Lonely, Vera makes a wish on her favorite star for Grace’s return, but a few nights later, her wishing star disappears. At the library, Vera meets Malcolm, a fellow night sky enthusiast who explains that stars move. “My star didn’t leave me! It’s just on the other side of the world—in Grace’s sky!” Vera realizes. Malcolm helps Vera feel connected to Grace, who is seeing the same pattern and movement of stars where she is. Vera makes a map of the stars and mails it to Grace, creating a meaningful way to stay in touch while spending time with her new friend. Swemba makes space for Vera’s sadness, which, notably, doesn’t magically resolve by book’s end; while she enjoys her new friendship with Malcolm, she still misses Grace. Walker-Parker’s soft illustrations are well matched to the text; though gentle and cartoonish, they also convey complex emotions like longing, loneliness, and contentment. The night sky drawn full of stars is an important presence, cluttered and bright, a fixture and a comfort. The book ends with advice for how to handle a friend’s move, as well as instructions for creating a star map like Vera’s. Vera is pale-skinned; Grace and Malcolm are brown-skinned.