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CHAPTER ONE 
 t was the first time Brighton had ever been away from home, and he was excited. He was also nervous and scared. Home felt like it was light-years away. (In fact, it was light-years away!) He felt a little lonely, too. Even though he was surrounded by other stars, Brighton didn't know anyone at the North Star Academy.
"Throw it to me! Throw it to me!" he heard someone shout on the star field, where some young stars were playing a game of comet ball.
A young star with big glasses and a bow tie held the shining comet trying to decide where to throw it.
"No, throw it here! Throw it here!" another star shouted.
It sure looks like they're having fun, Brighton thought. He wished he could join them. But he was just a little star, so small and alone. He didn't know if he would ever find his place in the universe. 
Brighton remembered the day he received his invitation to the North Star Academy. He was so excited his startips trembled as he opened the letter.
"Learn to fly faster and shine brighter than you ever have before!" the invitation had said. "We will light the way as you set off on exciting journeys and star quests to learn why your starlight is like that of no other star in the universe!"
But now that he was here, Brighton looked at the other young stars around him, each of them shining so bright. They all looked so confident and sure. Brighton wished he could shine with confidence, too.
Suddenly there was a loud roar, and all the young stars looked up to the sky. A rocket-shaped comet hurtled wibbly-wobbly toward the ground. With a whoosh and a clank and a flash of smoke and stardust, it came to a rickety stop right in front of them.
A small but shiny star, a white dwarf with a long mustache, climbed out of the cockpit and dusted himself off. It was Professor Nova, the headmaster of the North Star Academy, and the wisest star in the sky.
He looked around at all the students and in his loud, cheerful voice, greeted them with, "Shine On!" 
Professor Nova led the students into the classroom. He waited until they were all seated and settled down, which seemed to take an eon. (In fact, it did take an eon!)
Finally the wise old star looked at them all, smiled and said,
"Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight!
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have my wish come true tonight!"
"This is why all of you are here," Professor Nova explained. "This is your life's purpose."
Brighton brightened with excitement. He was about to find out his place in the universe!
"Every night," the professor said, "millions and millions of children and animals on Earth look up into the sky and wish upon a star. Your job is to become bright enough to be seen by everyone everywhere, and to hear the wishes they make. And when you do."
He paused, and Brighton leaned forward to hear what he was going to say next. What would happen when a star heard the wishes of a child?
"Energy and light and streams of magical stardust will flow through you," the professor said, his voice soft but powerful, "and you will be given the power to make those wishes come true."
All the stars in the room lit up.
"Wow!"
"Cool!"
"Awesome!"
"Your job as a young star," Professor Nova went on, "is to learn how to shine your very brightest light, and then share your light with others. Soon you'll be able to make wishes come true for anyone who asks!" 
Brighton felt thrilled and scared, and he felt his insides flip upside down. Making wishes come true was such a great power. How on Earth would he ever learn how to do it? Would he be able to? He tried to imagine himself surrounded with energy and light and magical stardust, but he just couldn't do it.
"Starlight is a powerful thing," Professor Nova said, as if he were talking straight to Brighton. "It's the most powerful stuff in the universe. Whenever you're scared and things look grim, remember.even a small amount of starlight can brighten the darkest night."
As he spoke, his words seemed to be made of light, and they traveled toward Brighton on a bright cloud.
"Even a small amount of starlight can brighten the darkest night."
Brighton closed his eyes as the light message surrounded him.
"Pssst.hey.," he heard someone whisper nearby.
Brighton opened his eyes and looked at the anxious young star sitting next to him. Brighton recognized him as the star he had seen playing comet ball before class. His bow tie and big round glasses made him look very smart.
"Do you think we're going to be tested on this?" the star whispered.
Brighton could only shrug. 
Professor Nova wrote some words on the board, then quietly gazed upon them as though they were flowing into his heart. With a contented sigh he said, "The Light of All Lights makes all the stars in the universe shine. He is the Light you see way up in the sky, and the Light shining at the very center of your heart. He's the one who gave each and every one of you a purpose for being alive, a reason to shine. Talk to Him. Ask Him to guide you. He will be there to help you all your life long. He will help you shine your brightest light, if you let His light into your heart. No matter what happens, always remember to Shine, Shine, Shine!"
Time flew past, and Professor Nova taught them so much it made Brighton's head spin.
Finally, he said, "Now your homework is to think about a wish that you would like to grant with your light. Dream your biggest dream. Don't hold back. When you come back, be prepared to share your dreams with the class."
"Shine On!" he said to all the young stars as they flew out of the room.
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