A Glasshouse of Stars

By: Shirley Marr

Narrated by: Jillian Nguyen

“Heart-twisting and hopeful, bursting with big feelings and gentle magic.” —Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of the Nevermoor series

A moving coming-of-age story about one girl’s bravery and imagination in the face of the unknown. Perfect for fans of Front Desk and Mañanaland.

Meixing Lim and her family have arrived at the New House in the New Land. Her parents inherited the home from First Uncle who died tragically and unexpectedly while picking oranges in the backyard. Her mama likes to remind Meixing the family never could have afforded to move here otherwise, so she should be thankful for this opportunity.

Everything is vast and unknown to Meixing in this supposedly wonderful place. She is embarrassed by her secondhand clothing, has trouble understanding her peers, and is finding it hard to make new friends. Meixing’s only solace is a rundown greenhouse, that her uncle called his glasshouse, at the far end of her backyard that inexplicably holds the sun and the moon and the secrets of her memory and imagination.

When her fragile universe is rocked by tragedy, it will take all of Meixing’s resilience and bravery to finally find her place of belonging in this new world.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Jillian Nguyen creates a youthful voice for Meixing, who has traveled across the ocean to a new land with her parents. Nguyen perfectly captures the curiosity and uncertainty that Meixing has as she adjusts to living in a new country and learning a new language. Her family's new home, which has certain peculiarities, was given to them by her late uncle. Meixing feels pressure to be successful in school and to accept that she'll have to share her parents with her soon-to-be-born sibling. Listeners will relate to Meixing as she searches for a sense of belonging and navigates big changes in her life that range from moving to becoming a big sister."