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1. Bibliographic Infomation
Gaiman, N. (2007). Stardust. New York: Harper Collins.
(Movie Tie-in Edition)
336 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-380-80455-9
2. Plot Summary
Dunstan Thorn is a young boy living in the town of Wall. The Wall is an interesting city, which does indeed have a wall. The wall lines the east border of the city, and no one ventures beyond the wall. Instead, the city places guards along the small opening to ensure no one enters. About every nine years a fair comes to the town of Wall. All sorts of people attend from far and wide to sell their goods. When he was 18, Dunstan aided an unusual man who granted him his heart’s desire. Dunstan finds himself going to the fair where he sleeps with a young girl. Nine months later a basket arrives with a child named Tristan Thorn.
Years pass, and Dunstan’s son is now seventeen and in love with Victoria Forest. After seeing a shooting star, he impetuously asks Victoria for anything his heart desires if he obtained the fallen star for her. Calling his bluff, Victoria who scorns his feelings accepts. Thus, Tristan begins his journey beyond the wall in search of a star. Tristan, though, is not the only one searching. A powerful witch seeks the star to regain her youth, and three brothers look to find the pendant which knocked the star out of orbit to claim the throne of Stormhold. However, not all is what it appears to be in the land beyond Wall, and a star is not simply a ball of gas.
3. Critical Evaluation
Neil Gaiman’s Stardust is a lighthearted fantasy novel, great for readers who want to be introduced to the genre. The novel has a tongue-in-cheek feel to it, with distinctly British humor and wit. Gaiman’s writing style is very enticing to read. However, the characters seemed a tad uneventful in respect to their actions. Tristan and Yvaine’s journey, though adventurous, seems to be due to other’s actions and reactions. Except for Tristan’s initial vow to find the fallen star, the consequences that befall him are not necessarily of his own doing but rather from what others do or have said. For example, he uses the candle to escape the witch because the hairy man had told him to do so. Nevertheless, perhaps this reaction is due in part to my viewing the movie before reading the book, which does take a different approach to Gaiman’s novel. Ultimately, the novel is entertaining, and readers should appreciate Gaiman’s humor and writing style.
4. Reader’s Annotation
Would you catch a fallen star for your heart’s desire?
5. Information about the Author
Neil Gaiman was born and raised in England, but now currently resides with his wife and children in the United States. He has written numerous novels for adults, teens and children in addition to screenplays, short stories, graphic novels, and song lyrics. Some of his titles have also become motion pictures including Stardust and Coraline.
6. Genre
Fantasy
7. Curriculum Ties
I could only see this book being used as an outside reading book for an English class, rather than for instruction.
8. Booktalking Ideas
- How do Dunstan and Tristan’s perception of their heart’s desire and their actual heart’s desire differ? Do you feel that Gaiman is trying to make a point with this?
- Do you feel that Tristan’s character changes throughout the novel? How is his behavior different and/or the same?
9. Reading level/Interest Age
(Cross-over novel) I would recommend this novel for older teens to adults, acceptable for 15 year olds to read.
10. Challenge Issues
There are some minor instances of sex and sexual innuendo as well as some offensive language. Therefore, while I do not feel that this book should be a problem, if a person were to challenge it I would refer them to the ALA’s website for more information and challenge forms found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
Gaiman, N. (2007). Stardust. New York: Harper Collins.
(Movie Tie-in Edition)
336 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-380-80455-9
2. Plot Summary
Dunstan Thorn is a young boy living in the town of Wall. The Wall is an interesting city, which does indeed have a wall. The wall lines the east border of the city, and no one ventures beyond the wall. Instead, the city places guards along the small opening to ensure no one enters. About every nine years a fair comes to the town of Wall. All sorts of people attend from far and wide to sell their goods. When he was 18, Dunstan aided an unusual man who granted him his heart’s desire. Dunstan finds himself going to the fair where he sleeps with a young girl. Nine months later a basket arrives with a child named Tristan Thorn.
Years pass, and Dunstan’s son is now seventeen and in love with Victoria Forest. After seeing a shooting star, he impetuously asks Victoria for anything his heart desires if he obtained the fallen star for her. Calling his bluff, Victoria who scorns his feelings accepts. Thus, Tristan begins his journey beyond the wall in search of a star. Tristan, though, is not the only one searching. A powerful witch seeks the star to regain her youth, and three brothers look to find the pendant which knocked the star out of orbit to claim the throne of Stormhold. However, not all is what it appears to be in the land beyond Wall, and a star is not simply a ball of gas.
3. Critical Evaluation
Neil Gaiman’s Stardust is a lighthearted fantasy novel, great for readers who want to be introduced to the genre. The novel has a tongue-in-cheek feel to it, with distinctly British humor and wit. Gaiman’s writing style is very enticing to read. However, the characters seemed a tad uneventful in respect to their actions. Tristan and Yvaine’s journey, though adventurous, seems to be due to other’s actions and reactions. Except for Tristan’s initial vow to find the fallen star, the consequences that befall him are not necessarily of his own doing but rather from what others do or have said. For example, he uses the candle to escape the witch because the hairy man had told him to do so. Nevertheless, perhaps this reaction is due in part to my viewing the movie before reading the book, which does take a different approach to Gaiman’s novel. Ultimately, the novel is entertaining, and readers should appreciate Gaiman’s humor and writing style.
4. Reader’s Annotation
Would you catch a fallen star for your heart’s desire?
5. Information about the Author
Neil Gaiman was born and raised in England, but now currently resides with his wife and children in the United States. He has written numerous novels for adults, teens and children in addition to screenplays, short stories, graphic novels, and song lyrics. Some of his titles have also become motion pictures including Stardust and Coraline.
6. Genre
Fantasy
7. Curriculum Ties
I could only see this book being used as an outside reading book for an English class, rather than for instruction.
8. Booktalking Ideas
- How do Dunstan and Tristan’s perception of their heart’s desire and their actual heart’s desire differ? Do you feel that Gaiman is trying to make a point with this?
- Do you feel that Tristan’s character changes throughout the novel? How is his behavior different and/or the same?
9. Reading level/Interest Age
(Cross-over novel) I would recommend this novel for older teens to adults, acceptable for 15 year olds to read.
10. Challenge Issues
There are some minor instances of sex and sexual innuendo as well as some offensive language. Therefore, while I do not feel that this book should be a problem, if a person were to challenge it I would refer them to the ALA’s website for more information and challenge forms found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm/
11. Why was it selected?
I though the movie was interesting so I thought I would read the book to see how it compared.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Gaiman, N. (2010). Awards and honors. Retrieved from http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/About_Neil/Awards_and_Honors
Gaiman, N. (2010). About Neil: Biography. Retrieved from http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/About_Neil/Biography
Picture
Amazon.com. (2010). Stardust (Mass Market Paperback). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Stardust-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0380804557/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_img_in
13. Awards
1999 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature
2000 Alex Award
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