The stars linked them through space – and even through time. Those same stars had looked down on all the people that had come before her and would still twinkle when she was as old as Libby and maybe even if she had great-grandchildren of her own.
Wren is a Wild Child who has been brought up on the mountain by Old Man, learning everything he knows from nature, while Hannah has always lived in the city. When their paths collide, a secret friendship brings a family full circle, linking the past to the present and the old with the new.
Starberries and Kee is beautifully executed solarpunk climate fiction. It paints a speculative future with much-needed positivity and hope – elements that are so often missing in our discussions of climate change and our planet’s future. It confirms that in the face of crisis, it is community and compassion that defines us, connecting us to the future we choose to create.
Cate Whittle is a much-loved children’s author, and this novel once again proves her ability to connect with young readers with profound resonance and compassion. While she doesn’t shy away from the frightening reality of our planet’s precarious state, Whittle approaches challenging themes with a steady, gentle resolve that makes our problems feel surmountable, rather than too big to even start on.
It is heartbreaking to see the level of climate anxiety and climate grief that today’s young children are grappling with. Starberries and Kee provides a soothing antidote to the overwhelming negativity of many narratives about our planetary position.
Whittle’s protagonists are resilient, curious, caring and just the right amount of rebellious. They provide excellent role models for young readers when it comes to caring for ecology and community in our times of uncertainty. And perhaps more importantly, they remind us why we must do so: even in the face of adversity, there is still so much that is good in the world.
With Starberries and Kee, Whittle demonstrates the determination and energy that we’ll need to shape a better future. This moving tale will sit quietly with its readers long after they finish reading. I highly recommend it for children aged 9+ who are grappling with concerns about the future and their place on our rapidly changing planet.
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