DESCRIPTION

Before he died, Melissa's father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren't always the most beautiful--that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn't only skin deep, the people around her don't seem to feel that way. There's her gorgeous sister, Ashley, who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school; there's her best friend, Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney; and there's Melissa's mother, who's dating someone new, someone Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn't lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and finishing a journal he began--one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

This is a lyrical tale of love, loss, and self-discovery from the author of The September Sisters.

“Themes of memory, beauty, and secrets come together in this thoughtful, uplifting book . . . a gentle portrait of a girl growing through her grief.” — Booklist

“. . .expressive, eloquently rendered . . . heartfelt story of love and resilience. Cantor’s pitch-perfect narration and spot-on depiction of emotional turmoil will remind readers of the exquisite fragility of adolescence. ”
— BookPage

“Melissa’s first-person narrative and pithy remarks are realistic and relatable…” — Publishers Weekly

“Characters are well-realized . . . Melissa’s first-person narrative rings true . . . pleasantly satisfying.” — Kirkus

“The book is beautifully written. The scenery in the Arizona desert comes alive along with the love for family and for friends in this novel of self-discovery.” — VOYA

“The Life of Glass is very much a page-turner and reads effortlessly. . . An absorbing read.”
– School Library Journal

“The hardest tests of adolescence don’t come in English, Algebra, or Biology. They come in those defining moments, when we are asked to know ourselves and to follow our true hearts. In The Life of Glass, the supremely engaging Melissa McAllister has reached her crucible moment. She’s sweet. She’s confused. She’s believable. She’s the right kind of soul for our times.” — Beth Kephart, author of Undercover and the National Book Award finalist The Slant of Sun

“The Life of Glass is a beautifully rendered novel. Cantor is pitch-perfect, capturing the thoughts and mind-set of her characters with a precise familiarity that will have teenagers nodding their head in recognition and adults wistfully looking back. A must read.” — Cecilia Galante, author of The Patron Saint of Butterflies

“This book is a must-have for anyone who has ever loved and lost...a true tale of friendship and self-realization...an inspiring, wonderful story.”
— Teen Voices Magazine