The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod is a novel that every music lover must read. The author is able to contort her words in a way that transports you directly into the vantage point of the main character, Toni. Toni is an astronomically talented musician and singer who intently hides her aptitude out of fear of recognition. She doesn’t want her identity to be swallowed by the crowds she performs in front of. She only chooses to perform as a means of income and continues to play because music is a large part of who she is.
Toni spent the majority of her childhood being constantly uprooted due to the financial hardships and career pursuits of her mother. When presented with the opportunity to advance herself, Toni’s mother forcibly displaces her into a rural area of Pennsylvania with a man she has never met: Toni’s biological father. In a new, discomfortingly unfamiliar environment with a caregiver who doesn’t wish to have her, Toni is still able to find a small but profound silver-lining. Through a young local named Seb and their shared love for rock music, her story is able to teach us just how much the people we meet can influence the course of our lives.
After being separated for reasons revealed gradually throughout the novel, Toni and Seb serendipitously cross paths again as seasoned adults in their craft. Faced with new challenges in her career and personal life, we are able to take an emotional ride along with her as she figures out what she truly wants for herself.
Masterfully written, this novel gives us a captivating story while introducing us to some of the best music. You do not have to like rock music to be able to appreciate the poetically descriptive writing about the songs that Toni plays and how she plays them. The author’s powerful way of setting a scene and inducing readers to visualize the emotional state of everyone in the room commands literary attention.
Again, you do not have to like or even know about rock music to enjoy this book, but by the end of reading it you will. This story bridges the gap between different genres and shows us that music has no face; anyone can enjoy any kind of genre since each one is a combination and reflection of the others. For example, the song “Dust My Broom” by Elmore James is one of the earliest and most fundamental representations of rock music. “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins is another classic song that combines metal with jazz music.
Music is the link that connects us all to each other and to a significance beyond ourselves. Rather than simply being a method for detachment, music can be a powerful antidote for anomie. Like for many, it empowers Toni to reach beyond her circumstances and fully embody the pieces of herself that she has kept hidden. If you are looking for a story about life, music, love, and friendship, you need to give this one a read. Download the sample of this book in your phone’s bookstore, order it online, or go pick it up at your local Barnes & Noble. I’d give it four stars!
Songs to Listen to After Reading:
- “Sick Muse” by Metric
- “Again” by Alice in Chains
- “Angel” by Massive Attack
- “Monument” by MUTEMATH
- “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains
- “Dust My Broom” by Elmore James
- “Dust My Broom” by Howlin’ Wolf
- “Ghost of the Garden City” by Caspian
- “Psychic Wound” by King Woman
- “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jaw Jenkins
