A Handful of Stars

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-7

Chapters 8-14

Chapters 15-21

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Chapters 15-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 15 Summary

Alongside Pépère, Lily heads to the pageant, carrying items for her booth and three bee houses for Salma’s talent presentation. Pépère reminisces about Lily’s mother, sharing surprising details about her pre-pageant nervousness and her determination to break stereotypes about French Canadians. Lily, disbelieving, feels a newfound connection to her mother. They pick up Salma, quizzing her on blueberry facts on their way to the pageant.

Entering the pageant area, Salma’s hairdresser, Brittany, shares a surprised look with Hannah as Salma takes a seat. Brittany engages Salma in a conversation about her life at the camp, drawing parallels with camping in the woods, but Lily advocates for Salma, countering her comments. Salma expresses her joy after the makeover. Upon Rosa’s entrance, mother and daughter exchange a warm hug. Initially feeling left out, Lily is soon invited into the embrace.

Chapter 16 Summary

Entering the pageant venue with Salma, Rosa, and Pépère, Lily observes Hannah’s family in the front row but refrains from greeting them, wary of the potential fallout from her decision not to cheer for Hannah. Anxiety fills Lily as she contemplates Salma’s impending return to Florida after the pageant. Salma’s father and other workers from the camp occupy the back row, and despite not expecting their presence, Lily feels a twinge of jealousy at Salma’s strong familial support.

Mrs. LaRue introduces the event with a rendition of “America, The Beautiful,” leading Lily to ponder whether the camp workers recognize the song or find the event peculiar. The host takes the stage, questioning each contestant about their hometown and commenting on Salma’s being far from her home in Florida.

The contestants face questions about their blueberry knowledge, with Salma performing admirably. Despite advancing to the next round with Hannah and another contestant, Salma’s trembling hands raise concerns for Lily.

Chapter 17 Summary

As the talent segment unfolds, Salma leaves the stage to retrieve the three bee houses she painted, but she takes longer than expected. Concerned, Lily searches for her, fearing that Salma may decide not to return. Discovering Salma distressed, Lily learns about her fear and self-doubt. Salma expresses feeling out of place as a foreigner with an unconventional talent. Recognizing the profound significance of the pageant for Salma—a symbol of belonging and worth—Lily shares words of encouragement, emphasizing the essence of courage and the importance of Salma’s presence in the community. To support Salma, Lily proposes going on stage with her, holding the bee houses as a symbol of solidarity.

Alongside Lily, Salma articulates the transformative power of art in imagining a better world and appreciating ordinary things. Reflecting on Salma’s words, Lily concurs, recognizing the artist’s ability to reveal beauty in the mundane. Salma addresses the challenge of difference, highlighting how unfamiliar things can initially be intimidating but eventually lead to pleasant surprises and personal growth. The audience applauds, cheering Salma on as she completes her presentation.

Chapter 18 Summary

The pageant’s final round unfolds as contestants answer personal questions. Discomfort arises for Lily when the host remarks on the relatability of a participant’s childhood visit to Disney World, considering the diverse backgrounds of the migrant workers present. In one of her questions, Hannah discloses lending her dress to Salma, sparking concerns for Lily about Salma’s perceived lack of resources. Later, Hannah glances at Lily when asked about her best friend, affirming her close friendship with Lily. Salma captivates the audience with sincere responses, sharing a touching story about her early morning research on blind dogs on the camp computer. Despite Salma’s performance, Lily’s anxiety peaks when Salma answers the final question about something she would never do by saying she will never stay in one place. The pageant concludes with Hannah declared as the winner.

Chapter 19 Summary

Lily arranges her booth at the blueberry festival a day after the pageant. Although heartbroken over the judges’ decision, she realizes upon reflection that the pageant represents only part of her community, not its entirety. Hannah visits the booth, expressing support for raising funds for Lucky’s surgery and wishing to mend their friendship. After both girls plan to take Salma swimming, Lily reflects on the natural progression of their bond and acknowledges their inherent differences.

Lily sells numerous bee houses, including her house with tiger lilies, to Dr. Katz. Excited, she envisions Salma’s and her bee houses adorning locals’ homes. However, her elation takes a turn when Salma surprises her with a $100 gift certificate, earmarked not for her booth but for a companion dog for Lucky. Disturbed by Salma’s unilateral decision about what’s best for Lucky, Lily confronts Salma, who storms off, leaving Lily in tears. Pépère encourages Lily to consider Lucky’s surgery, highlighting that dogs demonstrate bravery through adaptation and the ability to let go. He promises to convince Mémère to accept another dog. Torn between her desires and what she believes is best for Lucky, Lily follows Pépère to explore a booth offering dogs for adoption.

Chapter 20 Summary

Lily and Pépère approach a booth offering pet supplies and shots for animals. Despite Lily’s hope that no dogs are available for adoption, Lucky shows interest in a little yellow dog named Rosie. As Pépère inquires about a companion for Lucky, Lily wrestles with conflicting emotions, torn between her predetermined choice and the allure of the affectionate little dog.

Mémère appears at the booth, sparking a heated argument with Pépère about Lucky’s presence in their lives. Mémère blames Lucky for the accident that claimed their daughter’s life, while Pépère defends the pup, insisting no one is responsible for Danielle’s tragic fate. Lily intervenes, expressing her deep attachment to Lucky as the last connection to her mother. As emotions escalate, Mémère breaks down, admitting the difficulty of letting go and fearing the loss of a part of her daughter. Lily reassures her grandmother, expressing love and receiving it in return. Mémère agrees to adopt Rosie, emphasizing Lily’s responsibility for her.

Lily seeks out Salma at the camp, apologizing for her actions and introducing Rosie, whom she named after Salma and her previous dog, Luna. Lily and Salma reconcile.

Chapter 21 Summary

As the blueberry harvest concludes, Lily contemplates the often overlooked contributions of migrant workers, especially children, in ensuring a global supply of blueberry products. She questions whether consumers are aware of the individuals behind their food.

Lily and Salma discuss the growing camaraderie between Rosie and Lucky. Despite feeling a slight disconnect as Lucky adapts quickly to Rosie, Lily strives to embrace the positive changes in their dynamic.

Lily surprises Salma with a savings bond generated from the proceeds of her bee house sales at the festival. Lily also proposes they work on fractions, a subject Salma initially hesitates to tackle. As they study, Salma overcomes her initial difficulties and shows improvement.

Expressing her gratitude and affection, Salma gifts Lily a painting featuring Luna, Lucky, and Rosie amid colorful blueberry-laden barrens with surrounding tiger lilies. Both make a promise to stay connected even as Salma returns to Florida, ensuring their bond endures beyond their separation.

Chapters 15-21 Analysis

Lily’s clash with Hannah serves as a poignant illustration of the challenges associated with growing apart from longstanding friendships, furthering the theme of Embracing Evolving Friendships and Navigating Growing Pains. The confrontation with Hannah becomes a symbol of the larger shifts occurring in Lily’s life, highlighting the inevitability of change and the complexities that accompany maturity. The decision not to cheer for Hannah during the pageant signals a departure from the familiar and a recognition of evolving priorities. This choice becomes emblematic of Lily’s resilience in the face of growing pains, demonstrating her willingness to explore uncharted territories and form connections beyond her established comfort zone.

Lily’s quarrel with Salma over the gift certificate represents another facet of navigating change and reassessing one’s priorities. The argument she has with Salma forces Lily to introspect, recognizing the impact of her words and the need to mend their relationship. This instance becomes a catalyst for Lily’s growth, prompting her to acknowledge the importance of communication, understanding, and compromise as she is compelled to consider an opposing perspective. In the heat of the argument over the gift certificate, Lily is confronted with the realization that her perspective is not the only valid one. The clash forces her to step outside her own emotions and consider Salma’s point of view, recognizing that their differing opinions on Lucky’s well-being stem from their unique experiences and values. It highlights her evolving capacity to compromise, not as a concession but as a conscious effort to understand, adapt, and embrace change.

Similarly, Mémère faces a struggle to let go of the past and adapt to the present. The theme of letting go is intricately woven into her character, highlighting the complexity of dealing with loss and change. While Mémère still believes Lucky is somehow responsible for her daughter’s untimely death, Pépère sees in Lucky a symbol not only of companionship but also of the family’s ability to adapt and thrive despite hardships. The conflict between Pépère and Mémère over Lucky encapsulates the broader generational clash in their attitudes toward adapting to new circumstances.

In the concluding chapters of A Handful of Stars, belonging becomes a central theme as Lily and Salma navigate their journeys in a diverse and changing community. Salma’s strong family support highlights Lily’s longing for a similar connection, emphasizing the universal need for belonging. Pépère’s stories about Lily’s mother reveal the challenges faced by French Canadians in the past. Learning about the prejudice French Canadians endured, Lily establishes a newfound connection with Salma and her struggles, finding inspiration especially in her mother’s story. The parallel between Danielle’s pageant journey and Salma’s challenges reinforces the growing connection between Lily and Salma, as they both seek recognition and belonging within the community.

The parallel between Salma’s experience and Lily’s mother’s quest during her participation in the pageant intensifies Lily’s protective instincts. Throughout the pageant, Lily becomes increasingly bothered by the subtle looks exchanged between the hairstylists when Salma is in their presence. The surprise in their looks seems to convey a judgment or surprise, subtly reinforcing the fact that Salma is different from the others. The comments the event’s host makes about Salma being “far from home” add another layer to Lily’s unease. His remarks highlight Salma’s status as an outsider, someone not belonging to the immediate community. Being overprotective of Salma, Lily finds these comments annoying and concerning. Similarly, Mrs. LaRue’s rendition of “America, The Beautiful” prompts Lily to ponder its recognition among camp workers, showcasing how critical she has become of seemingly commonplace aspects of her life. Having noticed these instances earlier, Lily is now particularly more attuned to forms of exclusion or judgment directed at Salma and her community.

Lily’s recognition that Salma is part of a larger community marks a significant milestone in her character development and underscores her maturity. As she enters the pageant and observes camp workers in the audience, she experiences a pivotal moment of realization, crucial for Lily’s shift of perspective. Previously, Lily may have perceived herself and Salma as isolated individuals facing unique challenges. However, hearing her grandfather speak of her French Canadian family and seeing the camp workers in the audience challenge this notion, making Lily understand that Salma, like her mother, is not alone in her experiences. The idea of community encourages Lily to look beyond superficial differences and recognize the shared humanity that unites everyone in the camp. This realization is a fundamental step in breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging, even with differences.

The profound realization that the pageant is merely a fragment of her community represents the final stage of maturity in Lily’s change of perspective. The pageant, with its judgments and selections, represents a narrow and limited perspective on what it means to belong. As Lily reflects on the judges’ decision, she begins to question this perspective. The awareness dawns on her that the pageant cannot encapsulate, and at times willingly refuses to accept, the richness and diversity of its entire community. It is a realization that goes beyond the superficial standards set by the pageant, suggesting a deeper understanding of what it truly means to belong. Rather than seeking external validations, Lily recognizes that genuine belonging stems from embracing the entirety of her community and acknowledging the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and stories that make it whole, ideas connected to the theme of Building Bridges across Cultural Divides.