I loved the beginning of The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller. Luna is a quiet seventh grader who inherits boxes and boxes of books after a classmate passes away. At school, when Luna notices kids who are teased or struggling with an issue, she diagnoses a book from her library for those students. The results are positive, and the kids she is helping feel seen and get a spring in their step. When Luna can’t find a book that seems fitting for a classmate, she and her best friend, Scott – who is an awesome artist, start making little physical zines for students. Again, the results are incredible, and the message of kindness was powerful. I was excited to see where the book was going to go.
But then, for me, it went downhill. Luna’s work catches the eyes of the popular crowd, and Luna is lured in by all the trappings of being part of the “in” crowd: the sleepovers, the crushes, the cool, exclusive lunch spot. So much so that she ditches her incredible bestie, Scott, and starts making zines about things that are wrong with individuals disguised as “self-help” guides. The story really dives into Mean Girls territory. There is, of course, a reckoning and atonement, but these particular “shy, kind girl becomes popular, ditches her friends and becomes horrible” are just not for me.
In addition to the Mean Girls reference, this book also has a Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret vibe for its candid discussion of what some may consider “taboo” coming-of-age subjects. Menstruation is discussed in detail, from the range of products available to how to insert a tampon. I love a frank discussion of periods, but the level of detail made it feel a little PSA-ey at times. There are also mentions of masturbation, rape (by dolphins), and sexuality. In my opinion, this skews the book for readers ages 12-14. It’s marketed to 10-12 year old readers, but I think it is better suited for older readers.
With that said, I know many middle school readers will enjoy The Moon Without Stars, especially those who enjoyed Mean Girls and Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret.
WHAT I LIKED
- The idea of using books, zines, and art to help kids cope with insecurities and problems
- Frank discussions of middle school topics
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- I think some of the middle school topics were discussed in too much depth or too old for the 10-12 year old intended reading age
- The shy, kind girl becoming a mean, popular girl storyline
Have you read The Moon Without Stars? What did you think?
Birdie's Bookshelf 