as far as the stars - virginia MCGREGOR

An announcement echoed through the lounge of Dulles Airport, friends and family of the passengers on this UKFlyer0217 flight are called into a cramped room and told the flight they’re loved ones are on has vanished off the radar. It's Missing.  Airport rumors start circulating - word spreads that the plane has crashed into the sea. No survivors. Air quickly subdues the rising sense of panic - denying any possibility her brother was on that flight.

Air had always been a prisoner of everyone else’s expectations and therefore the responsibility of wrangling her older brother, Blake, was always thrust upon her. However this time it was more significant than ever - with her older sister’s wedding looming and the hectic preparations crescendoing into mayhem, Air must ensure her sister’s special day is perfect and nothing less. Determined to prove to herself Blake wasn’t on the flight she drives across America with unwavering resolution; a desperate bid to save the wedding and find her missing brother. Amidst this havoc, she meets Cristopher - a stranger who too has a relative onboard flight 0217. Leaning on each other for emotional support, these teenagers lives become intertwined through a tragedy which sparks the beginning of an insightful and eventually healing journey. 

Macgregor uses this idea of a ‘road trip’ or ‘journey’ very effectively to convey a sort of numb panic that can escalate into an overwhelming, destructive force. Through such a dynamic she also heightens the importance of a strong bond in times of adversity. Evocative, poignant and captivating As Far as the Stars was one of my favorite books this year. Authentic and real characters accompanied by great narration and an enthralling storyline, this novel is a must-read for ages 13+. 

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