What Came from the Stars. By Gary Schmidt. 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2013. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-3976-0, CD: ISBN 97801-4703-3977-7. $66.75
Gr 6-8–Tommy Pepper is in the school cafeteria trying to hide the embarrassing superhero l
unch box his grandmother sent him for his 12th birthday when it suddenly clatters to the floor. When he retrieves it, it’s not the same lunchbox. The shape has changed, and the scene depicted is of another world. Inside he finds a shimmering green and silver chain which he slips around his neck beneath his shirt. Suddenly, Tommy knows things that other people don’t, his artistic abilities seem to bring his creations to life, he can play the piano like a virtuoso, and he can catch a long pass like a pro. But the only newfound ability that Tommy really cherishes is the one that allows him to relive his memories of his mother. Wracked with guilt over her death, the recalling of happy times together feels like a kind of absolution. When an unknown assailant begins to threaten the entire town, Tommy realizes that they are after the necklace. But he’s loath to give it up until his father and sister become part of the bargain. In alternating chapters, the story switches between Tommy’s world and the world of the Valorim (from a planet across the cosmos) who forged the chain. The tale of the Valorim is told in a formal style, rich with words from an invented language. Narrator Graham Winton does an excellent job of keeping Gary Schmidt’s sci-fi fantasy (Clarion, 2012) flowing despite these shifts in writing style and language. He is so adept at speaking the invented language that listeners will begin to decipher the meanings even without the benefit of the glossary (included at the back of the book). His performance brings to life this beautiful tale of healing and forgiveness in a way that goes way beyond just reading the text yourself. A must-have for middle school and public libraries.–Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library,Falls Church,VA