Troubling a Star facts for kids
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| Author | Madeleine L'Engle |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Austin Family |
| Genre | Young adult |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
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Publication date
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30 September 1994 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback & Audio Book) |
| Pages | 304 pp (hardcover & paperback edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-374-37783-0 (hardcover edition) |
| OCLC | 29668828 |
| LC Class | PZ7.L5385 Tr 1994 |
| Preceded by | A Ring of Endless Light |
Troubling a Star (ISBN: 0-374-37783-9) is the last full-length novel in the Austin family series by Madeleine L'Engle. This young adult adventure story was published in 1994. It brings back Vicky Austin, a main character in many of L'Engle's books. Vicky joins Adam Eddington on a journey to Antarctica. They get caught up in a big international mystery. The story happens a few months after A Ring of Endless Light, where Vicky and Adam first met.
Like other books about Vicky Austin, Troubling a Star is told by Vicky herself. The story starts with Vicky alone on an iceberg near Antarctica. The book then uses flashbacks to explain how she got there. Adam's Great Aunt Serena paid for Vicky to visit Adam in Antarctica. Along the way, Vicky meets interesting people and faces unexpected dangers. Even though Vicky worries about Adam's feelings, their special friendship is shown to be very strong.
Contents
Meet the Characters in Troubling a Star
Main Characters
- Serena "Aunt Serena" Eddington - Adam's kind great-aunt. She pays for Vicky to travel to Antarctica to visit Adam.
- Adam "Cookie" Cook - Aunt Serena's chef. He travels to The Falklands to see his brother. He looks after Vicky for a while.
- Siri Evensen - Vicky's new friend. She plays the harp and is a teacher. She develops a close bond with Benjy.
- Otto Zlatovitcx - The prince of Zlatovica, a country that used to be part of the Soviet Union.
- Benjy Stone - An expert on penguins. He is on the cruise ship Argosy with Vicky. He develops a strong connection with Siri.
- Dick and Angelique Hawkins - A couple traveling to Antarctica with Vicky and her friends.
- Sam White - A kind older man. He is the oldest passenger on the Argosy, and Vicky is the youngest.
- Seth "Papageno" Cook - Cookie's brother. He was hurt by a fur seal and has a scar.
- Quimby "Quim" Forrest - One of the teachers or speakers on the Argosy ship.
- Leilia - A kind, older teacher from Alaska. She is also traveling on the Argosy.
Challenging Characters
- Jorge Maldonado - A cameraman who does secret, unfair deals with Jack Nessinger on the ship.
- Jack Nessinger - A man from Texas who works secretly with Maldonado. He escapes to Vespugia at the end.
- Esteban - Adam Eddington's guide when Adam visited the Vespugian pyramids. He is a young soldier and musician. He tries to get Vicky's attention. He is involved in a dangerous situation at the end.
- Captain Nausinio - A commander who works with Esteban. He leaves Esteban in a dangerous spot and escapes.
- Greta - One of Maldonado's helpers from Germany.
Where Does the Story Take Place?
Part of the story happens in Vespugia. This is a made-up country first mentioned in A Swiftly Tilting Planet. The events from that earlier book are important for the dangers Vicky faces later on.
What Does the Title Mean?
The title "Troubling a Star" comes from a poem. It is called "The Mistress of Vision" by the English poet Francis Thompson.
See also
In Spanish: Troubling a Star para niños
