*Chosen as a 2020 Kids’ Indie Next pick * A Locus Reading List recommendation * An Andre Norton Nebula Award Finalist* “Shveta Thakrar's prose is as beautiful as starlight.”— New York Times bestselling author Holly Black This gorgeously imagined YA debut blends shades of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and a breathtaking landscape of Hindu mythology into a radiant contemporary fantasy. The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be “normal.” But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star’s help to heal him. A star like her mother, who returned to the sky long ago. Sheetal’s quest to save her father will take her to a celestial court of shining wonders and dark shadows, where she must take the stage as her family’s champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of the heavens—and win, or risk never returning to Earth at all. Brimming with celestial intrigue, this sparkling YA debut is perfect for fans of Roshani Chokshi and Laini Taylor.  Gr 8 Up-Sheetal, days shy of her 17th birthday, is the child of a star mother and a human father, with whom she lives in an Indian American community in New Jersey. When her starfire accidentally injures her beloved father and lands him in the hospital, Sheetal embarks on a celestial journey with her best friend Minal to search for a star's blood to heal him and to find her mother, who returned to the skies years before. Thrust into a competition to determine the ruling house of the stars' court, Sheetal must quickly learn the traditions of this new world and race to secure the healing blood in time to save her father. Her quest becomes more complicated when she encounters her sweetheart, Dev, in the heavens. Sheetal is a teen heroine drawn with grace and authenticity who will ring true with young adult readers. VERDICT Thakrar's lyrical prose and imaginative story transport readers to a world tucked away in the limitless sky, a place of shining golden palaces and starsong.­Gillian D'Ambrosio, Rutgers Univ., NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. “A dreamy, diasporic, diverse fantasy. A story about stars, yes—and about family, friends, falling in love, and finding your voice, your place. Places.  A shimmering debut.” - Tanuja Desai Hidier, author of Born Confused and sequel Bombay Blues “A stunning tale of self-acceptance, family, and liminal spaces.” - Jacqueline Koyanagi "A gorgeously written tale of magic and family, of finding and fighting for your place, Star Daughter has a heart that shines as brilliantly as its celestial court." - S. A. Chakraborty, author of the bestselling Daevabad Trilogy “A wondrous delight, Shveta Thakrar’s debut is a feast for the senses.” - Cindy Pon, author of Want and Serpentine “Absolutely magical. Thakrar weaves her words so tightly around you that you are completely immersed in her world, a victim of its lyrical starsong.” - Ellen Oh, author of the Prophecy series and editor of A Thousand Beginnings and Endings “A luminous debut. Star Daughter’s sparkling coming-of-age tale of transformation and love is among the best kinds of fantasy: one that reminds us to reach for the stars while keeping our feet firmly on the ground.” - Fran Wilde, Nebula Award-winning author of The Bone Universe series and Riverland “An enchanting story about love, family, finding your voice, and searching for home. Thakrar’s sparkling command of language weaves magic on every page. This book is a joy, and will speak to anyone who yearns to belong.” - Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn and Kingsbane “Radiant. Readers will be enchanted by Sheetal and the starry court.” - Kristen Ciccarelli, internationally bestselling author of The Last Namsara "My favorite tales are the ones that sneakily draw you out of one world and slip you into the next. This is one of those. I emerged from Star Daughter dusted with constellations and wonder. Thakrar's imagination is a feast for the senses." - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen and The Gilded Wolves "Take a journey to the heavenly courts in this luscious, shimmering fantasy, so dripping with beauty and imagination you’ll want to eat it with a spoon.” - New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor “Full of wonder and enchantment. Thakrar has crafted an excellent story about the power of the younger generations to carve their own path amidst the traditions and expectations of their elders.”  - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Nothing short of dazzling.” - Booklist “ Star Daughter  is a love letter to every desi girl wanting to believe in her own magic.” - Tanaz Bhathena, author of A Girl Like That and Hunted by the Sky “Shveta Thakrar's prose is as beautiful as starlight.” - Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author "A