Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong messages, role models in absorbing coming-of-ager.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Eleven-year-old Flor knows her small home town of Moonpenny Island like she knows the back of her hand. But now that she's moved up into sixth grade, she's starting to realize that even those closest to her are harboring secrets. When her best and perfect friend Sylvie leaves to go to school on the mainland, Flor has never felt so alone. Meanwhile, her parents seem to argue more and more, and teen sister Cecilia's behaving less than perfectly lately. Can Flor find out the truth about what's going on and, more important, the truth about herself?
Is It Any Good?
MOONPENNY ISLAND is an absorbing and intriguing early coming-of-age story that big kids and tweens will really relate to. Heroine Flor, who's 11, faces all kinds of loss at the same time her understanding of her world and her place in it is evolving and deepening. Strong family bonds and colorful, intriguing characters round out the vivid small-town world created by author Tricia Springstubb.
Some of the symbolism and metaphor (the town clock that hasn't worked in years, Flor's scary dreams in which she's about to fall from a ledge) provide a great introduction to those literary devices for younger readers. The plot and intrigue unfold at a steady pace that builds nicely and keeps the pages turning. The ending's a bit abrupt, but it will encourage further thought about what Flor's future will hold.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about growing up. Flor worries that she'll change into someone else. What kinds of things have you wondered about yourself as you've been growing up?
How is Moonpenny Island similar to or different from other books about middle school kids you've read?
Would you like to live in a place like Moonpenny Island? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : February 10, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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