The Star Outside My Window

Told through the innocent voice of a child, this is a story that explores the subtle faces and endless impacts of domestic violence and celebrates the power of hope and resilience, from Onjali Rauf, the award-winning and best-selling author of The Boy at the Back of the Class.

'I've always wanted to be a Star Hunter...

But I don't want to be the kind that looks for old stars that have already been burning for millions of years. I want to find the new ones - the ones that have only just been born and are searching for the people they have left behind...'

Following the disappearance of her mum, 10-year-old Aniyah suddenly finds herself living in foster care. With her life in disarray, she knows just one thing for sure: her mum isn't gone for ever. Because people with the brightest hearts never truly leave. They become stars.

So when a new star is spotted acting strangely in the sky, Aniyah embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to make sure everyone knows who it belongs to. An adventure that involves the Royal Observatory of London, a mischievous scurry of squirrels and the biggest star in Hollywood...

Told through the innocent voice of a child, this story that explores the subtle faces and endless impacts of domestic violence, and celebrates the power of hope and resilience, from Onjali Raúf, the award-winning author of The Boy at the Back of the Class.

*Parental guidance recommended: issues relating to domestic abuse included*

Review

Tackled the aftermath of domestic violence with a shining innocence ― Guardian - ‘The best children’s books of 2019 for all ages’

'The Star Outside My Window' is a lovely story about a girl who wants to be a star hunter when she grows up. ― Irish Sunday Independent

About the Author

Onjali Q Raúf's first book, The Boy at the Back of the Class, was Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2019, the Blue Peter Book Prize 2019 and other accolades.

Raúf's second book, The Star Outside My Window, went on to win the Diversity Book Award for Children's Fiction (UK) 2020.

Further titles include The Night Bus Hero, The Great Food Bank Heist, The Lion Above the Door, Where Magic Grows and Hope on the Horizon.

In 2022, Raúf was recognised for her services to Literature and Women's Rights in the New Year Honours.