The Forest of Stars by Heather Kassner

This luminous middle-grade fantasy transports readers to a magical woodland where trees grow shimmering stars instead of fruit, creating a world where grief and wonder intertwine. When a young girl grieving her mother's disappearance discovers this enchanted forest, she embarks on a quest that blends natural magic with emotional healing, exploring themes of loss and resilience through vivid, atmospheric prose. The story's unique botanical magic system—where celestial bodies grow from branches and light becomes tangible—will captivate children who love imaginative world-building and nature-based fantasy adventures.

What distinguishes this fantasy novel is how seamlessly it weaves profound emotional themes into its magical tapestry, making complex feelings of loneliness and the search for belonging accessible to young readers. The protagonist's journey through the star-lit forest serves as a powerful metaphor for navigating grief while discovering inner strength, offering both escapism and emotional resonance. Children who appreciate lyrical storytelling and gentle explorations of difficult emotions will find this particularly meaningful, emerging from the reading experience with a renewed sense of hope and the comforting knowledge that light persists even in darkness.