What if you woke up one day and everything you knew about yourself was turned upside down? That's what happens to Gemma in The Fallen Star. All her life, she's been completely unemotional and believed her parents died in a car accident when she was a baby. Then suddenly she starts experiencing strong and unstoppable emotions, learns that her mother disappeared under mysterious circumstances when she was four, finds out that her grandparents aren't really her grandparents, and learns that the fate of the world rests on her shoulders. And oh yeah—she has the power of a fallen star lodged inside of her, too. That's a lot to take in, isn't it?
Questions About Identity
- How does the sudden onslaught of emotions affect the way that Gemma sees herself? Give specific examples from the text.
- How does Gemma react to the news that she has a star lodged inside of her? Does her relationship to this information change over time? If so, how and what does this tell you about Gemma's character development? If not, what does this reveal about Gemma?
- Does becoming a vampire change the way Laylen sees himself? Why or why not, and if so, how? Does it change how other people see him? Why or why not, and if so, how?
Chew on This
From the very beginning of the book, Gemma is a girl who's experiencing a total shift in her identity. Now that she can experience emotions, she has to completely relearn everything about herself.
Gemma is shocked by Alex's explanation about why she's special, but she takes on her role as the savior of the world with grit and fortitude. It may be scary and overwhelming, but if she's the only person that can save the world, Gemma is willing to step up to the plate.