A brilliant, original adventure for older children. The description and world building within this story is absolutely beautiful, and I love the concept of ‘London Overhead’. I know that on my next visit to London, I will be looking for it in the sky and wish that I could be there! Megan Hopkins clearly has a talent for writing and this debut is one that marks her (in my opinion) as a children’s author who I will definitely recommend, as well as looking out for her future works.
I was hooked from the moment I saw the cover and was so glad when I was accepted for the ARC! When I started the book, I initially thought that it was quite dark, with the main character being locked in a rhubarb shed by her mother, watched by another from afar, for reasons unknown until much later in the story. From there, the action and adventure pick up VERY quickly and we are swept up in Astrid’s opportunity to discover who she really is, and that there is a whole world out there to be explored. There are some darker parts, with the villain being INCREDIBLY villainous! Astrid must take on the villain, as well as an unknown world and the perils of making friends, whilst leaving behind the only life she has ever known. I really liked the inclusion of the birds and their wing types, as well as the references to modern London. This story has so many messages in for young people as they follow Astrid on her journey. A truly magical masterpiece!
Thank you to Megan Hopkins, NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Children's for this eCopy to review

Starminster was an interesting read, we follow a young girl Astrid who has been forced to leave in a Rhubarb shed in Yorkshire her whole life for her 'safety.' why does she have to stay hidden?

One night a lady with wings appears and frees Astrid taking her to London Overhead, Where Astrid learns she is a Librae, makes friends, and has her whole world opened up. She discovers a sinister plot and must race against time to save her new friends

This was an epic mystery adventure, full of great friendships

Astrid has been brought up living in the rhubarb shed and has never stepped outside. Desperate to see the stars, she tries to dig her way out. Then a stranger comes and she discovers a whole world she knew nothing about.
A fun adventure, I enjoyed this although I felt it was quite short and the end seemed quite rushed. I think younger readers would enjoy this.

What a fantastic book! I was initially intrigues by the front cover and description but completely hooked by the first chapter and the numerous questions that needed to be answered about Astrid. The word choices were superb and really helped to build a clear picture of both Astrid and the world around her. I can already think of several children who will absolutely devour this.

Ever looked up at the stars and wondered what it’s like to be up there, amongst them? Well, welcome to Starminster, where kids can learn to do just that.

Starminster by Megan Hopkins was released by HarperCollins UK in April 2024 and follows the adventure and journey of belonging of the wondrous Astrid.

Born to a mother who, for an undisclosed reason, has kept her in a rhubarb shed for most of her life, Astrid has longed to see the stars. So much so, she spends one night digging a whole to escape only to find she’s been double enclosed by concrete reinforcement.

Discovered by the marvellous Mrs. Wairi, Astrid is offered the opportunity to escape the shed and see the stars. That is, if she can accept the fact that Mrs Wairi has wings! Introduced to the world of London Overheard, positioned directly above the London we know and love, Astrid learns she is a Librae and will one day fledge wings of her own.

Forming new friendships with the truthful and supportive Pent, and the kindly mischievous Mason, Astrid begins to adjust to life in London Overhead, alongside understanding that it may very well be the reason her mum kept her concealed from the world for all those years.

Everything settles accordingly until, after an encouraging Ethics and Morality session, the unfledged students defy the headmaster’s rule. Punished and forced to complete labour, Astrid starts to realise that the headmaster might not be who he appears on the surface, and his dark secrets may be changing Starminster school for the worst.

Can Astrid get to the bottom of the mystery, as well as uncovering the truth of why Mama didn’t want to send her to London Overhead, in time to keep her place at Starminster and fledge her own wings?

Worlds like this are one of the things that always attract me to middle grade fiction. Growing up, the amount of wardrobes I climbed into, or trains I took, or kitchen brooms I tried to mount to get access to these worlds was innumerable, and that’s exactly what Starminster gives. I can very much imagine young reader wanting to venture to the Shard or St. Paul’s Cathedral, especially if they’re a Libra, to see if they too can fledge and can develop their own wings. That, to me, is the telltale sign of a brilliant idea.

London Overhead sounds idyllic with its tapestry of architecture from various centuries alongside the beauty of nature. Live in a flow? Sign me up! Worldbuilding is a forte of Hopkins’ as I never once doubted that the author knew everything about this world, who lived there, and the history of the place. I ADORE London Overhead and hope to venture there again in future reads.

Characterisation is a massive selling point of this novel for me too. Astrid is unfledged and (SPOILER ALERT) remains so for 99% of the novel. I enjoyed the protagonist not needing any power or special ability to fight the good fight, and it makes it even more exciting in book 2 to see what Astrid is going to be like with her powers. With Pent, a true friend not a yes friend cliché, and Mason, loveably roguish, it was refreshing to see a realistic dynamic of a friendship trio, engaging with other friends, looking after themselves, and still knowing they were there for each other without needing to live and breathe every second together. This sold the narrative arc to me even more.

Overall, I can only think of things I love about Starminster. This is one that children in that age bracket will adore and be on Hopkins’ tail awaiting a sequel! I, for one, can’t wait. In the meantime, I’m off to book a train to London to visit the Shard…

What an utterly enchanting story! I grew to love Astrid so very dearly. The beginning of the story is distressing but makes her eventual adventures that much more impactful.

I found the opening of the book extremely sinister and not one I would want to share with my children at school.
The rest of the plot is intriguing and an interesting idea.

Starminster follows 11 year-old Astrid's escape from the only home she's ever known in her mother's rhubarb shed, through her gradual realization that she is a Librae— ancient winged beings, akin to angels— to her discovery that the Librae world is not as angelic as it seems.

With echoes of Harry Potter, this is a wonderfully imaginative tale, grounded in the familiar, yet intricately inventive. From the creaking dark of the rhubarb shed to the floating heights of London Overhead, with its glowing flowers and rickety staircases, punctured by the Shard, not to mention the brilliant re-purposing of St Paul's Cathedral, each setting forms a rich and believable backdrop to the mounting excitement of the story. Pent and Mason are instantly classic sidekicks, while Astrid herself is a beguiling mix of vulnerability and courage and the climax of the story, in the depths of London Underfoot, is truly terrifying.

A fantastically assured debut, I can't wait to read more from this author.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance e-copy of this title.

What a brilliant read! This was such a good book. I really loved the descriptions especially of the buildings . I visited London last month so I especially enjoyed this setting. The characters personalities were very entertaining. The was an exciting adventurous read and a little bit scary at the end! I loved it and would recommend to other children my age ( 10). I have told my friends about this one and recommended it to my teacher.

**courtesy of my 10 year old daughter who raced through this one. 5 stars from her.

Astrid has grown up with a loving mother, but been confined to the rhubarb shed for her entire life because Mama says she has to keep her safe from evil people. Longing to experience the outside world, she is amazed when she is freed one night by a stranger, and taken to be amazing world of London Overhead.

Because it turns out that Astrid is very special indeed, and belongs to a group of flying humans who live in a separate city far above London. She is unfledged still, but her wings will be coming in soon and her new community can teach her how to live up to her considerable potential. But will can Astrid adapts to this new and magical lifestyle so easily? And can she really be happy without her mother?

This is an inventive and unusual story which manages to bring an entirely new world effortlessly to life. Astrid is a very likeable protagonist, and the writer conveys her sense of wonder at life beyond the rhubarb shed very effectively. This book will be enjoyed by both young and not-so-young readers. It gets 3.5 stars.

This is one of those books that I’m glad to have picked up. First the cover drew me in and after reading the plot, it sounded like a great adventure. It was!

The opening chapter was an immediate hook and I quickly grew to love Astrid. Isolated in her rhubarb shed, she yearns to explore the outside world and get a glimpse of the stars she’s always wanted to see however her mother is determined to keep her safely enclosed from the dangers of the outside world..

And there’s plenty more to this world than meets the eye. Thought the sky above London was an empty space? Think again! A whole civilisation of the London Overhead exists into the clouds and there’s a whole life above there - Of Librae and people with wings. Astrid finds herself thrust into this strange world but she begins to make friends for the first time and finds life outside the shed isn’t that scary after all.

I loved seeing Astrid grow and the friendships she made was so heartwarming. It was such a feel good story and one that I absolutely blew through and was left smiling at the end. Fantastic world building, brilliant characters and a compelling story. 5/5 easy and now the next instalment can’t come quick enough!