breaking experience of Meixing’s entire existence. Surviving will take all the resilience and inner belief of this brave girl to turn their world around.
A Glasshouse of Stars is based on the real childhood experiences of the author, brushed with a light touch of magic realism.
Praise for A Glasshouse of Stars:
Heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic. This is a special book from a powerful, compassionate new voice in children’s literature, destined to be read and loved for generations and held close in many hearts (including mine) – JESSICA TOWNSEND, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE NEVERMOOR SERIES
Poignant and beautifully told. I loved this book – MELINA MARCHETTA, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
A Glasshouse of Stars is a rare and beautiful masterpiece; deeply heartfelt, dreamily magical, and glitteringly hopeful. I adored it! – SOPHIE ANDERSON, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS
Poignant, authentic and heartbreakingly tender – a touching story of loss and resilience. Shirley Marr gives a face to our deepest fears and proves that even the scariest monsters can keep us company in the dark – DARIA OSTROWSKA, COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, WESTBOOKS
There is no doubt that A Glasshouse of Stars will be a Middle Grade novel to watch in 2021 … We share Meixing’s journey from loss and displacement, from heartbreak and confusion. A Glasshouse of Stars is ultimately, however, a tale of resilience, compassion and hope – with brushstrokes of magic to help illuminate the way. I loved this perfectly balanced book! – PAUL MACDONALD, OWNER, THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP
Australian Cover
US Cover
UK Cover
