Stars and the Blackness between Them, The

Told from the perspectives of two girls, Audre and Mabel, this is the story of two Black girls who find each other after Audre’s mother sent her away out of Trinidad to live in America with her father because of her sexual preferences. This young adult coming-of-age novel broaches sensitive and emotional topics. It highlights how both characters come to terms with their sexuality and identities, creating opportunities for rich class discussions in a secondary-level classroom. Students may be inspired to write journal entries or advice columns or be encouraged to engage in creative projects such as illustrating a scene or creating a graphic novel-type adaption of a scene.