The Star Shepherd

From Connolly (Shadow Weaver) and animator Haring, in his authorial debut, this middle grade fantasy follows a premise reminiscent of beloved titles such as Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle and Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. Once, the Seven Elders transmuted their hearts to the stars to protect humanity from dark creatures, such as the fire-breathing, spiderlike vritrax. Centuries later, though, their secrets have been lost, and Star Shepherds, who re-launch fallen stars back into the starlight net, are ridiculed. Tirin; his 11-year-old son, Kyro; and their terrier, Cypher, have lived on the fringes of Drenn society ever since Kyro’s mother died and Tirin began shepherding to honor her memory. After the Star Council disregards Tirin’s assertions that star clusters are falling and being stolen, he sets off alone to find the culprit. When he doesn’t come home, however, Kyro, Cypher, and Kyro’s friend Andra must separate truth from myth and shield civilization from coming horrors. Though nebulous worldbuilding, clunky prose, and a surfeit of telling slows the narration, young readers may find this an engaging entrée into fantasy, helped along by striking black-and-white illustrations and a satisfactory ending. Ages 8–14. Agent: (for Haring) Kathleen Ortiz, New Leaf Literary; (for Connolly) Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. [em](Sept.) [/em]