Where the Forest Meets the Stars

4.4 | 106,980 ratings

Price: 4.99

Last update: 06-14-2024

About this item

An Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post bestseller, and a Goodreads Choice Award finalist.

In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.

After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

Plantec

This is one lovely unusual story.

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024

This is not a big complicated story. It is an intimate tale of trust, love and compassion. Ursa, an 8 year old child of mystery shows up at a remote cabin and that changes everything for Jo, a graduate ornithologist studying the local blue buntings. This may sound boring, but it is not. Interesting characters drive this story. Enjoy.

RSW Kindle Customer

4.5 Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019

This very unique and lovely contemporary fiction novel earns 4.5 Stars from me.

SUMMARY
Jo is a PhD candidate staying in a rural cabin in Southern Illinois for a summer while researching nesting patterns of birds. She mainly keeps to herself, working long hours each day, returning home in the evening to shower, eat dinner, sleep and start the whole process again the next morning.

Being away from the familiarity of her college town and friends, the only social interaction Jo has are phone calls with Tabby, her BFF (who is still in their college town) and occasional short conversations with the guy who sells eggs at an egg stand on the side of the road.

From the beginning, author Glendy Vanderah, draws the reader in, making Jo a slightly mysterious, yet very likable character. Vabderah alludes to some sort of a crisis from which Jo has recovered or is still trying to recovery. As the book progresses, the reader learns the source and details of Jo's troubles and gains significant insight into her world.

One evening, after a particularly long day in the field, Jo arrives home to find a barefoot, scraggly little girl in her yard. When Jo questions the child about her identity, trying to figure out where she came from and why she is there, the girl gives her a crazy story about being an alien sent to Earth to study our planet. She claims to be earning a PhD and says after witnessing five miracles, she will to return to her planet to teach her people about Earth.

Jo tries to tell her to go home several times, but she keeps insisting she doesn't have a home here on Earth. Finally Jo feeds the child dinner and sends her home. The next day, the girl is back again. Still sticking with her alien story, still barefoot and hungry.

Who is this girl? Why does she keep appearing at Jo's house? Why is she refusing to tell anyone who she is and where she belongs? Why does nobody seem to be looking for her?

WHAT I LOVED
I don't mind admitting that I was initially not planning to read this book. I wasn't sure I was up for reading a super sensitive book that could possibly have science fiction elements to it. I tend not to have a ton of patience for anything related to aliens or books focused on people's feelings. But the book kept getting rave reviews from my GR Friends and critics alike so I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did! It sucked me right in!!!!

I love the characters in this story, they were well developed, complicated and each had some sort of mystery to uncover. I loved Jo, Ursa and Tabby so much!!! I could completely relate to the friendship between Jo and Tabby; they shared the kind of honesty and loyalty only true friends can share. And Ursa! I totally wanted to take her home with me!!!!

I found myself getting caught up in Ursa and Jo's adventure. I know I said I am not into science fiction, but about half way through the book I was entertaining the possibility of aliens coming to Earth to study us and kind of hoping it was the case.

The plot was very unique. It's hard to believe this is Glendy Vanderah's debut novel! She must have a lot of fascinating ideas floating around in her head.

WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
There were a few places in the book, particularly pertaining to Jo's research that moved too slowly for me. I get that the research was a bit part of who Jo is, but I didn't enjoy those details.

I know I was supposed to love Gabe, but I did NOT. He seemed like an emotionally stunted spineless man-child. I also didn't love any of the characters in his family, and the changes in their feelings and opinions toward the end of the book didn't seem authentic.

OVERALL
This story was not at all what I expected, I was happily surprised. It was so darn lovely, unique and well written. I cannot wait to see what Vanderah follows up with.

K. Heartfield

What a great book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2024

I had a hard time putting this book down for even an hour. Well written! I felt like I was part of this wonderful story as it unfolded. I loved it!

Emily Filmore

A touching and beautiful story

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024

Wow. A touching and beautiful story. Take a little of the mystical realism of The Light Pirate, a little adventure from The Midnight Library, a little intrigue from The Starless Sea, a little of tragedy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and a lot of unconditional love from The House on the Cerulean Sea and you may get Where the Forest Meets the Stars. We don’t always know whose magic will change our lives, but being open to the possibilities of the universe helps!

I love this book. Glendy Vanderah artfully brings us to the stars and back with characters who are vivid and strong. Sensitive, difficult topics surrounding the origin of trauma were handled with care. They weren’t used voyeuristically, but as background to understand the story. Instead, bonds of chosen family as well as emotional and physical healing through nature and love are explored. Just beautiful.

AlenK

Sweet, innocent, heartwarming

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024

So I debated whether or not to give this book 4 or 5 stars, if I could do 4 & 1/2 I probably would…

You could say this is a slow burn, which to be fair:

1)this does add to the underlying mystery of it all,
2)you could also make the argument that a lot of the filler stuff goes towards character development,
3)AND, things were usually interesting enough that I was never groaning for a chapter to end,

BUT still, even given all of that… maybe a bit too much filler.

Aside from that though, this was a nice read, mostly cautiously innocent, often adorable, sometimes dark & heavy, especially towards the end… they really went for the raw feels (good & bad).

Shantel Rummel

A story about love and aliens

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2024

Heart warming with a side of heavy about a little girl who says she’s an alien and needs to witness 5 miracles before she can go home ❤️

Amazon Customer

loved it

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024

Very good, well written. The people plot was well thought out as were the characters in the book. Kept my attention the whole time.

S. Kidd

Lovely

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024

Wonderful read!! A perfect balance of mystery, love, thrill, sadness & heart! Thank you Glenda Vanderah! I will be looking for more of your books

Best Sellers in

Edge of Collapse: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller

4.4 26068

4.99

The Perfect Parents: A BRAND NEW gripping psychological thriller with a SHOCKING twist from J A Baker for 2024

3.9 2095

1.99

One and Only : a single dad, fake marriage sports romance (Wilder Family Book 1)

4.5 9662

4.99

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

4.7 30621

5.99

The Fixer Upper: The BRAND NEW completely hilarious romantic comedy from Phoebe MacLeod for 2024

4.2 3273

2.99

Last Breath (Emma Last FBI Mystery Series Book 1)

4.3 6805

4.99

Crave

4.4 26802

9.99

Trust No One: A suspenseful, completely addictive psychological thriller from TOP 10 BESTSELLER Keri Beevis

4.3 3354

2.99

Where the Forest Meets the Stars

About this item

Top reviews from the United States

Best Sellers in

Edge of Collapse: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller

The Perfect Parents: A BRAND NEW gripping psychological thriller with a SHOCKING twist from J A Baker for 2024

One and Only : a single dad, fake marriage sports romance (Wilder Family Book 1)

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

The Fixer Upper: The BRAND NEW completely hilarious romantic comedy from Phoebe MacLeod for 2024

Last Breath (Emma Last FBI Mystery Series Book 1)

Crave

Trust No One: A suspenseful, completely addictive psychological thriller from TOP 10 BESTSELLER Keri Beevis