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kirstenf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Death
Minor: Racism and Violence
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A lyrical retelling of Romeo and Juliet with Chinese mythology infused throughout. The short chapters make this book easy to read, pulling you into this mythical place. Despite there being quite a few narrators, I didn't feel like anyone character got less development than others, and the multiple narrators were important for understanding the story.
However, some of the jumping around did make it difficult to follow what was actually happening, plot wise. I think this was just part of the mythological aspect of the story, but there were times where I felt confused.
Loved learning more about Chinese mythology, though! And the central relationship was sweet and well developed. All in all, an enjoyable book.
However, some of the jumping around did make it difficult to follow what was actually happening, plot wise. I think this was just part of the mythological aspect of the story, but there were times where I felt confused.
Loved learning more about Chinese mythology, though! And the central relationship was sweet and well developed. All in all, an enjoyable book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Death
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Torture, Racism, and Sexual content
victoriousbookworm's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I loved this book! Pan perfectly intertwined Romeo and Juliet with Chinese mythology and had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the mystical elements of this book! It was so enjoyable to see Hunter and Lina’s relationship revolve and change throughout their story and the ending left me speechless and in awe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content
whatjasread's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An Arrow to the Moon had a rough start for me. I went into it with very different expectations, thinking it would be high fantasy rather than a simpler magical realism novel. YA novels that focus so much on the MCs going to school don't tend to work so well for me, it's just not what I enjoy reading. However, with the subtle elements of magic and the forbidden friendship-turned-romance element added to it, AATTM was a genuinely great read. Writing wise, the first third was a bit of a struggle for me -- if the whole book had been like the final third, I think this could have been five stars.
One of my favourite things about this book is that it doesn't shy away from important, difficult topics. They're not presented in an overwhelming or overbearing way, either. There's an argument to be made that it does fall too easily into the stereotype of the strict East Asian parent who is only ever focused on academic achievement and pushing their child to the limit. While it does, the book also pays important attention to political issues such as the Taiwan China conflict (which I'm genuinely intrigued about and will probably go and research more!) It also doesn't shy away from open discussion of periods - blood, cramps and everything in between. It seems like such a minor thing, but it's so important, especially in YA.
The ending was just phenomenal, I think if similar snippets had been woven throughout more than just in the journal, it would have been amazing and added a bit more to the story. I adore all the relationships in this book, particularly between Hunter and his younger brother Cody! There were some storylines which I didn't much care about (Rodney, mostly), but otherwise this book surprised me in a good way!
TWs: asthma attacks, racism, sexism, overbearing parents, strained family relationships, cheating, financial difficulty, child abuse, depression
One of my favourite things about this book is that it doesn't shy away from important, difficult topics. They're not presented in an overwhelming or overbearing way, either. There's an argument to be made that it does fall too easily into the stereotype of the strict East Asian parent who is only ever focused on academic achievement and pushing their child to the limit. While it does, the book also pays important attention to political issues such as the Taiwan China conflict (which I'm genuinely intrigued about and will probably go and research more!) It also doesn't shy away from open discussion of periods - blood, cramps and everything in between. It seems like such a minor thing, but it's so important, especially in YA.
The ending was just phenomenal, I think if similar snippets had been woven throughout more than just in the journal, it would have been amazing and added a bit more to the story. I adore all the relationships in this book, particularly between Hunter and his younger brother Cody! There were some storylines which I didn't much care about (Rodney, mostly), but otherwise this book surprised me in a good way!
TWs: asthma attacks, racism, sexism, overbearing parents, strained family relationships, cheating, financial difficulty, child abuse, depression
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Sexism, Torture, and Racism
kindredbooks's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan is the retelling of Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology. And so yes, I knew what I was in for when I picked up the book (sort of). I don't know if it's the hopeless romantic in me that still holds out hope that a Romeo and Juliet-inspired book will somehow end up in a happy ending. Hopeless, I know.
This retelling is set in modern day though it does integrate Chinese mythology and things happening in the past to lead to current circumstances. I thought it was quite clever the way the legend of Houyi and Chang'e was integrated into the story with Hunter and Luna as Romeo and Juliet, respectively. Also, those names - how much more perfect can it be? The story was told in so many different POVs that I was a little surprised at first - but I did see how it tied in more depth and details into the story, beyond that of Hunter and Luna. There was a lot of angst and complications that come with being teenagers, much less Chinese/Taiwanese teenagers. I was a little surprised to see the China vs. Taiwan politics play out in this story as well - though it did add a very realistic depth into the resentment between the Yee and Chang families. Overall, I enjoyed An Arrow to the Moon - I don't quite know if I was really convinced of the romance between Hunter and Luna; but it did give me the feelings I always had towards Romeo and Juliet. The idea that teen romance can happen in a moment, without logic or reason, beyond the feelings. You really have to buy into that idea that two young people can fall for each other, for no reason other than seeing one another with the fish tank between them (yes, that iconic scene from Romeo + Juliet, 1996 with Claire Danes and Leo DiCaprio).
This retelling is set in modern day though it does integrate Chinese mythology and things happening in the past to lead to current circumstances. I thought it was quite clever the way the legend of Houyi and Chang'e was integrated into the story with Hunter and Luna as Romeo and Juliet, respectively. Also, those names - how much more perfect can it be? The story was told in so many different POVs that I was a little surprised at first - but I did see how it tied in more depth and details into the story, beyond that of Hunter and Luna. There was a lot of angst and complications that come with being teenagers, much less Chinese/Taiwanese teenagers. I was a little surprised to see the China vs. Taiwan politics play out in this story as well - though it did add a very realistic depth into the resentment between the Yee and Chang families. Overall, I enjoyed An Arrow to the Moon - I don't quite know if I was really convinced of the romance between Hunter and Luna; but it did give me the feelings I always had towards Romeo and Juliet. The idea that teen romance can happen in a moment, without logic or reason, beyond the feelings. You really have to buy into that idea that two young people can fall for each other, for no reason other than seeing one another with the fish tank between them (yes, that iconic scene from Romeo + Juliet, 1996 with Claire Danes and Leo DiCaprio).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping
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