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Moonflower
By Barbara Saunders,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Lonely child finds spirit-world friends in sweet tale.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
When MOONFLOWER begins, 12-year-old, nonbinary Moon is in the throes of a serious depression. They are bullied at school and called a "freak." Their mother takes them to a therapist, but treatment and medication aren't working. At night during sleep, they leave the world of the living and visit the realm of spirit, and they harbor hope that they can stop living and stay in the spirit realm forever.
Is It Any Good?
This is a lovely, gentle book that delivers a message of understanding and hope. In Moonflower, the main character evokes empathy and compassion. This would be an excellent, comforting read for children going through similar issues, including gender issues, depression, bullying. It may also appeal to readers grappling with universal issues like loneliness or having a busy parent who doesn't seem to understand.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme in Moonflower that people who are hurting cause hurt to other people. Have you ever observed this?
What's a quality or habit that you share with your parents and grandparents?
In Moonflower, many of the characters use the pronoun "they." Do you or someone you know use that pronoun? Do you understand what it means?
Book Details
- Author: Kacen Callender
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship , Middle School
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Empathy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Scholastic
- Publication date: September 6, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 272
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 31, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Books That Feature Characters Living with Mental Illness
Books with LGBTQ+ Characters
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