Be a Star!: A Branches Book (The Amazing Stardust Friends #2)

About this book

This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

The Stardust Girls -- Marlo, Bella, Carly, and Allie -- are all abuzz! A film crew from Hollywood is doing a piece on the circus. Allie loves being in the circus, but she'd love to be a Hollywood star, too! She tries to impress the film crew by becoming the star of the show. But in the circus, everyone works together as a team. And Marlo, Bella, and Carly don't like how Allie is hogging the spotlight. Will Allie get her big Hollywood break?

Reviews

Praise for The Amazing Stardust Friends #2:
"Alexander sets recognizable early-elementary dilemmas against an alluring backdrop for a story that feels both familiar and exotic at the same time....Le Feyer's grayscale illustrations...[work] with the text to create a convincingly multiethnic circus community." -- Kirkus

Praise for The Amazing Stardust Friends #1:
"Alexander effectively conveys the hard work and athleticism that make a circus artist as well as the multicultural nature of a circus family...Le Feyer's grayscale illustrations add humor and personality. The lure of the big top will bring sparkle-loving girls back to see how Marlo's life with the circus progresses." -- Kirkus

"The illustrations are plentiful and break up the text nicely. Kids just starting to read early chapter books, especially those enchanted by the circus, will likely get a kick out of this book." -- Booklist

Praise for Branches books:
"These books should be considered for larger libraries wanting to enhance their easy-reader collections." -- School Library Journal

"Plenty of drawings assist readers with plot development." -- School Library Journal

"A nice stepping stone to more advanced chapter books." -- Booklist

"We are absolutely desperate for these books. Thank you for recognizing and addressing [this] monumental gap in the market." -Andrew Medlar, Youth Materials Specialist, Chicago Public Library