The Stars Beneath Our Feet

Wallace “Lolly” Rachpaul is a 12-year-old boy living in Harlem and the protagonist of The Stars Beneath Our Feet. The novel is told through Lolly’s first-person perspective. He has “reddish brown” skin, cheekbones that “poke out a lot,” and “truly tiny eyes” that he hates (11). At the start of the novel, Lolly is struggling to cope with the sudden death of his brother Jermaine who was shot in front of a nightclub. He doesn’t talk about his grief, even when Mr. Ali, the social worker at his after-school program, pushes him to open up. Lolly is repressed and angry because of what feels like a heavy rock that sits in his chest, a symbol of his grief. He is also feeling pressure to follow in Jermaine’s footsteps and join a crew, which is usually considered the only way to stay “safe” in Harlem for a young man.

As the novel progresses, Lolly learns to cope with his loss through his love of building Lego. He creates Harmonee, a massive Lego city, because it soothes the rock in his chest. Building becomes Lolly’s passion, and the Lego city becomes a representation of his inner world, where he feels the most inspired, excited, and the most like himself.