I felt assumptive leaps made by particular characters displayed a lack of depth and nuance in characterisation. My reticence regarding the romantic relationship in this novel stemmed from one reservation I just could not shake - that relating to the treatment of depression and recovery from trauma. While the romantic elements in this plot were sweet, the dramatic storyline centring on Ursa’s plight held far greater pull and reward for me.Īs always, words fail when you most want to say the right thing. Where the Forest Meets the Stars is definitely a slow-burning read but ultimately one I found myself immersed in. We’re at the creek catching fish with a holey net. The gradual revelation of Gabriel Nash’s dysfunctional family history introduced another valuable layer of intrigue, and dare I say it, dark humour to the story web also. Why do men often call smart women devious?īut it was hard not to be won over by little Ursa the alien’s stubborn conviction and penchant for learning. Female lead Jo’s sharp-edged veneer and fortified emotional walls make her a difficult character to connect with. I had my reservations in this novel’s first few chapters. Vanderah plumbs this eternal spring, focussing on the good to be found in dire situations in Where the Forest Meets the Stars. There really is something about the unbridled enthusiasm and resilience of children that can draw out the best in adults, warming hearts once frozen. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.ĭisclosure: If you click a link in this post and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbour, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay-just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises. A mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.Īfter the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her.

Where the forest meets the sea book