When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown is a Southern historical fiction set in the 1930s in small-town Georgia. The story follows Opal Pruitt as she comes of age--finding love, responsibility, and freedom as well as fear, hate, and pain.
Opal’s story gripped me from the very beginning. It is incredibly raw and genuine, and I stayed up late on more than one occasion to keep reading. This story and its insights into the fear and destruction hate can cause are timely and welcome. The characters are vivid and memorable. The history, while sometimes dark, was blended into the story seamlessly. And even though some of the words used may be uncomfortable to read, they are true to the time and necessary to create the proper environment for the story.
This is my first novel by Angela Jackson-Brown, and I hope I get to read her work again soon. She really brought the entire town of Parsons, Georgia to life for me. Any fan of historical fiction will enjoy this story.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Favorite Quotes:

My pastor, Reverend Perkins, said just this past Sunday that if this heat was a clue of how hot hell was going to be, we should all be lining up to get rebaptized.

You ain’t got the good sense God gave a billy goat. You think them Kluxers is scared of the likes of you? Get somewhere and be still.

Do you know when folks say they saw stars when someone kissed them, and it always sounded silly or downright crazy? Well, I promise you, when Cedric kissed me, it was like the heavens opened up and all the stars rained down to the earth.

All of their faces looked like the worst kind of storm clouds. It was like what was going on outside with the rain and the wind had entered into our little house. I felt drenched with the emotions we were all feeling.

My Review:

I tumbled right into this book and was so deeply immersed in this clever author’s words that every time my eyes were forced from my Kindle I was momentarily stunned to realize I wasn’t in Georgia. I kid you not, my skin is so fair I am practically an albino but while reading this absorbing missive I was an exhausted seventeen-year-old black girl residing in the segregated and rural Deep South during 1936 while living in fear of the KKK. I was entranced, enthralled, and riveted to the sharply-honed and tension-filled narrative. I sobbed when Opal was devastated and felt her elation and losses as keenly as if they were my own. Angela Jackson-Brown is a masterful storyteller with serious word voodoo. Somehow, five stars just doesn’t feel like enough, ten seems far more accurate.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy this historical fiction.

A beautifully written story that is filled with such sadness and sorrow but also of strong women who carry the ones they love with the strong faith of their hearts. Opal is a young seventeen year old full of life and wonder and grows into a strong woman of faith when those whom she loves faces tragedy and she stays strong as she discovers her love and strength for the young man she has fallen in love with.

As a Black Southerner who loves historical fiction, I enjoyed this peek into the life of a domestic worker in the U.S. South during the days of the Negro Leagues. I found the openness of the main character's desire to be no one else than who she was a fresh revelation as someone who tends to primarily read books about characters with great ambitions.

A coming of age story set in Georgia in the 1930.'s. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Opal, a young lady that goes through her life with a lot of pain and heartache. It was a beautiful story that several times led me to tears streaming down my face. This is the first book that has done this to me this year. The characters were so relatable and the story line was just phenomenal. I could see this as a book series, as well as a tv series or movie. The author did such an amazing job with this story, and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next. Phenomenal job

This is a poignant novel told through the eyes of Opal, a young girl trying her best to navigate life in a 1930s segregated world, as the battle for freedom rings. She realizes, “You can change the law, but you can’t make people follow it.”

This author does her best to help readers walk in the characters shoes. Readers get a peek into Opal’s world as she works in a white person’s house with her granny. Opal is wise to the rules of society and the hatred present in certain parts of her community. Growing up was hard for Opal and others as they did their best to navigate a racist world. The characters are complex, relatable, and brave, they have a strong sense of place as they struggle to make hard choices.

This riveting story has Opal and her family sitting on volatile information, realizing the truth of the matter will create an explosion no one wants, and many will hurt! There are a wide range of emotions expressed through colorful main and minor characters that moves readers to tears, a giggle or two (getting a look at family gatherings on the porch) as they seek justice.

I enjoyed how Opal describes her special times with family, “Summer nights in Colored Town were always my favorite. I looked around my granny’s porch, seeing all of my aunties, uncles, and cousins, and a smattering of neighbors and friends. As always, I felt so much love for all of them that it seemed like my heart might just burst wide open.”

The author pulled me in deep with her note to readers she says, “Racism in the 1930s was rampant throughout the country…Because my goal as a writer is always to strive to be historically accurate, there are occasions when characters in the book, who are members of the Ku Klux Klan, (in Parsons, GA) use the “N” word.” My intent in using this word is not to shock but to punctuate the fact that racism was brutal and still is brutal…I have been the target of the hate that word gives, and I want the readers of this book to understand the full weight of a word so powerful that it is now referred to by its first letter.”

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Her books will be a great book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

An excellent and gut-wrenching read. This feels like a story that could exist in the DNA of any BIPOC. I found myself picturing my own Grandmother as the character of Birdie. This story feels so real and that makes it all the more heartbreaking, I would recommend it to anyone.

I'm the kind of person that cries during sentimental commercials and certainly while reading an emotional novel, but this novel gripped me in such a way that I cried as I hadn't in quite some time by the time I turned the last page. Reading the history African-American's had to experience back in the 1930s, my heart continued to break just a little more for the people I love who still have to endure many unfortunate racial issues in America even to this day. I absolutely adored Opal, who demonstrated so many levels of intelligence, kindness, and strength during all of the trials of her lifetime. If you're open to reading further about the history of our country and viewing the perspective of a black person living in the white man's world, I highly recommend this novel. The story was wonderful, and as I said before, the emotions end on a high as well!

When Stars Rain Down is a historical fiction about a girl named Opal and the challenges of racism, violence, and young love as she is coming of age in the South as a young black woman.

The author does a good job of depicting the trials and frustration Opal and her family faced, and my heart ached for them in so many scenes. While there is a significant faith element to the book , I would not call it strictly Biblical throughout the entire book.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and would try another book by this author.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#whenstarsraindown
#angelajacksonbrown
#historicalfiction
#kkk
It's 1936 in Georgia. We get to see a few weeks in the life of Opal who is about to become 18. She lives in a town called Parsons. But really, she lives in Colored Town. Most of the time it's not too bad to live there. Except when the Ketchums family decides to get riled up.
Opal and her Grandma Birdie cook and clean for a white family. This white family treats both of them like family themselves. But the other side of Jimmy Earl's (the grandson) family is the KKK in town. And they decide its time to cause trouble.
There is a little romance. There is a lot of familial love. There is a lot of hatred. And a lot of church and praying. But the praying was not too much for this non-Christian girl to stay engrossed in the story. I didn't feel the need to skim except for the few times they included the words to hymns.
This ARC was well worth the read. I recommended when I was only at 25%. It was released last week. Thanks to #NetGalley and #thomasnelsonfiction for a great book.
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #booknerdbookreviews #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookrecommendation #bookreview #booknerdigan #bookish

“‘After a few days, won’t nobody even be able to tell you that you got them bruises.’
But I’ll be able to tell, I thought. Even when those bruises have faded away to nothing. I’ll remember them. Every one of them. And I’ll remember that somebody hated me enough to beat me for no reason other than my skin was a dark shade of brown.”

When Stars Rain Down is a story set in 1939, Georgia.
It’s a story about a girl who loves her grandmother and cries when she accidentally wears matching outfits with her boyfriend on Sunday.
It’s the story of a girl trying to navigate a society that has simultaneously integrated black people yet still treat them with harsh racism.
A girl who loves wearing purple and thinks rain is God’s happy tears, and a girl who got raped in a ditch on her way home.

This book was written with breathtaking, poetic prose to match the equally breathtaking cover.
Opal’s relationship with Cedric, with her grandmother, with her extended family, it felt so real and comforting yet, at times, heartbreaking.
There was one scene that was a bit off-putting for me when Opal was working for the ‘voodoo lady’ (no shade to the voodoo lady, she was a surprisingly lovely addition to the story) and Opal’s relationship with Jimmy Earl didn’t feel entirely resolved, but otherwise, I loved this story and the ending was everything I could have asked for. Honestly, perfection.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[TW: Rape]

When Stars Rain Down gives a thought-provoking look into racism in the 1936 South, and today.

When Stars Rain Down tells the story of Opal Pruitt and her own experience and struggle with racism. It feels the tiniest big coming-of-age in a way. It's a story of Opal becoming an adult.

From the beginning of the book, I loved the worldbuilding and setting. I was instantly transported to the South and loved it. From the small details about the town to the food to the dialogue--the worldbuilding was done wonderfully.

The characters were also done very well. Opal had a very nice narrative voice. And Granny was the Southern granny I think we all wish we had. The side characters were also developed well.

I have to admit-- I wasn't a huge fan of the romance between Opal and Cedric. It felt like it moved a little too fast. And I always struggle with stories where the guy changes his behavior because of the girl, and it is assumed that his behavior changes are going to stick and no one waits to see the changes are permanent.

When Stars Rain Down tackles racism a lot throughout the story. It doesn't shy away from it. There are African-American characters, racist white characters, and white characters who try to stop racism the best way they understand. That was one thing that hit me while reading the novel. We--white people--try to fix the problem of racism while we don't entirely understand the problem. We try to fix it how we understand and interpret it. But we don't have it all right.

There are some tough things tackled in the novel. Racism, the KKK, assault, shootings. All of it is dealt with gently. But When Stars Rain Down isn't a "feel-good" novel. Nor do I think I should be. The ending isn't a happily ever after. And it shouldn't be. It wouldn't be true to the story or the facts.

There were some theological things in When Stars Rain Down that I wasn't quite sure what to make of, mostly related to a character do practices "hoodoo" as Granny says. And while I wasn't super comfortable with it, it didn't distract me from the story.

Overall, When Stars Rain Down was a good, thought-provoking read.

I was told it’s impossible for a white person to understand how a colored person feels.
This book gives an insightful look in the lives of colored & white folks in 1936 Parson, Georgia. The attitude of keep your head down, don't make waves, be sure to be respectful and the constant powerless feeling of what a white person might do to you. We see the Ku Klux Klan brutal actions with no concern for anybody. I'm afraid to say that now more than 80 years later some of the "Proud Boys" would readily agree with the KKK, at a time when skin color should be no longer an issue.
Angela did a great job in telling the story; you get to know the various characters. Opal growing up fast but having lived a sheltered live protected by her grandmother and uncles gets all the new overflowing emotions a teenager has when that first boy gives her some serious attention. The grandmother gets her strength to endure the hardships in life from the Bible. And all the other people both white and colored that played a role in the story are beautifully described. Good and bad you feel you know each one of them. I cried during the last chapter because it all felt so real.

When the Stars Rain Down is about Opal Pruitt, a 17-year-old Black girl living in Parsons, Georgia, in the summer of 1936. It's a scorching summer, and Opal can't help but think something big is going to happen. She spends her day working with her Granny as a housekeeper for the white widow Miss Peggy and her nights with her cousins and friends in her neighborhood. One night the Ku Klux Klan invades Opal's neighborhood, and the entire community is shaken to the core. This singular night sets forward a set of events that makes everyone in Parsons think about the unspoken codes of conduct in their town.

I absolutely loved this book. Reading about Opal coming of age during the post-Reconstruction era was extraordinarily moving and emotional. The entire time I read this book, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, flying through the pages to see where Opal's story goes. What makes this book different from other historical fiction books out there on the market right now is that it covers an era of history that is often forgotten. I have never read a book about post-Reconstruction era America before and this book taught me a lot. If you're looking for a historical fiction book that takes place in a time period that isn't always highlighted, you need to pick up this book.

When Stars Rain Down is one of my favorite books of all time. I have been staring at my computer screen trying to put into words how amazing this book and I am really having a hard time because honestly I don't think my words will do this book justice. But I am going to try. Angela Jackson- Brown's writing is spot on amazing. The story that is When Stars Rain Down is pure perfection! I haven't read a book that I will stick with me as long as this one will. It was hard not to chat this book up when I was reading it. I honestly wanted to call everyone I know and tell them to read it so we could talk about it. I will be very happy when this is published so I can have so many conversions about the brilliance of this story!

When Stars Rain Down is a story of a girls coming of age, Opal, over the course of a summer. As Opal turns 18, a series of events questions how she views the world and the people in it. We literally watch her grow from a young girl to a woman over the course of this summer. The story takes place over the summer of 1936 in Parsons, Georgia, in a segregated town where tension simmers beneath the surface. The novel delves into race, family, relationships, faith, and so much more. It's compelling and heartbreaking watching Opal struggle to understand and see things in a new light all because of one defining moment and the even more devastating aftermath. Her grandmother reminds me so much of my own all of the way down to her vernacular and habits.

Jackson-Brown’s writing is exquisite and there were many times where I found myself holding my breath, and also shedding tears. It’s a story that makes you feel, especially when you understand that some of these same issues are still relevant to this day.

I'm struggling to describe this book succinctly... all I can say is that it pulled me in and I was absolutely engulfed in this story. The main character Opal is a young "colored" teenager, on the cusp of adulthood in the deep south of Georgia in 1936. It is the story of young love and possibility, of family and faith, of racism and racial division. The characters were well-developed and my heart was invested in their stories.

I always think that a defining quality of a really good book is that it drops you into a character's life so completely that you really feel their experience and wrestle with their heartbreak— and this was such a book. It was my honor to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review. My thanks to author Angela Jackson-Brown, the publisher, and #NetGalley. #WhenStarsRainDown

At the beginning of the story we meet Miss Opal Pruitt and her family in 1936 Georgia. Opal and her family live on a small street in an area called Colored Town on the outskirts of Parsons. Opal’s extended family are hard working and content with their lives. Some are financially better off than others, but they are all generous and truly love and care for each other. There is no jealousy or envy.

Opal in particular is content as a housekeeper and works for a Caucasion woman called Miss Peggy along with her Granny. Miss Peggy treats them with love and respect and considers them family. Opal is proud of her domestic abilities, she has a reputation for doing her job extremely well. Her uncle would like her to continue her education in order to obtain a “career” position and not be dependent on Miss Peggy for fair wages and treatment.

At a mere 17, Opal is happy and content with her life and doesn’t want for more. Then two boys begin to take an interest in her and she experiences feelings she has never felt before. She doesn’t consider herself beautiful but everyone around her does.

The KKK and white supremacy are everywhere. Prejudices threatens the town folks peaceful existence as well as their livelihood. After a violent attack, the community congregates and decides to take action. They visit the sheriff and explore possibilities to stop the violence. During a KKK attack the community did as their preacher asked at their Sunday sermon and stayed in their homes as their barns and chicken coops burned. After a personal attack, the men in particular are having a difficult time with taking no action and turning the other cheek. They fiercely want to protect their women and families.

The end of the story is the crescendo. It didn’t go as I’d hoped it would, but realistically it probably couldn’t have gone any other way. I loved Opal and her entire family. Miss Lovenia and Miss Peggy were the best. So many loving caring people, no jealousy or envy over haves and have nots. Just straight up love and affection was refreshing.

When prejudice shows it’s ugly head it spoils a loving situation and brings tragedy. Truly a heartfelt story. I enjoyed the timeframe, post slavery but still at a time when there were many injustices against blacks. The depiction of the time and stage was gorgeously done. I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to follow the characters into the next chapter. I hated that it was over. Solid 5 stars

This book is definitely going to be one of my favorite reads of the year - if not ever. Not only would highly recommend this to friends and family, I plan on purchasing a copy for myself to go on my favorites shelf.

I read this in record time. It usually takes me about a week to read a book I like. I finished this in less than 24hours. The author has this incredible ability to verbally illustrate whats happening, the way things look, feel, sound, etc. I felt like i knew Granny and Miss Peggy and that I was right there in Parsons, GA. I could smell the Peaches on Opal’s evening walks, and see the stars she looked up on. When something traumatic happened to the main character I felt like I it happened to me, too.

Not only is this book exceedingly well written, it’s relevant. Though it takes place in the 1930s (sadly) I could see so much of what was happening in the book paralleling life now.

The only downside is that I will not ever be able to go back and read this book from the beginning, for the first time again.

Side note: at the time of my review, this author has 816 followers. Prepare to blow up!! :)

100 stars! Ok, fine 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Many thanks to Angela Jackson-Brown, Thomas Nelson Publishing, and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. I read and reviewed this voluntarily and opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own. This book is available for purchase on April13th, 2021!