Stars in Their Eyes

Maisie has always dreamed of meeting her hero, Kara Bufano, an amputee actor who plays a kick-arse amputee character in her favourite show. Fancon is big and exciting and exhausting. Then she meets Ollie, a cute volunteer who she has a lot in common with. Could this be the start of something, or will her mum, who doesn’t seem to know what boundaries are, embarrass her before she and Ollie have a chance?

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

‘Stars in Their Eyes is a captivating graphic novel with a beautiful art style, a diverse and inclusive cast and a fluffy like-at-first-sight romance that will have fans miss conventions and meet cutes to boot.’ Nerd Daily

‘Give me all the nerdiness, all the love, and all the cracking visuals.’ AU Review

‘Stars in Their Eyes is a great exploration of disability and identity, with a particular focus on representation in media, ableism and accessibility.’ ALIA

‘I really enjoyed reading Stars in Their Eyes. I found it really sweet, fun, and relatable, especially as a queer and neurodivergent con-goer and nerd (with an embarrassing mum!), and I think others will too.’ Clare, age 15, Kids’ Reading Guide

‘Stars in Their Eyes is a very necessary story, representing the various ways we love each other and the diversity of the bodies we inhabit. As storytellers, Jessica Walton and Aśka invite us to see that it’s our daily interactions, and our ways of communicating with each other, that will create a more accessible future.’ Reading Time

‘A refreshing, fun and hopeful take on the coming-of-age story … a graphic novel that celebrates nerdness and reinforces the value of representation, while exploring first love, self-care and identity.’ Martha Mihalick

‘Walton-who is “proud to be disabled,” per an author’s note-balances tension surrounding Maisie’s disability with a prevailing sense of optimism that highlights the power of inclusivity and representation in popular media, delivering an unforgettable experience.’ Publishers Weekly

‘Aśka’s strong character illustrations let every emotion be clearly understood.’ Kirkus Reviews

‘Walton adeptly uses their lived experiences as a disabled, bisexual, nonbinary person to explore queerness, disability, and anxiety. They show the issues some disabled people regularly face through Maisie’s inaccessible hotel bathroom and phantom limb pain. Walton also shares with readers the joys of seeing oneself in media and finding one’s community. Aśka’s artwork expresses Walton’s text with accuracy and breadth, while adding to the humor and joy with bright colors and visual insider jokes. Winsome art combined with Walton’s joyful, charming story creates a celebration of identity, community, and love.’ Shelf Awareness

‘… this graphic novel is a quick insight and journey of empathy.’ ReadPlus

‘Disability rep is still far too rare in YA, and I am just so glad that Stars in Their Eyes exists for teens (and adults!) who still haven’t been able to see themselves and their experiences in the media they consume.’ Delicate Eternity

‘Beautifully illustrated …’ AEUnews

‘Stars in their Eyes is a marvelous short, sweet read that fits character growth and multiple plot twists …’ ALIA CYS Scoop

‘It’s remarkable how fresh and relatable Stars in Their Eyes is in the Australian Young Adult literary landscape. An adorable meet-cute graphic novel written by Jessica Walton and Aśka, it is the perfect Australian offering to appeal to readers of the international bestselling series Heartstopper by Alice Oseman.’ Reading Time

‘Stars in Their Eyes is endearing, funny and caring, and represents the lives of a diverse collection of characters and their experiences with humour and panache.’ English in Australia