The January Stars by Kate Constable

Title: The January Stars

Author: Kate Constable

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 31^st March 2020

Format: Paperback

Pages: 288

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: This thoroughly enjoyable novel about two sisters determined to help their grandfather will delight middle fiction readers of all ages. From the author of the bestselling and much-loved novels Crow Country & Cicada Summer.

SHORTLISTED: 2021 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Children’s Literature

When twelve-year-old Clancy and her fourteen-year-old sister, Tash, visit their Pa at his aged-care facility, they have no idea that the three of them will soon set out on an intrepid adventure.

Along the way there are many challenges for Tash and Clancy to overcome and in the process, they discover their own resourcefulness and resilience and demonstrate their heartfelt love for their grandfather.

• Longlisted, Best Designed Children’s Fiction Book, Australian Book Design Awards, 2021, AU
• Notable Book, Book of the Year, Younger Readers, CBCA Awards, 2021, AU

~*~

Tash and Clancy’s Pa has been living at an aged care facility ever since he had a stroke, and now his house is being sold. His children are all over the place and don’t always talk to each other. So when his son Mark gets into trouble in New Zealand, Tash and Clancy’s parents jet off to New Zealand with their younger brother Bruno, Tash and Clancy are packed off to Aunt Polly, When she heads off as well, they decide to visit Pa – and that is when the story really takes off, as twelve-year-old Clancy and fourteen-year-old Tash travel across Victoria, seeking family – Bee, Pip, and as many other relatives as they can think of to find a new home for Pa. But it’s not easy – they’re just kids, they have no phone, and everyone is suspicious because they don’t look like Pa – their mother is Chinese, and Pa, their dad’s father, is white. And because they’re on the run, heading all over Victoria, across Melbourne and into the suburbs and more remote areas, things are starting to looks weird to some people. Yet Clancy and Tash are keen to find someone to help them and Pa – and come up with a solution that will ensure the whole family can be a part of and unite.

The January Stars was published right as the pandemic started – so it doesn’t touch on the COVID-19 pandemic. I imagine it is set before COVID became prevalent in the world, which makes sense, as the story is set in January, hence the title, as these are the stars and the sky that Clancy follows as they go on their journey to find the right home for Pa as they run from the police and everyone trying to make sure they get home where everyone thinks they should be. It is like one big adventure before the pandemic – where that was the furthest thing from anyone’s minds and all the characters were worried about was their family – I think this is going to be one of those books that evokes a sense of what the world was like immediately before the pandemic, which I think works on two levels. On one level, I felt like there was almost this carefree sense amidst everything else that was going on, because even though Clancy and Tash had to think about money and transport and finding their relatives, they also weren’t burdened by masks or worrying about catching COVID, and it is also the sort of adventure that kids might think about – running away from home and having a good time, though in this instance, the kids are also faced with the realities of this decision. Yet at the same time, especially if you are reading this after the worst of the pandemic, there is a sense of foreboding, of knowing that the serenity of the novel – such as it is – will be shattered in mere weeks and months following the end of the story, and that there are worse situations and separation to come.

I found this to be equal parts gentle, exciting and wondrous, and yes, as with any book, there are times I get annoyed and frustrated with the characters. Most importantly, I wanted to see Clancy and Tash find their aunts and find a new place for Pa, to find somewhere he could be happy, where their family could be happy, and where they could come together. I loved the way Pa, Clancy, and Tash had an understanding that helped them on their journey – it showed a deep connection and understanding of intergenerational relationships and the importance of family and doing what we can to understand and help them, because sometimes, our families will be the closest relationships we have in life.

This was a book that I had heard of when it came out, and always thought about getting – yet due to the pandemic and not always finding it when looking, I was unable to until I stumbled across it in The Book Cow, Kingston as part of a sale. I am so glad I finally got to it, because there is something really special in this book – a celebration and appreciation of family and working together in the light of the unknown. And even though it was set in current times, I liked that there was a way to take away the technology that made sense, so Clancy and Tash had to think of different ways to work out what to do. I think this was a very clever and charming book that celebrated familial love and connection and the ambition of two young girls to do the best for their grandfather and by extension, their family. I think this is a great younger YA book, or older middle grade book and though it has not had as much excitement as other books in the past few years, is definitely worth the read.