Little Star and the House on the Edge of the Pines

In a creaky Vermont house, where the floors groan and the warmth is scarce, a young boy known only as Little Star navigates a childhood of quiet hardship. Under the watch of the unpredictable Mrs. Thorn and her "magic eye," where unjust punishments in a dark cellar are commonplace and birthdays are forgotten, Little Star's world is one of survival.

But behind the house, at the edge of the pines, lies a sanctuary--an old red barn. There, Little Star finds an extraordinary friend: a wise and gentle mama pig named Porky. She becomes his companion, historian, and keeper of his heart. It is Porky who tells him his age, soothes his fears, and reminds him that "even in the darkest barn, a little star can shine."

With his loyal, slow-minded friend Jumbo by his side, Little Star learns the true meaning of courage and friendship in the face of bullies, blimps mistaken for bombs, and bitter "cooking lessons." This is the tender, heartbreaking, and hopeful story of a boy clinging too tightly in the shadows and the bond he creates with Porky, who helps him find peace in a world of chaos and disorder--until the day a black car arrives, forcing a final goodbye and a step into an unknown future.

-- Dr. Gary Vosburgh