These Unlucky Stars

Author Gillian McDunn
Narrator Stina Nielsen
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
Run Time 6 hours and 20 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Relationship stories – Romance, love or friendship, Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Bullying, violence, abuse and peer pressure, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Divorce, separation, family break-up, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Life skills and choices, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Mental health, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Self-awareness and self-esteem, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Truancy and school problems.

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What to expect

Ever since her mother left a few years ago, Annie has felt like the odd one out in her family. Her dad and brother are practical and organised - they just don’t understand the way she thinks, in lines and colour. Everywhere she turns, she feels like an outsider, even at school, so she’s been reluctant to get close to anyone.

When a "Ding-Dong-Ditch" attempt goes wrong, Annie finds herself stuck making amends with Gloria, the eccentric elderly lady she disturbed. As she begins to connect with Gloria and her weird little dog, it becomes clear that Gloria won’t be able to live on her own for much longer. But it’s this brief and important friendship that gives Annie the confidence to let people in, and see how rich life can be when you decide to make your own luck and chart your own path to happiness.

In this heartwarming novel, acclaimed author Gillian McDunn shows us that even the most unexpected friendship has the power to change us forever.

Acclaim for Caterpillar Summer
An Indies Introduce Pick
A Texas Bluebonnet Selection
A Parents Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
An Amazon Best Book of the Year

Critics Review

McDunn offers a warmhearted, nuanced look at a slightly lonely child. . . . genuine and engaging. . . . Heartfelt and appealing.
Kirkus Reviews
An engaging, honest book–I love Cat, and you will, too!
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor-winning author of THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE on CATERPILLAR SUMMER
I could almost smell the ocean air as I read Gillian McDunn’s Caterpillar Summer. What a beautiful story of family, forgiveness, life on an island, and growing up.
Kate Messner, author of BREAKOUT and THE SEVENTH WISH on CATERPILLAR SUMMER
An engrossing, heartwarming, beautifully written debut about building and rebuilding family ties.
Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on CATERPILLAR SUMMER
McDunn’s poignant, gratifying debut about friendship and family encourages both empathy and hope.
Publishers Weekly, starred review, on CATERPILLAR SUMMER
Fans of the books Rules by Cynthia Lord and Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine will enjoy this well-written book about the struggles of a fractured family.
School Library Connection on CATERPILLAR SUMMER
Readers will find Cat to be an admirable and fully credible heroine . . . and the idyllic island setting makes for a wistful summer escape.
BCCB on CATERPILLAR SUMMER
A sweet summer story that middle grade readers will appreciate.
School Library Journal on CATERPILLAR SUMMER

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These Unlucky Stars

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