Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Grief is a terrible burden. Everyone handles grief differently and, for some, the grief is so unbearable that it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to let go. Jasmine doesn’t remember her older sister, Freya. Jasmine was still a toddler when Freya was hit by a car and killed. Jasmine may not remember her sister, but she knows a lot about her because for all of her growing-up years Jasmine is constantly reminded and compared to Freya. Now, at fifteen, Jasmine is a very angry teenager. Whilst her father came to terms with Freya's death years ago and realized the treasure he had in his remaining daughter, Jasmine, her mother is still chasing rainbows, searching for another sign of her lost child.

What will it take for Jasmine’s mother to let go of the past and to recognize the jewel she has in her remaining child? Jasmine lashes out with anger, causing fights and disruptions at school that result in her being repeatedly expelled. But this isn’t the real Jasmine. Through tears and anger, this creative young girl wants to be recognized for who she is, not who her sister was and never will be again.

Lisa Shambrook’s Beneath the Distant Star is a touching and somewhat disturbing look at how grief can be all consuming, affecting everyone. Jasmine has lived with the ghost of a sister for so long that she can’t imagine a world without her. Not only does Jasmine have to let go of this ghost, but so does her mother who, after fourteen years, is still drowning in grief. A very compassionate story that explores some very difficult emotions.