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The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow

Young adult

The Sound of Stars

Debut

We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Alechia Dow, on your first book!

by Alechia Dow

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Quick Take

The alien-human friendship you didn't know you needed, all founded on a shared love for great tunes.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, Romance

    Romance

  • Illustrated icon, 400

    400+ pages

  • Illustrated icon, Supernatural

    Supernatural

  • Illustrated icon, Graphic_Content

    Graphic violence

Synopsis

Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world’s population.

Seventeen-year-old Janelle “Ellie” Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. Deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, humanity’s emotional transgressions are now grounds for execution. All art, books and creative expression are illegal, but Ellie breaks the rules by keeping a secret library. When a book goes missing, Ellie is terrified that the Ilori will track it back to her and kill her.

Born in a lab, M0Rr1S (Morris) was raised to be emotionless. When he finds Ellie’s illegal library, he’s duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more. They’re both breaking the rules for love of art—and Ellie inspires the same feelings in him that music does.

Ellie’s—and humanity’s—fate rests in the hands of an alien she should fear. M0Rr1S has a lot of secrets, but also a potential solution—thousands of miles away. The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while making a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.

Why I love it

In a futuristic New York City, the human population is controlled by an alien race called Ilori, who have banned humans from emotional expression—including all art, music, and writing. Seventeen-year-old Ellie keeps a secret library, which, when discovered by alien boy M0Rr1S, is cause for her execution.

But sometimes emotional connections are too strong to betray, and sometimes the music is just too good to keep from dancing.

The Sound of Stars is a super charming romance filled with fun pop culture references, a highly diverse cast, and a joyful take on the future of human creativity. For fans of The Book Thief and Marissa Meyer—and all those who love storytelling—this one is for you.

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The Night Charter
Before the Fall
Rich and Pretty
Girls in the Moon
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The Impossible Fortress
One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter
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The Dark Lake
The City of Brass
The Philosopher's Flight
The Oracle Year
Sweet Little Lies
Goodbye, Paris
The Age of Light
The Winter Sister
Enchantée
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager
Opposite of Always
Beyond the Point
Wicked Saints
We Hunt the Flame
Again, But Better
Free Food for Millionaires
On The Clock
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The Chestnut Man
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
When the Stars Lead to You
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Red, White & Royal Blue
Dangerous Alliance
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All the Stars and Teeth
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The Girl in the Mirror
The Kindest Lie
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Debut authors
View all
Weyward
The Stone Witch of Florence
Shark Heart
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
Dinner for Vampires
Ink Blood Sister Scribe
Lunar Love
Banyan Moon
The Collected Regrets of Clover
Afterparties
The Days I Loved You Most
The Wives
The Ministry of Time
The Astonishing Color of After
Did I Ever Tell You?
Middletide
Northwoods
A Flicker in the Dark
A Short Walk Through a Wide World
The Storm We Made
How to End a Love Story
Made for You
Here After
Adelaide
Spitting Gold
The Friend Zone
The Stars Too Fondly
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye
The Other Valley
Maame
The Other Black Girl
Queenie
The Lost Apothecary
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?
Paper Names
We Are the Brennans
People Like Her
Firekeeper's Daughter
The Writing Retreat
Olga Dies Dreaming
She Started It
Somebody's Daughter
Dearest
In the Weeds
Kaikeyi
Love & Other Disasters
The Fortunes of Jaded Women
Damnation Spring
A Little Hope
Camp Zero
The Last Story of Mina Lee
Ariadne
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
My Body
Sisters in Arms
Honey Girl
Vladimir
Big Friendship
Black Buck
White Ivy
Luster
Miracle Creek
Three Women
White Horse
Someday, Maybe
Peach Blossom Spring
Maid
The Woman in the Window
What She Knew
Shrill
Church of Marvels
Lacy Eye
Home is Burning
Dear Mr. You
The Sound of Gravel
The Night Charter
Before the Fall
Rich and Pretty
Girls in the Moon
The Possessions
The Impossible Fortress
One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter
Startup
The Dark Lake
The City of Brass
The Philosopher's Flight
The Oracle Year
Sweet Little Lies
Goodbye, Paris
The Age of Light
The Winter Sister
Enchantée
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager
Opposite of Always
Beyond the Point
Wicked Saints
We Hunt the Flame
Again, But Better
Free Food for Millionaires
On The Clock
Mind Games
The Chestnut Man
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
When the Stars Lead to You
My Friend Anna
Red, White & Royal Blue
Dangerous Alliance
The Sound of Stars
All the Stars and Teeth
Star Daughter
The Girl in the Mirror
The Kindest Lie
My Dark Vanessa
Five-Star Stranger
The Singer Sisters