Book Review: Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah

---

Of Scars and Stardust
Author: Andrea Hannah
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery
Released: October 8th 2014
Review Source: Flux

After her little sister mysteriously vanishes, seventeen-year-old Claire Graham has a choice to make: stay snug in her little corner of Manhattan with her dropout boyfriend, or go back to Ohio to face the hometown tragedy she's been dying to leave behind.

But the memories of that night still haunt her in the city, and as hard as she tries to forget what her psychiatrist calls her "delusions," Claire can't seem to escape the wolf's eyes or the blood-speckled snow. Delusion or reality, Claire knows she has to hold true to the most important promise she's ever made: to keep Ella safe. She must return to her sleepy hometown in order to find Ella and keep her hallucinations at bay before they strike again. But time is quickly running out, and as Ella's trail grows fainter, the wolves are becoming startlingly real.

Now Claire must deal with her attraction to Grant, the soft-spoken boy from her past that may hold the secret to solving her sister's disappearance, while following the clues that Ella left for only her to find. Through a series of cryptic diary entries, Claire must unlock the keys to Ella's past—and her own—in order to stop another tragedy in the making, while realizing that not all things that are lost are meant to be found.

Holy WOW – I never saw the ending coming. Of Scars and Stardust had me going crazy thinking I was right… just to be proven wrong.  Reading this book had me on suspense and I just couldn't stop reading.  I was hooked. Not only this book is emotional but the mystery was so intense – it was just mind blowing. I loved it!

When I first saw this book featured on Waiting on Wednesday, I was curious. The summary itself draws attention, well to me it did. I love sad book and mystery, Of Scars and Stardust is both. And the COVER... I freaking love it! So yes, this book already had gained points for my liking. Starting this was such a bad idea. I had so many things to do that day and it all went down the hill. I just couldn’t stop reading that I forgot everything else.

From the very beginning, Of Scars and Stardust makes you feel that you’re in a haunted place. With its well written descriptions, it will creep you out. But you can’t help it, you will keep reading.  You meet our protagonist, Claire. She has a great family and a loving sister, Ella. I pictured Ella as Anna from Disney’s Frozen movie. She was so bright and happy and just full of life. Ella looked up to Claire. One night, Claire is invited to a party but was told to leave Ella home. To have her scare to death, Claire fibs about a myth story of wolves and Ella is scared to death. But this does not stop her. She follows Claire. At the party, Claire tells her sister to go back home… Only to be left to death. Ella is forever ruined. Her brightness is gone and soon she vanishes... Claire is unable to move on from this night and the guilt is killing her. She tries to unsolved the mystery only to be left trapped in this psychological twist.

Although Of Scars and Stardust left me with unanswered questions, I just can’t stop thinking of the many possibilities. Such a psychological and intense read! I highly recommend this book to everyone. Seriously, one of my favorite reads of the year.