The Stars Beneath Our Feet

The right story at the right time. It's not just a narrative; it's an experience. It's the novel we've been waiting for. - The New York Times

A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother's death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity.

Winner of the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Six starred reviews!

It's Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mum aren't celebrating. They're still reeling from his older brother's death in a gang-related shooting just a few months earlier. Then Lolly's mother's girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos. Lolly has always loved Legos, and he prides himself on following the kit instructions exactly. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward.

His path isn't clear, and the pressure to join a "crew," as his brother did, is always there. When Lolly and his friend are beaten up and robbed, joining a crew almost seems like the safe choice. But building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape and an unexpected bridge back to the world.

David Barclay Moore paints a powerful portrait of a boy teetering on the edge of adolescence, grief, and violence, and shows how Lolly's inventive spirit helps him build a life with firm foundations and open doors.

More praise for The Stars Beneath Our Feet: A New York Times Notable Book, A Time Top 10 Children's Books of the Year, A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of the Year, A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of the Year, A Shelf Awareness Best Children's Book of the Year, An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick, An ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book.

"A fast and furious read in which we meet some amazing people, people that stay with us. David Barclay Moore is an exciting new voice.".