Stardust

Title: Star Dust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 0380977281

Recommended for Grades 9-12
Genre: Fiction-Fantasy

Reader’s Annotation:
Tristran Thorn needs to find the perfect gift to win the heart of the woman he loves. Wouldn't a fallen star make a great gift?

Plot Summary:
Tristran Thorn is half man, half fairy and lives in the English town of Wall. When the beautiful Victoria Forester promises to marry Tristran if he brings her a fallen star, he sets off over Wall's wall and into the fairy realm to find it. He soon discovers that the star is not at all what he expected. Rather than being a rock, it is a beautiful young woman named Yvaine. Tristran takes her prisoner and they begin the trek back to Wall.

But Tristran is not the only one looking for the star. Three witches want to steal her heart in order to become young again. The sons of a nearby king are also looking for her, since whichever one finds her wins the throne. Tristran finds himself needing to defend Yvaine, and slowly begins to fall in love with her.

Evaluation:
Neil Gaiman bases his story on classic English fairytales. Teens can get a taste of a more sophisticated fairytale than the average Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty with characters that contain far more depth.

Notes:
In 2007 Paramount Pictures released a theatrical adaptation of Stardust.