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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Very sweet and thoughtful book about belonging and friendship.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How does Jen Wang know my life?
In this wonderful graphic novel, Wang pinpoints the moment in childhood that two weird children find and love each other.
The main character, a straitlaced nerd named Christine, meets Moon for the first time right after her violin recital, where she is warned by another child that Moon is violent and potentially dangerous to know. After Christine's parents invite Moon and her horticulturalist mother to live in their rental house, Christine finds that Moon is friendly, interesting, and loves K-Pop. Unlike Christine's school friends, who have excluded her from their talent show performances, Moon wants to dance with Christine onstage in front of everyone. Moon has books full of exciting drawings and wears black nail polish, which intrigues and excites Christine.
I had a very similar experience finding friends as a child, though, unlike Christine, I was already visibly weird myself. Her experiences of idolizing her friend and her friend's cool mom will be relatable, as will her loving but complicated relationship with her academically-oriented parents and their rules. As Christine asserts her independence in small ways, she begins to question the way her family restricts her world.
However, as time elapses, it becomes clear that Moon has problems Christine doesn't quite understand. When Moon beats up a small child on behalf of Christine's little sister, she and other children are shocked. And when Moon confesses to Christine that she might not be of this world at all, Christine begins to worry that Moon isn't quite connected to reality. Even so, this is middle school, and when it looks like Moon might become another girl's best friend, Christine reacts with an act of furious sabotage that might hurt her friend and herself if she fails to apologize for it. Additionally, Moon has a medical condition that is becoming increasingly dramatic.
SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS BELOW.
The use of a brain tumor as plot device in this book for young children is the one issue I take with the narrative, as there are a lot of reasons (namely: aspergers! adhd! being trans and weird! being sad about childhood stress or trauma!) that a child like Moon might have behavioral problems, alienate other children, have visions, or fantasize about beings from another world coming to take her home. I did all of those things, minus visions, in elementary school! I don't understand exactly what the tumor contributes to the story besides melodrama that may have slight ableist undertones, but at the same time, my knowledge is such that I guess it is plausible. The ending of the story does resolve some of my concerns, as Moon finds acceptance for her full, weird personality after returning to school after surgery, and there is no narrative that the surgery has changed her or eliminated the things that make her special.
The art style is as always gorgeous. I love the way Wang alters her linework for different books to suit the mood of each. This one is geared toward her youngest audience yet, and I foresee it reaching enormous popularity in the under-13 set.
In this wonderful graphic novel, Wang pinpoints the moment in childhood that two weird children find and love each other.
The main character, a straitlaced nerd named Christine, meets Moon for the first time right after her violin recital, where she is warned by another child that Moon is violent and potentially dangerous to know. After Christine's parents invite Moon and her horticulturalist mother to live in their rental house, Christine finds that Moon is friendly, interesting, and loves K-Pop. Unlike Christine's school friends, who have excluded her from their talent show performances, Moon wants to dance with Christine onstage in front of everyone. Moon has books full of exciting drawings and wears black nail polish, which intrigues and excites Christine.
I had a very similar experience finding friends as a child, though, unlike Christine, I was already visibly weird myself. Her experiences of idolizing her friend and her friend's cool mom will be relatable, as will her loving but complicated relationship with her academically-oriented parents and their rules. As Christine asserts her independence in small ways, she begins to question the way her family restricts her world.
However, as time elapses, it becomes clear that Moon has problems Christine doesn't quite understand. When Moon beats up a small child on behalf of Christine's little sister, she and other children are shocked. And when Moon confesses to Christine that she might not be of this world at all, Christine begins to worry that Moon isn't quite connected to reality. Even so, this is middle school, and when it looks like Moon might become another girl's best friend, Christine reacts with an act of furious sabotage that might hurt her friend and herself if she fails to apologize for it. Additionally, Moon has a medical condition that is becoming increasingly dramatic.
SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS BELOW.
The use of a brain tumor as plot device in this book for young children is the one issue I take with the narrative, as there are a lot of reasons (namely: aspergers! adhd! being trans and weird! being sad about childhood stress or trauma!) that a child like Moon might have behavioral problems, alienate other children, have visions, or fantasize about beings from another world coming to take her home. I did all of those things, minus visions, in elementary school! I don't understand exactly what the tumor contributes to the story besides melodrama that may have slight ableist undertones, but at the same time, my knowledge is such that I guess it is plausible. The ending of the story does resolve some of my concerns, as Moon finds acceptance for her full, weird personality after returning to school after surgery, and there is no narrative that the surgery has changed her or eliminated the things that make her special.
The art style is as always gorgeous. I love the way Wang alters her linework for different books to suit the mood of each. This one is geared toward her youngest audience yet, and I foresee it reaching enormous popularity in the under-13 set.
Graphic novels are such an excellent vehicle for middle grade friendship and identity stories - so much of pre-adolescence drama is subtext, or minute actions, from a jealous glance to an impromptu dance lesson.
read alongside
El Deafo, Wonderstruck, This One Summer, Sunny Side Up.
Some day I would love to do a coming-of-age graphic novel themed student book club. This would be a top contender.
read alongside
El Deafo, Wonderstruck, This One Summer, Sunny Side Up.
Some day I would love to do a coming-of-age graphic novel themed student book club. This would be a top contender.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Violence, Medical content
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Racism
Minor: Death of parent
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes