Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Chinese myth and star-crossed lovers mix in magical fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
AN ARROW TO THE MOON combines magical realism and Chinese mythology with the romance of two Taiwanese American teens living their own version of Romeo and Juliet. When it comes to deep, vicious hatred, the Montagues and the Capulets have nothing on the Yees and the Changs, two college-town clans whose dads are bitter academic rivals, and that's just the beginning of the conniving, backstabbing, thievery, and family dysfunction. Luna Chang (straight-A student) and Hunter Yee (repeat troublemaker recently expelled from prep school), are now high school seniors. They live in the same town but have never met -- until an unlikely magic-tinged moment in a Seven Minutes in Heaven session brings them together and their lives change forever. All over town, cracks in the earth suddenly emerge, and as the teens' love grows, so does the upheaval -- cosmic and domestic. Archeology, a mysterious rock, a pet rabbit with unsuspected powers, a gangster with evil intentions, and the Chinese myth of star-crossed lovers Chang'E, who became the moon goddess, and the archer Hou Yi, all play a role as magic and modern life collide.
Is It Any Good?
Myth, magic, and adults behaving badly come together in Emily X.R Pan's evocative tale of star-crossed teen love amid disturbances in the universe. An Arrow to the Moon finds high-school seniors falling hard for each other, grappling with forces they don't control, and worrying about the future -- all of which seems somehow tied up with an ill-fated love story involving a Chinese moon goddess and an elixir of eternal life. Readers may find themselves as confused and overwhelmed as the protagonists here and there, but amid the gangsters and cosmic upheaval, there are lots of thrills, and also relatable moments, as here, as Luna feels a sense of disconnect from the "perfect" future her loving parents have all worked out for her:
"She worked hard at everything she did, of course. She was 'meticulous and high achieving,' as her teachers wrote in the comments section of her report card beneath the column of As.
"Really, she wanted ... something different. She wanted to be the type of person who took charge of her own life and went off on epic journeys. Someone who did daring, unexpected things. Why couldn't some mage appear, like in the fantasy stories -- a sorcerer summoning her to become her true self?"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories that adapt ancient myths and other magical tales to characters and settings in our world, like An Arrow to the Moon, Why do you think this premise is so popular -- and what stories do you think handle it really well? Do you think seeing contemporary people and their issues through the lens of ancient lore gives you a different insight into their lives?
In the story, when a character can't resist the urge to steal an intriguing object, it brings a lifetime of misery and fear to his family. What other stories do you know where a sudden impulsive decision -- good or bad -- makes a life-changing difference? Has this ever happened in your own life?
Luna and Hunter, both U.S.-born, talk about the racism they've experienced, like being told to "go back to China." Do you see this kind of thing happening among the people you know? How do you feel, and do you think there's a good way to respond to this?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little Brown and Company
- Publication date : April 12, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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