Starchild by Michaela Foster Marsh @foster_marsh @RandomTTours #Starchild @TheStoryPlant @StarChildUganda

Starchild was published by The Story Plant on April 14th 2020 in ebook and May 19th in Hardback. My thanks to the author and publisher for the review copy and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for inviting me on to the blog tour. 

Michaela Foster Marsh and her brother Frankie grew up as "twins" in Glasgow, Scotland in the sixties. Born only weeks apart, Michaela was white and Frankie was black, and they were an unusual sight in their dual pram. Despite the doting of his parents and the unceasing love of his sister, Frankie's life was rarely easy, and it ended far too soon when a fire took him when he was only twenty-six. But for a devastated Michaela, Frankie's effect on her life was only beginning. She embarks on a search to learn what she can about Frankie's birth family, a journey that takes her to Uganda, to a culture and a family she never knew, through twists and turns and remarkable coincidences - and to a mission and to a connection with her African brethren she never could have imagined. STARCHILD is a remarkably candid memoir that plays out on both a personal and global scale. It is the story of the intimacies of siblinghood and the complexities of multi-racial adoption. It is the story of the unique connection of extended family and the unique commitment to an adopted homeland. It is the story of long-held secrets revealed and long-maintained barriers broken. And it is ultimately the story of a sibling relationship that transcends borders, time, and life itself.

My Thoughts: 

Starchild is a very moving and thought provoking memoir written by Michaela Foster Marsh about herself and her brother Frankie. Frankie was black and Michaela is white. Although born a few months apart in the sixties, Frankie and Michaela were 'twins'. Starchild explores transracial adoption and the struggles that brings. It explores the highs and also the lows, the stares from people and the difficulties Frankie faced such as fear of abandonment, that made life difficult in the family home sometimes. I liked the way that this was not told in a sugar coated way and explained that life wasn't always easy. 

Frankie sadly passed away in a house fire and Michaela was obviously distraught at the loss of her brother, her 'twin'. Before he died Frankie didn't get a chance to find his birth mother and family and Michaela travels to Uganda with her partner Rony and also very little to go on. 

What ensues is a journey of discovery, a discovery on behalf of Frankie but I felt somewhat of a journey of self discovery for Michaela. I loved learning and reading a live account of Uganda and what life was and is like. This is as much an exploration of the little coincidences as anything else. 

It felt like Frankie was holding Michaela's hand and giving her the strength and ambition for both of them. This led to the charity Starchild Uganda being born and a school being built in Uganda. I found the honesty and candidness with which this story is written to be incredibly moving and absolute standout testament to the love that Michaela has for Frankie. 

Frankie seems that he was such a special human being but having said that I think that Michaela is too. The work that she does for Starchild Uganda is admirable and inspiring and a testament to the fact that out of sadness can come hope and often times a little bit of magic.  

About the Author: 

Michaela Foster Marsh is an acclaimed musician with three albums to her credit whose work has appeared in television and film, including Dawson's Creek and The Matthew Sheppard Story. She has been invited to sing at the Monaco International Film Festival, the Cannes International Film Festival, and for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. She is the founder and Executive Director of Starchild Charity, which works primarily with vulnerable children and women and which recently built a School for Creative Arts in Vvumba, Uganda. In 2017, she was a finalist for Scotswoman of the Year by the Evening Times and has received a Prime Minister's award for her work in Uganda. She lives with her partner in Glasgow.

You  can find the author on Twitter: @foster_marsh or also to find out more please visit www.starchildcharity.com

Please do also have a look at the other stops along the blog tour: