The Fire of Stars

Starred review from January 23, 2023
English astronomer Cecilia Payne (1900–1979) shines in this homage, which unfolds as a dual narrative that maps Payne’s life to a star’s phases of formation. The figure’s scientific leanings first appear during a country childhood exploring the outdoors. While a move to London initially feels lonely, Payne takes refuge in her school’s dusty lab, and eventually lands a scholarship to Cambridge, where she learns about a new field: astrophysics. Battling gender-related prejudice, the determined graduate heads to a job at Harvard, where she uncovers the ingredients of stars (“It’s a stellar discovery, breathtaking”). Marrying format, language, and subject, Larson conscientiously emphasizes Payne’s accomplishments. A star’s “heat grows—// and then, at last...// a new light,” and simultaneously Payne feels that “deep inside her something glimmers/ and glows, growing stronger./ Something new.” Taking place alongside inky interstellar sidebar views, accompanying pencil and ink illustrations by Roy glow with warm digital coloring. An author’s note, scientific information, and timeline conclude. Ages 5–8.

February 1, 2023
Grades K-3 Larson introduces Cecilia Payne, the first person to identify the chemical composition of stars. As a young child, Cecilia enjoyed observing nature; later, as a student, she excelled in the sciences, especially astrophysics; and while working at the Harvard Observatory, she discovered that stars are mostly hydrogen and helium. The picture book unfolds in two parallel narratives: Cecilia's life story and a more lyrical sidebar detailing the birth of a star. Appropriate to the audience, the science is kept to a minimum, although an afterword clarifies what is known about star formation. Roy's digitally enhanced pencil-and-walnut-ink illustrations are rendered in two distinct styles (one for each of the narratives) and appear adjacent to each other on the same spread: the biographical artwork uses a simplified cartoon style, while the star artwork is dramatic and reminiscent of Hubble Space Telescope photographs. Greens, browns, and gold hues predominate, accented in reds. Appended with further information, time line, and bibliography, this makes a good addition to the astronomy shelves.

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Starred review from January 20, 2023

Gr 2-6-A stellar subject, breathtaking artwork, and unique layout set this biography for young readers apart from the rest. It begins with two births: one of a young Cecilia Payne, toddling in the English countryside; and the other of a star, sleeping quietly in space. As the parallel stories progress, Payne grows into a Harvard-trained astrophysicist who isn't daunted by a scientific community that's largely male and reluctant to include her. Meanwhile, the star slowly develops and bursts into bright, blinding life. Back matter includes a time line of Payne's life and how her work changed modern astronomy, along with a fascinating and detailed look at how stars are born, grow old, and die. Payne's hard work, passion, curiosity, and self-belief shine through in this story and will inspire readers to persist in their own pursuits, whatever they may be. VERDICT Recommended for all collections.-Amy Fellows

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2022
In parallel plotlines, two stars are born--one to flare in space and another sort on Earth to shed light on how. In celestial deeps, illustrator Roy portrays dust and dirt gradually coalescing into a cloud that whirls ever more violently and at last ignites. Meanwhile, in side-by-side foreground scenes, a British child who thrills at the "lightning bolt of discovery" attendant on close observations of the natural world around her persistently chases that love through schools that discourage girls and women from such pursuits...all the way to the Harvard College Observatory. There she finds not only kindred female spirits, but also astronomical evidence leading to a blinding flash of insight about what stars are made of and in what proportions. Along with adding more detail about both the stellar career of Cecilia Payne, 25 years old when she made her revolutionary discovery in 1925, and about star formation in an afterword, Larson makes explicit her message to readers who burn to find out and to understand. "Cecilia proved not only what makes a star but also what makes a star scientist: curiosity, passion, hard work, and belief in oneself." The swirling, whirling vortex cuts a dramatic figure in Roy's glimmering starscapes; in the overset panels, Payne and her fellow students and associates, all White presenting, are drawn with sketchy grace in period dress and settings. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A luminous thematic pairing. (timeline) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)

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