Your Eyes in Stars

Your Eyes in Stars

By: M.E. Kerr

HarperTeen, 2007

Set in 1934 this book tells the story of Jessie and her new German friend Elisa. When their friendship begins Jessie's mother doubts the motives of Elisa, but she is wrong. Jessie (whom Elisa calls Jessica) and Elisa become best friends. When they hear the trumpet at the prison sound more beautifully then they have ever heard Jessie and Elisa want to know more about the man who plays it. Jessie's father, the prison warden, tells her about the tragic story of the new inmate Slater. the girls become infatuated with the musically talented prisoner until Halloween. Their opinions of Slater change and Elisa and her family return to Germany, only things have changed as Hitler rises in power. Elisa and Jessie continue their friendship through letters but soon Elisa says goodbye. Jessie is left to wonder what happened to her dear friend and finds out things turn out different than they seem.

Personal Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I chose to read it because I was told it was about the Holocaust. As I first started reading I wondered if this was true, the book had brief references to Hitler and Germany. However at the end the book is about the Holocaust because Elisa returns to Germany during Hitler's reign. This book was interesting, it is not often that teenage girls fall in love with prison mates. Elisa and Jessica's friendship is so strong that they write more then most friends would. I thought the end of the book was beautiful. This book gives the readers a perspective of Nazi Germany from an American Perspective as well as a German one.

Warning: This book has descriptions on crime and prison life. This book also talks about murder.

240 pages