What Stars Are Made Of

Twelve-year-old Libby Monroe, who was born with Turner Syndrome, is great at science and being optimistic. When her sister Nonny announces her pregnancy, Libby worries about the financial burden and the baby's health. She decides to enter a contest with a project about Cecelia Payne, hoping to win the grand prize and help Nonny's family. As she navigates her challenges, Libby learns about caring for others and the power of perseverance. From debut author Sarah Allen comes What Stars Are Made Of, a pitch-perfect, heartwarming middle grade novel about growing up, finding yourself, and loving people with everything you’re made of. Libby is great at science, being optimistic, and talking to her famous, accomplished friends (okay, maybe that last one is only in her head). She struggles with playing piano, sitting still, or figuring out how to say the right thing at the right time in real life. Libby was born with Turner Syndrome, and that makes some things hard, but she has lots of people who love her, and that makes her feel lucky. When Nonny tells her she’s pregnant, Libby is thrilled but worried. Nonny and her husband are in a financial black hole, and Libby knows that babies aren’t always born healthy. So she strikes a deal with the universe to enter a contest with a project about Cecelia Payne, the first person to discover what stars are made of. If she wins the grand prize and gives all that money to Nonny’s family, then the baby will be perfect. She wonders if she has what it takes to care for the sister that has always cared for her, and what it will take for the universe to notice.