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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Rafi loves to tell scary stories. But when his neighbor warns him not to tell stories on the night of the Blood Moon, what is the one thing a kiddo wants to do?? Tell their latest scary story! With the Blood Moon comes a curse. A curse to bring stories to life. But Rafi sets out to break the curse in order to protect his younger sister and his friends and along the way he learns several important lessons: love will always triumph over evil, second chances are worth giving, and listen to your elders--they might just know what they are talking about. ;)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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:
N/A
Thanks Net Galley and Scholastic for the ARC!
The Cursed Moon was a really engaging read. Fans of Stranger Things, Stand By Me, IT, and Paper Girls will likely enjoy the dynamics of friendship found within this book. I also really appreciated how the author used food to forge connections between the characters. This is a great read for younger readers just starting to get into spooky fiction!
The Cursed Moon was a really engaging read. Fans of Stranger Things, Stand By Me, IT, and Paper Girls will likely enjoy the dynamics of friendship found within this book. I also really appreciated how the author used food to forge connections between the characters. This is a great read for younger readers just starting to get into spooky fiction!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was great. I was surprised a few times by how creepy the scary stories in this one are considering the targeted audience. I read a ton of horror and a few of the bit in this one had me thoroughly creeped out.
There was a lot to love in this one. The horror and creepy story of the caretaker, the relationships between Rafa and his sister as well as with their abuelos. I adored Balam I also really liked that this story addresses some of the heavier things that people face. Rafa's mother is revealed to be an addict and currently in jail. There's brief description of how unstable his mother and living situations were for Rafa and his sister, Brianna. Sometimes as a society we shy away from the "hard things" in life and I think it's important to show that.
However, I really disliked the ending of this story. The conclusion with the caretaker took like, 2 paragraphs total. After all the build up it felt rushed and disappointing, I'd have liked to have seen more of a struggle there. Then, the whole plot line about the kids mother being in jail and coming to live with them was just left... unfinished and rushed. The entire book we have a young character that's dealing with the emotional baggage and trauma of what her decisions and life caused him and him trying to come to terms with his anger and distrust of her and instead of having any scenes with the two of them or any sort of resolution at all, we get a mention in passing that "we are trying" and that's the end.
Over all I really enjoyed this book I binged it in two sessions and LOVED the horror stories and sibling relationship in this one, but it fell really short for me with a rushed, unfinished ending.
** Thank you Netgalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
There was a lot to love in this one. The horror and creepy story of the caretaker, the relationships between Rafa and his sister as well as with their abuelos. I adored Balam I also really liked that this story addresses some of the heavier things that people face. Rafa's mother is revealed to be an addict and currently in jail. There's brief description of how unstable his mother and living situations were for Rafa and his sister, Brianna. Sometimes as a society we shy away from the "hard things" in life and I think it's important to show that.
However, I really disliked the ending of this story. The conclusion with the caretaker took like, 2 paragraphs total. After all the build up it felt rushed and disappointing, I'd have liked to have seen more of a struggle there. Then, the whole plot line about the kids mother being in jail and coming to live with them was just left... unfinished and rushed. The entire book we have a young character that's dealing with the emotional baggage and trauma of what her decisions and life caused him and him trying to come to terms with his anger and distrust of her and instead of having any scenes with the two of them or any sort of resolution at all, we get a mention in passing that "we are trying" and that's the end.
Over all I really enjoyed this book I binged it in two sessions and LOVED the horror stories and sibling relationship in this one, but it fell really short for me with a rushed, unfinished ending.
** Thank you Netgalley and Scholastic Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **