Edit in JSFiddle

.star.starred:before {
    content: "\2605";
}

.star:before {
    content: "\2606";
}

.star {
    font-size: 2em;
    cursor: pointer;
}

.star:hover {
    text-shadow: 0px 0px 3px yellow;
}

.star.starred:hover {
    text-shadow: 0px 0px 3px red;
}
$('.star').on('click', function() {
    $(this).toggleClass('starred');
    if ($(this).is('.starred')) {
        // Do something to record that this is a favourite
    }
});
<div class="entity">
    <h3>Rate me!</h3>                
    <span class="star"></span>
</div>