david barclay moore the stars beneath our feet

They’re still reeling from his older brother’s death in a gang-related shooting just a few months earlier. It’s Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mom aren’t celebrating. I found myself rooting for Lolly, and you will too.A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother’s death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity. “ The Stars Beneath Our Feet is about the weight of the world on the back of a child, and the creative tools necessary to alleviate that pressure.

We definitely haven’t heard the last of his brilliance.” - Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award–winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming

David Barclay Moore is an exciting new voice. “A fast and furious read in which we meet some amazing people, people that stay with us. But building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape-and an unexpected bridge back to the world.ĭavid Barclay Moore paints a powerful portrait of a boy teetering on the edge-of adolescence, of grief, of violence-and shows how Lolly’s inventive spirit helps him build a life with firm foundations and open doors.Ī Time Magazine Top 10 Children's Books of the YearĪ Boston Globe Best Children's Book of the Year When Lolly and his friend are beaten up and robbed, joining a crew almost seems like the safe choice.

His path isn’t clear-and the pressure to join a “crew,” as his brother did, is always there. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward. Lolly’s always loved Legos, and he prides himself on following the kit instructions exactly. Then Lolly’s mother’s girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos.

Winner of the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for New Talent and soon to be a major motion picture directed by Michael B. It’s the novel we’ve been waiting for.' - The New York TimesĪ boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother’s death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity. It’s not just a narrative it’s an experience.

David barclay moore the stars beneath our feet