The Whole Sky Full of Stars

When Barry's father dies, he leaves three things behind for his teenage son: his belief in Barry's will to succeed in life, a love of boxing and a Ford Galaxie worth more money than his wife can make in six months. In order to help out his poor, tired mother, Barry makes a deal with his best friend Alby that puts everything he's been left at stake. Rene Saldana, Jr.'s THE WHOLE SKY FULL OF STARS is a story about the intricacies of teen friendship. Although Barry and Alby have been friends since kindergarten, Alby, whose family is better off, uses Barry to make up for gambling with Ciro, the school thug. Without telling him the truth, Alby convinces Barry that he should participate in a big, risky fight scene, with Alby as his manager. What Barry doesn't know is that he'll be trading his hard-earned brawn for bread he'll never see. With the specter of Barry's proud dad weaving throughout the story, Saldana catches Barry on some slippery slopes from which there is no chance for a return. It's a story about growing up, trusting others as well as yourself, combining nerves of steel with physical bulk, and the price that is paid when you choose brawn over brains. The background of the book is shady --- the undisclosed town where the boys live, the school they attend, the work their parents do. Saldana could have enriched the novel with details from the life that Barry leads and the more well-to-do upbringing that Alby comes from. It would have made the financial worries of Barry seem even more dire and added a sense of ennui to Alby's involvement with the bad guys. But the boys, through their dialogue with each other, hash out the philosophical details of their relationship with great fervor, so a young reader may not miss the more literary elements of the story as I did. The action sequences are well-written, while the feeling of the punches and the pain of the boxing matches are recorded effectively. THE WHOLE SKY FULL OF STARS was written obviously to engage teen readers who want a plot that keeps moving forward. If only there was more to go on about the place and time of Barry's travails, Saldana could have filled a spot in the literary firmament that has been empty since the days of S.E. Hinton. --- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

THE WHOLE SKY FULL OF STARS is a story about the strong bonds of friendship. Through the experience of the main characters readers will learn that true friendship can survive. Barry and Alby have been friends against all odds. Barry's father's recent death from cancer has put a huge financial strain on life for him and his mother. They never had much before and now that is stretched even thinner. Alby, on the other hand, doesn't need to worry about cash. His dad is a successful car dealer and his mom is a lawyer. Yet, the two boys have been friends since the first grade. Alby finds himself in some trouble involving his gambling debts. With the help of his friend Barry's boxing skills, he hopes to concoct a scheme to take care of both the boys' needs. The Man o' Might fighting contest offers a chance for Alby to win what he owes in gambling debts, and, hopefully, provide some financial relief for Barry and his mom. At first reluctant to get involved, Barry finds that preparing for the fight helps him remember the good times with his dad. They used to spend hours together working out on the bag and down at the gym. When they weren't boxing, they were working on an old 1964 Ford Galaxie that Barry might someday drive to the prom. Will Alby's crazy scheme placing side bets on Barry's boxing abilities have what it takes to ruin their friendship? Rene Saldana, Jr. provides the answer in this fast-paced read that is sure to please even reluctant middle grade boys. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"