The Star Outside My Window

By: Onjali Q. Raúf

Narrated by: Lara Swalha

From the award-winning author of The Boy at the Back of the Class comes a middle grade novel about the power of hope to sustain even when tragedy strikes.

Ten-year-old Aniyah and her little brother Noah find themselves living in foster care after the sudden disappearance of their mum. With her life in disarray, Aniyah knows just one thing for sure: her mum isn't gone forever.

Aniyah believes that the people with the brightest hearts never truly disappear. They become stars. When scientists discover a new star acting strangely, Aniyah knows it's really her mum. To make sure everyone else knows, too, she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime--one that involves breaking into the Royal Observatory of London, and meeting the biggest star in Hollywood.

This is an honest yet empathetic exploration of how people respond to difficult circumstances, told through the innocent voice of a ten-year-old girl.

Critic reviews

“Deeply moving. [Raúf] brings to life an age-appropriate narrative about painful topics, giving her characters power and agency.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Raúf doesn’t sensationalize her characters’ painful back-stories, instead focusing on their healing." —Publishers Weekly