A review by bickie
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar

Many of my students will appreciate this book as they approach puberty and menstruation. It is highly readable and mentions questions "Like, why have my armpits begun to smell? Or how big will my breasts grow? Or when exactly will my period come?" on the first page. Celi sorts out her feelings about a boy, Iván, especially with regard to her school nemesis Aurora and best friend Magda. Celi's confusion about liking Iván while wanting to be a good friend to Magna feels realistic, particularly for a nearly-12-year-old.

Throughout, Celi refers to her heart as her "locket," something she opens and closes to share/hide at certain times.

The book is divided into 4 parts labeled New Moon, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon, and Last Quarter Moon, each with a quotation accompanying it. The moon phases do not coincide with the actual moon phases in the story.

Spoiler

One thing that is bothersome is Celi's mother's refusal to give Celi any agency in what she chooses to share about her changing body with family and community. While Mima's ideas end up working for Celi in the end, there is only a half-hearted mention that once they've prepared everything, Celi could change her mind about the ceremony. She doesn't change her mind, but Mima doesn't encourage discussion or thinking/feeling things through openly. There is some mention about not dating, not having a cell phone, not wearing makeup or cropped tops, until a certain age as well, but a ceremony that is supposed to celebrate Celi's changing body seems like something she should feel she wants rather than be imposed on her like the other rules. It also felt a little boundary-crossing-ish that her mom fished her soiled underwear out of the trash so they could use the first blood in the ceremony.