Every Soul a Star

Every Soul a Star

• Genre: Young Adult Fiction
• Originally Published: 2008
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL740L; ages 11 and up
• Structure/Length: Divided into chapters; approximately 336 pages; audiobook length approximately 8 hours and 32 minutes
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Every Soul a Star is a young adult novel that weaves together the stories of three teenagers—Ally, Bree, and Jack—who converge at the Moon Shadow Campground to witness a total solar eclipse. The central conflict revolves around their individual journeys of self-discovery during this celestial event. Ally, who lives at the campground with her family, faces the impending closure of the campground, which threatens her sense of home. Bree grapples with the reality of leaving her city life behind for a remote campground. Jack is a science enthusiast who dreams of becoming an astronomer. As they come together, they discover unexpected friendships, their own potential, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the universe.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of change, friendship, and self-discovery

This Teaching Guide follows the 2008 Little, Brown paperback edition. 978-0-316-00257-8

Wendy Mass, Author

• Bio: American author known for her children's and young adult novels that often blend science fiction, fantasy, and real-world themes; Mass is celebrated for her engaging and imaginative storytelling; she is also the author of A Mango-Shaped Space and the Willow Falls series.
• Other Works: A Mango-Shaped Space (2003); Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (2006); The Candymakers (2010); Wendy Mass has authored a variety of novels that resonate with readers for their creativity and relatable characters.
• Awards: California Young Reader Medal (2012)

CENTRAL THEMES  connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Inevitability of Change
• The Positive Impact of Education
• The Need to Celebrate Identity

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the artistic contexts around expressing oneself through painting, which impacts Jack’s conflict.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Need to Celebrate Identity, The Positive Impact of Education, and The Inevitability of Change.
• Research, plan, and narrate a reunion for the story’s characters at an upcoming solar eclipse, based on novel details.
• Examine and appraise the author’s purpose and techniques to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding the symbol of the labyrinth and the function of minor characters.