I like every Neil Gaiman book I've read, and though I saw the movie adaptation of this book first and loved it, the book is just as great, though quite different. The illustrations are lovely and the story is a fantastic fairy tale that's actually very original. The characters, as expected from Neil Gaiman, are interesting and three-dimensional, and he makes it very easy to root for the good guys. As an added bonus, he's great at writing humor, and there is plenty to make you laugh.
One of the biggest differences between the movie and the book is the ending, but I love them both. The movie ending was perfect for a movie, and the book ending was perfect for a book. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fantasy or fairy tales, but it should be mentioned that there are a few pretty mature scenes, so I wouldn't suggest it for anyone too young.
Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com
Tristran Thorn would do absolutely anything to win pretty Victoria Forrester's heart. Even venture across The Wall into mysterious Faerie in search of a fallen star.
But once he enters Faerie, strange things begin to happen.
Tristran knows the location of every place in the land. He meets a strange, small man who gives him a candle that allows him to travel great distances. And when he finally finds the fallen star, Tristran discovers that it is not a lump of rock like he thought, but a young woman, who has quite the mind of her own.
Tristran, though, isn't the only one looking for the star. The witch queen and a group of three brothers all want something of it. For these brothers, it's the power she possesses. For the witch, it's her heart.
STARDUST was completely entrancing, charming, and a surprisingly quick read. The star's spunk and Tristran's humanity are both to be admired in this adventurous tale that will make you laugh out loud and break into tears. This is one book not to be missed.
