Common Sense Media Review
By Kya Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Puberty, friend drama in heartfelt story for older tweens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE MOON WITHOUT STARS, 12-year-old Luna Noon is starting the seventh grade. She's nervous, but with her favorite books and best friend, Scott Mango, by her side, Luna is at least confident she'll survive the year. On the first day of school, Luna "prescribes" a classmate a specific book to help her solve a problem. Word gets out, and Luna becomes the go-to book doctor of her grade. She and Scott eventually start creating zines for individual classmates to help them battle their insecurities, and Luna's writing talent gets her noticed by the cool kids, but they bully Scott. As Luna spends more time with the popular kids, she increasingly acts out of character to stay in their good graces, eventually alienating everyone she knows. Faced with the consequences of her actions, Luna must figure out the best way to move forward and salvage the rest of her seventh grade year.
Is It Any Good?
An honest and realistic portrayal of middle school, this book is sure to tug at readers' heartstrings. The Moon Without Stars is a sweet, charming novel that many middle school-age readers will find comfortingly relatable. Author Chanel Miller effortlessly traverses the emotional spectrum of a typical seventh grader; tween readers will shed tears of joy and despair. The book starts off a bit slow as Miller grounds her readers in Luna's world, but the payoff is a true connection to the story and empathy with the characters. Readers will feel seen as they journey alongside Luna, while parents will be reminded of just how fraught, hopeful, and complicated the middle school experience can be.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about communication in The Moon Without Stars. After initially shutting people out, Luna opens up to her mom about her struggles, which leads her to get the support she needs. When was a time you were brave enough to ask for help when you needed it, and what was the outcome?
Kyle breaks his ankle and takes his frustrations out on Scott, whom he blames for the accident. Scott tries to be empathetic and understand why Kyle is so mad, but the bullying takes a toll. Can you think of a time when you disagreed with someone's actions but understood why they behaved that way? What happened?
When Luna sees her peers suffering from their insecurities, she feels compassion and teams up with Scott to create zines for them, ultimately building their confidence. What are some simple ways you've shown compassion to peers struggling through personal issues?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Chanel Miller
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Empathy , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Philomel
- Publication date : January 13, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 12
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : January 29, 2026
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