Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hopeful Jim Crow-era tale has positive messages, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In HOW HIGH THE MOON, 11-year-old Ella lives with her grandparents, her 12-year-old cousin Henry, and teen Myrna in the Jim Crow South. Ella doesn't know who her father is—though everyone suspects he's White. Her mother, Lucy, lives in Boston, where she works in a shipbuilding factory and pursues her dream of being a jazz singer. Ella is ecstatic to get a letter from her mother inviting her to come stay. But once there, she finds Helen, the roommate who cuddles up in Mama's bed when Ella wants to be there. And between work at the shipyard and performing at nightclubs, Mama is hardly ever home. She doesn't get around to enrolling Ella in school, so the girl spends long, boring days by herself in the small apartment until Lucy takes off for New York and sends Ella home. The same day that Ella gets back to South Carolina, one of the boys from school, George Stinney, is arrested and charged with murder, sending worry throughout the community.
Is It Any Good?
This heartfelt tale about childhood in the Jim Crow South brings us a girl who finds a sense of family and identity despite an absent mother, a mystery father, and a cruel society. How High the Moon, the debut novel from Karyn Parsons, grew out of a conversation the author had with her mother. Parsons wondered how her mother could claim she had a happy childhood when she grew up in the South under Jim Crow. The subplot about the boy who's wrongfully convicted and executed comes from a real legal case, giving it all the more impact. The biggest strength of the novel is the character of Ella: Her close relationship with her grandmother, her longing to be with her mother, and her desperation to know who her father is all ring true.
The author chose to have each of the three main children characters narrate chapters. But this isn't quite balanced, since Ella is clearly the central character, and the other narrators and their perspectives aren't as well developed. That said, their parts do add important context and give further insight into what's happening around Ella as she searches for answers at a time in her life and in a world when things don't always make sense.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way How High the Moon explores racial identity. Some kids at school call Ella a "zebra." When Ella's grandmother confirms her suspicion that her father was White, Ella asks "what she is." How do lessons from her grandparents help her accept herself for who she is?
Throughout the story, many community members step up to act as family. What are a few examples of that? What difference does that make in the characters' lives?
The author uses an unusual structure for the book: Three different characters tell different parts of the story. Did you like hearing from Ella, Myrna, and Henry? Did that make the story more interesting? Was it ever confusing?
Ella and other characters show curiosity, perseverance, and empathy. Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of times you've shown any of these in your own life?
The book includes several examples of racism and inequality during the Jim Crow era. Is this a time in history that you know much about? How are Black people in Boston and South Carolina treated differently? How does this compare to today's world? Can you think of examples of racism you've witnessed or encountered yourself? Why is it important to keep fighting injustice?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , History
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little Brown and Company
- Publication date : March 13, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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