The Star Outside My Window

Onjali Q. Rauf's The Star Outside My Window is a moving story for 9 year olds about a girl who is certain her mum has become a star.

What happens

Aniyah is ten and she's already a star hunter (that's her word for an astronomer). Now she and her little brother Noah have been taken to a foster home. They're living with Mrs Iwuchukwu, who wears so many bracelets she clunks when she walks.

The house has rules Aniyah doesn't understand. Noah can wet the bed and nobody shouts. You can make a mess at the table. Music plays in the kitchen and grown-ups dance to it. For two children who aren't used to any of that, it's almost scarier than being told off.

Then a brand-new star appears on the TV news, blazing across the sky. The Royal Observatory wants help to name it. Aniyah KNOWS it's Mum. So she needs a plan.

The other foster children are brilliant. Ben never stops asking questions and says things like "Cricketing crickets!". Travis has braces and a stammer and stares a lot, but he's kind. Sophie is thirteen and seems to have it in for Aniyah from the start.

Reading it is like being right inside Aniyah's head. She notices everything (she counts Sophie's freckles). She's fierce about looking after Noah. And for a while at the start her voice just won't come out.

Worth knowing before you hand it over

Aniyah's mum has gone before the story starts, and there are strong hints that home wasn't a safe place. Mum used to turn the telly up loud when Dad came home. Nothing at the table could be spilt in case he got angry.

It's never spelled out in a frightening way, but it's there. For a child who is in care, has lost a parent or has lived with a scary grown-up, this could be very close to home. Reading it together might be the way to go.

For a reader who's ready for something sad and hopeful at the same time, it's really special. The friendships are funny and warm, and a foster mum who says "Rise and shine!" every morning is hard not to love.

What to read next

If they're ready for another of her stories, try The Boy at the Back of the Class. Another child telling the story, three best friends and a new teacher are all waiting to see who will fill the empty chair in the classroom.