The Stars Beneath Our Feet

The Stars Beneath Our Feet, published in 2017, is a contemporary middle grade novel written by author and filmmaker David Barclay Moore. Moore received the 2018 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Author Award for New Talent for the novel, which met with critical praise and appeared on TIME Magazine’s Top 10 Children’s Books of the Year in 2017.

Plot Summary

The Stars Beneath Our Feet is told in the first person from the perspective of 12-year-old Wallace Rachpaul, who goes by the nickname “Lolly.” Lolly lives in the St. Nicholas Houses project in Harlem, New York, with his mom Sue-ellen and her girlfriend Yvonne. Lolly is struggling to cope with the recent death of his older brother Jermaine, who was shot after joining a street crew. Lolly hangs out with his best friend Vega, a boisterous, goofy 12-year-old kid who plays the violin; both are old enough to be expected to join a crew.

For Christmas, Lolly receives a book called A Pattern of Architecture from Steve Jenkins, his neighbor and Jermaine’s childhood best friend. Steve urges Lolly not to follow in Jermaine’s footsteps and to instead embrace his creative talents. Lolly is a Lego enthusiast; Steve believes Lolly has incredible architectural talent.