Reviews

The Halloween Moon by Joseph Fink

adashtra's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 stars

annabelle42688's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Fun fast read for kids.

madisonreads_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

mes91's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

This is great for kids who love Halloween, with surprisingly deep messages. 

siriface's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

bucher_freund's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

3.5

Thirteen year old Esther lives for Halloween. But this year, after her bat mitzvah, her parents announce that she's too old for trick or treating. She sneaks out in costume anyway. Unfortunately for her, this Halloween her neighborhood has been put under a spell. With only her best friend Agustin, her worst enemy Sasha, and the dentist who lives across the street for help, she has to contend with a pair of weirdos in modified ice cream trucks, creepy costumed children who make clicking insect sounds to speak, and a haughty, child thieving Queen of Halloween. 

This is a middle grade novel, so the scares are all PG. The first half is very solid, with great characterization, a fully realized setting, and some inventively spooky moments. The second half flounders a bit - not all of the reveals land, and some parts drag. However, the overall theme of fearing change (i.e. growing up) is extremely well done, and there is enough Halloween flavor throughout to make this a worthwhile read.

Love the cover too. 🧡🧡

iheartpuns's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

maddsmh's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted to love this story, but I didn’t. Even for a children’s book, the metaphors and values of the story are heavy-handed and overbearing. Even as a child, I would have felt talked down to. The pace of the story was poorly executed, and the characters seemed shallow and their development unsurprising.

kerriganscutes's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

shinydiscoballx's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0