In the summer of 1973, fourteen-year-old Michael's life is forever changed when his rebellious cousin Donnie visits Star City and tragically falls to his death from the town's iconic Star landmark during a night of reckless climbing. The novel traces Michael's coming-of-age journey through grief, family secrets, and eventual healing as he watches his sister Susan reunite with her fiancé James who returns from Vietnam, teaching Michael that life contains both profound loss and unexpected grace, all watched over by the Star that serves as both witness and symbol of their small Appalachian town.