And the Stars Were Burning Brightly

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It really put me in a similar place to the two protagonists, of not quite being able to accept that Al was gone, and that was a really interesting experience. Born in Manchester, Danielle Jawando’s previous publications and broadcasting credits have included a short story “Paradise 703”, which was published by DeadInk in 2012 (and long-listed for the Finishing Line Press Award in 2011).

The way that the dark side of social media was perceived was also commendable and it really did get me thinking about how despite how good social media can be, it can be very distressing for some people to use with regards to online bullying etc. Nathan was the one to find his brother, alongside a drawing of Al surrounded by faceless figures adorned only with the words ‘help me. Both characters are incredibly likeable, despite their flaws, and watching their individually journeys and the development of their relationships, is a joy, if painful at times. The story was very intense from start to finish which made it impossible for me to put the book down.What follows flips their worlds upside down and makes Chantelle, Jackson, and Marc question the deep-rooted prejudice and racism that exists within the police, the media, and the rest of society.

While the rest of his family are grieving and dealing in their own way, Nathan grows more and more troubled by what led up to his brothers death and what could have been going on to lead him to take his own life.

I would advise that if you are in a fragile state of mind at the moment, not to read this yet as it may trigger you. Set against a backdrop that many find less than pleasant, this story covers so many emotional highs and lows. It’s such a tragic tale of what young people face these days and the devastating impact it can have on their lives. He comes home one day to find his brother Al has committed suicide, Nate blames himself for not being there, for not noticing, and ultimately not being a better friend to his big brother. Your words, like your reviews, bring books to life and give them a voice before the front cover is even turned.

I wanted to explore what this would be like now, especially in a world where social media is everywhere, and people might not consider how harmful their comments or likes can be.

The play ends with a tearful and genuinely heartfelt plea: one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, and the ensemble break the forth wall to push this point home, openly crying, counting to 40 and beseeching the characters, the audience and each other to hold on, reach out and be mindful of each other. Really brought home to me the effects bullying can have on a person, but also how cruel people can be.

The narration alternates between 15-year-old Nathan, the younger brother who discovered Al’s body and Megan the school friend who shared Al’s passion for art, but each chapter is cleverly introduced by the voice of Al himself. The way it She, too, struggles with his death but seeks to celebrate him and his memory by focusing on his art.The reading experience is pretty much like that, the story and the characters plunged me into their worlds, wrapped me up in their fraught emotions and spat me out a bit of wreck.