Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lonely child finds spirit-world friends in sweet tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
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 :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , School ( 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, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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