Starseed

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Starseed by Liz Gruder, 2013, 286p, rating=3
Content: Swearing and coarse language and 
      a party with underage drinking
Source: Provided copy for an honest review

Starseed concerns a sixteen-year-old girl who falls in love with a starseed boy who reveals that she, too, is half extraterrestrial, and is forced to choose her allegiance between Earth and her star family.

Kaila Guidry has always known she is different. When she meets Jordyn Stryker at school, she finds out just how different.

Jordyn was born and raised far from Earth, a starseed, one of six new students sent to Louisiana's Bush High to learn human ways. But Jordyn didn't count on meeting someone like Kaila.

When Kaila is pushed to her limit by high school bullying and cruelty, Jordyn awakens her to a new reality—and to love. But to prove herself, Kaila must look the other way as the real purposes of the starseeds unfold.

As the horrific plan behind the starseed visit to Earth moves inexorably forward, Kaila and Jordan, caught in an impossible love, must determine where their true loyalties lie.

Kaila is 16 and lives a sheltered life: her mother makes her wear a hat at all times (to protect her mind) and she's had little contact with the outside world. She decides that needs to change so she rebels and tells everyone she's going to school. Instead of hats, though, she now has to wear wigs. One of her first encounters in school is with six people that wear silver metallic overalls, with large eyes. One of the boys introduces himself as Jordyn Stryker, but their first interaction is pretty odd. The story is that Jordyn and the other five teens were taken into custody from a cult in New Mexico and are being integrated into regular classes. 

She also makes two friends, Melissa and Pia, who take her under their wings and show her the ropes. Weird things start happening and as she pieces everything together, she starts learning more about who she really is and needs to make a choice about which side she wants to be on. 

When I read the Summary for this story, I was intrigued, but when I started reading it, I thought it was very strange and it took me a while to get into it. I haven't read too many alien abduction stories and found that part of the story interesting. The dialogue seemed stiff to me at times, and maybe it was supposed to be, since half of the characters were aliens. There were some bullying issues that Kaila had to deal with as well and in the aftermath of a shocking incident, she makes a snap decision about which side she wants to join.

I'm glad I stuck it out to the end, though, because I thought the overall message of the story was a good one. Towards the end, Kaila learns a lot about free will and it initially makes her life miserable. She's talking to her friend, Priscilla (you don't find out exactly who she is until the end) and they're discussing free will and how some aliens will try to deceive you but others want to see humans succeed and find freedom. Kaila asks her how we do that (succeed and find freedom) and she says, "Knowledge. There's a reason it says in your scripture: 'A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength.'" She then also tells her to trust her gut--her intuition, because all the answers are there. She does and it brings the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Quotables:

"...To worry about the future incessantly destroys being in the present. It is wasted thought energy. To think about the future creates the emotion of anxiety. To think of the past creates the emotion of depression. So stay present, always. Concentrate on the task at hand." (Loc. 1140)

"...Know that where you put your attention is what you get. Call to those you hold sacred and everything that is good. But more so, look into your heart." (Loc. 3639)



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Author Liz Gruder
As a youth, Liz Gruder saw a series of UFOs with her best friend while riding bikes. Ever since, she’s held a fascination for the stars. An avid reader, she used to hide under her covers and read with a flashlight. She has degrees in English and Psychology from Tulane University, a nursing license and a yoga certification. After going through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Liz realized how short life is and is now slowly fulfilling her bucket list: she’s been to the Egyptian pyramids (totally awesome and thought provoking) and is now teaching yoga and writing speculative fiction. Starseed is her debut novel.

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