In this week's edition of Endnotes, we take a look at Libba Bray's Under the Same Stars, an inspiring historical mystery where three generations of teens find themselves while fighting for change. In its review, PW said, "Bray’s intimate third-person narrative kaleidoscopes back and forth in time, interweaving the three story lines and highlighting their internal resonance."
Here's how the book came together:
Libba Bray
“Under the Same Stars is fiction, but there’s an awful lot of real history in it, and knowing history—warts and all—is vital. The past speaks to us like a chorus of ghosts, warning us about what repeats, such as fascism and genocide, and how that process happens while we’re not paying attention. It tells us how even good people can be manipulated into doing terrible things.”
Joanna Volpe
“Two wonderful editors from FSG reached out, Grace Kendall and Elizabeth Lee, as they were both big fans of Libba’s and hoping to find a way to work with her. They shared an article about Germany’s matchmaking Bridegroom’s Oak and suggested it might inspire Libba, and, boy, did it! We are thrilled with the result.”
Grace Kendall
“When we brought the manuscript to acquisitions, there was so much excitement to work with Libba, but also for this incredible story. It’s a rare feat, but this book came in almost fully formed. Libba is a natural storyteller. We spent most of our time together making sure the mystery that spans the three timelines worked well.”
Mallory Grigg
“This novel weaves three different timelines, multiple locations, and nuanced themes. And it spans generations—we could see a 15-year-old, a 35-year-old, and an 85-year-old loving it. The question was, How do we thread a needle that could capture such a broad audience? Because of this, we veered away from showing characters on the cover and focused more on objects and location.”
