The Sound of Stars

In post-invasion Earth, seventeen-year-old Janelle "Ellie" Baker runs an illegal library, risking death to protect and share her collection of books and music. The Ilori, technologically advanced aliens who now control the planet, have outlawed all art and creative expression due to their belief that human emotions are dangerous. M0Rr1S, a lab-created Ilori charged with finding and eliminating subversive materials, discovers Ellie's hidden library. Instead of turning her in, he becomes fascinated with her music collection and forms an unexpected connection with her through their shared appreciation of art. Together, Ellie and M0Rr1S embark on a high-stakes journey across the country, each carrying secrets that could lead to their destruction. Their mission becomes entangled with questions of survival, rebellion, and the fate of humanity. The Sound of Stars explores themes of cultural expression, identity, and the power of art to bridge divides. Through its science fiction lens, the story examines how music and literature can foster understanding between different beings and serve as tools of resistance against oppression.

Readers appreciate the representation of neurodivergent and demisexual characters, with many connecting to protagonist Ellie's anxiety and love of books. The relationship development between Ellie and M0Rr1S receives praise for avoiding typical YA romance tropes. Frequent criticisms focus on the pacing, which readers describe as slow in the first half. Some note the worldbuilding lacks depth and find the premise of aliens banning art and music unrealistic. Multiple reviews mention the dialogue feels unnatural at times. Several readers comment that the music references and playlists feel forced into the narrative rather than organic. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (180+ ratings) BookBrowse: 3.5/5 Sample reader comment: "The anxiety rep is spot-on and relatable. However, the constant song title drops pulled me out of the story." - Goodreads reviewer "Great diverse representation but needed tighter plotting and more background on the alien invasion." - Amazon reviewer

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The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer A series of interconnected stories blend fairy tales with science fiction as cyborgs, androids, and humans unite against an oppressive lunar society.

🌟 The book takes place 2 years after an alien invasion, in a world where art and creative expression have been banned by the invading force. 🎵 Music plays a significant role in the story, with David Bowie's work being particularly important to the narrative and the main character's development. 📚 Author Alechia Dow drew from her own background as a former teen librarian and pastry chef while writing the novel, incorporating her love of books, music, and baking. 🌍 The story features an own-voices Black teen protagonist who is also demisexual, bringing important representation to YA science fiction. 🎨 The novel uniquely combines elements of science fiction with discussions about the importance of art as resistance, drawing parallels to historical instances where art was censored or banned.