Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, Katherine Marsh
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, Katherine Marsh
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Jepp, Who Defied the Stars

Author: Katherine Marsh

Narrator: Richard Powers

Unabridged: 11 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/09/2012

Synopsis

Fate—is it written in the stars from the moment we are born, or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands? Jepp of Astraveld needs to know.He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become a captive in the strange, luxurious prison that is Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the Spanish infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that, as a court dwarf, daily injustices would become his seemingly unshakeable fate. If the humiliations were his alone, perhaps he could endure them, but it breaks Jepp’s heart to see his friend Lia suffer.After Jepp and Lia perform a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe by a kidnapper in a horse-drawn carriage, Jepp is unsure where his unfortunate stars may lead him.Before Jepp can become the master of his own destiny, he will need to prove himself to a brilliant and eccentric new master—a man devoted to uncovering the secrets of the stars—earn the love of a girl brave and true, and unearth the long-buried secrets of his parentage. He will find that beneath the breathtaking cruelty of the world is something else: the persistence of human kindness.Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real historical characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is an awe-inspiring story of triumph in the face of unimaginable odds.

About Katherine Marsh

Katherine Marsh writes books for children and young adults, including The Lost Year, a finalist for the National Book Award; Nowhere Boy, winner of the Middle East Book Award; The Night Tourist, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery; Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, a New York Times Notable Book; and The Door by the Staircase, a Junior Library Guild selection. She is a former journalist and managing editor of the New Republic.

About Richard Powers

Richard Powers has published thirteen novels. He is a MacArthur Fellow and received the National Book Award. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Overstory, and Bewilderment was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sergio on February 09, 2016

Near the end Jepp finds out who his true mother is and his wealth. Don Diego planned to take the 3,000 Jepp is entitled to because his father was a nobleman to Spain. Don Diego deceived people by saying he did not have such gold coins but then Matheus told Jepp about the 3,000 coins and how he took......more

Goodreads review by Lyda on October 03, 2012

I am perhaps too close to this wonderful novel to judge it impartially since the author is my critique partner and I have read Jepp through many iterations. But I can truly say Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is a unique tale told straight from the author's heart. Jepp, a young dwarf born at the dawn of t......more

Goodreads review by Bill on February 02, 2017

This is an exceptionally fine YA book. Marsh has taken a person who is a footnote of history, the dwarf from Tycho Brahe's court, and woven a thoughtful, sensitive, and engaging tale about him. My granddaughter gave me this book for Christmas, knowing my interest in the history of astronomy. (I taug......more

Goodreads review by Brenda on March 09, 2017

STOP BEATING ME OVER THE HEAD WITH YOUR REPETITIVE PARAGRAPHS AND THEMES. I GET IT. STARS AND FATE. CAGES AND FEELING TRAPPED. INSTALOVE. TOO MUCH TELLING AND NOT ENOUGH SHOWING.......more

Goodreads review by Sam on October 09, 2012

Rarely do I read a book that is written with such advanced skill as to evoke images of great poetry, while at the same time possessing a level of ease allowing even the most reluctant of reader to be swept into the story. All of this leaves only one word to describe Jepp, Who Defied the Stars. Magical......more

Quotes

“Paul Michael Garcia is superb as he uses subtle touches to give each character a unique flavor. His voice for the well-known astronomer Tycho Brahe is especially skillful…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile

“An epic search for love, family, respect, and a destiny of one’s own making.” Publishers Weekly, starred review

“With an engaging hero and unusual setting, Jepp is compelling historical fiction about the treatment of those who are different and the challenges they face to be viewed as equals.” BookPage

“A fast-paced adventure, abundant with period details…The honest and humorously self-deprecating voice of Jepp moves readers to rejoice with him as he seeks and manipulates his destiny.” Kirkus Reviews

“Delightful characters, unique setting, and lovely prose. This is historical fiction at its best!” Ruta Sepetys, New York Times bestselling author

“This highly unusual story about a highly unusual hero will also feel like your story. Few of us are imprisoned dwarfs, but all of us want to guide our own lives.”  Jonathan Safran Foer, New York Times bestselling author of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

“Rich, absorbing storytelling—a terrific read in every way.” Nancy Werlin, National Book Award finalist

Awards

  • Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week
  • New York Times Notable Book
  • AudioFile Earphones Award
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