Book review: ‘An Astonishment of Stars’ by Kirti Bhadresa

Calgary-based author Kirti Bhadresa‘s debut collection of short stories, An Astonishment of Stars, displays a vivid portrayal of the experiences of South Asians as they experience the biases and prejudices of being ethnic minorities in Canada. 

The most powerful stories in this collection discuss the complexities of family dynamics within immigrant communities. It explores the harsh balance between the individualism of Canadian society with the collectivistic values of South Asian upbringings. In Lighten Up, protagonist Naina moves away from home and reconnects with a relative. This reconnection allows her to come to terms with the duality of her South Asian upbringing and Canadian influences. This story resonated with me as it perfectly summarized the conflicts between individual determination and family loyalties of second-generation children. Or in Bhadresa’s words, “the compromise between [their] two cultures.”

Bhadresa eases readers into hard-hitting topics by starting off with lighter storytelling. For example, Summer Camp follows an introverted girl and her distaste for going to summer camp year after year. Eventually, there are more complex narratives with The Illness, In a Name, and Backstage Passes. These stories carry intense storylines with more direct depictions of the internal conflicts, causing immediate introspection. Bhadresa fully develops characters without over-explaining. This allows readers to interpret their actions and intentions, creating authentic connections to each story.

Some of the weaker stories in the collection, such as Summer Camp, Heads are Going to Roll, The Fundraiser, and The Gossip fill the gaps between the more impactful pieces while still delivering on themes of marginalization. These stories offer lighter moments contrasting the darker narratives.

Bhadresa seamlessly balances dark and complex narratives to bright and light-hearted voices, while still retaining the integrity of the anthology. Although the writing style feels simpler at times, this eases the reader into stories by providing meaningful context.

Overall, An Astonishment of Stars is a compelling collection of short stories which can be enjoyed by young adult audiences and beyond. Bhadresa’s book is a great read for ethnic minorities to realize they are not alone in their experiences and for everyone else to realize the complexities of racial and cultural identities in a country as diverse as Canada.