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A review by leahegood
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
4.0
Summary
Moon Blake is only ten years old when his survivalist father dies, refusing to enter civilization even to get life-saving treatment for a broken leg. Moon's father tells him that he's capable of living on his own and advises he travel to Alaska to find more people like them. In some ways, Moon's father is right. Moon is capable of surviving off the land without adult help. In other ways, Moon's father is wrong. Moon has questions about the world and no one to answer them. Worse, he's lonely. But even if Moon is willing to give the world a chance, the world might not be willing to make room for Moon.
Thoughts
It's been years since I first read this book but it came to mind when I saw a YouTube documentary about reform schools in the midwest. It was enough to make me track the book down on Kindle and give it a re-read.
For starters, you know a story is compelling when you remember it 10+ years after first reading it. Most books I read are enjoyable in the moment but all besides the faintest impression is quickly forgotten. Alabama Moon stuck with me. The author strikes a great blend of innocence, gritty realism, and the whimsy that makes middle grade novels stand out from fiction for other ages.
That said, the "gritty realism" aspect may make this book a bit too much for some middle grade readers and their families.
Content
Language: A smattering of PG-13 level profanity used throughout. The Lord's name used in vain a few times.
Romance: Moon's older friend comments that the girls at a local laundromat are pretty and Moon responds that he doesn't care about girls.
Violence: Moon isn't afraid to fight for himself. He's roughed up a few times by a corrupt constable. Moon's father's broken leg is described. Animals are killed and butchered, though the process isn't described in great detail.
Religion: Moon doesn't make a cross for his father's grave because he figured his father was never much for that sort of thing. For most of the book, Moon believes that burning letters allows him to communicate with his deceased father.
Moon Blake is only ten years old when his survivalist father dies, refusing to enter civilization even to get life-saving treatment for a broken leg. Moon's father tells him that he's capable of living on his own and advises he travel to Alaska to find more people like them. In some ways, Moon's father is right. Moon is capable of surviving off the land without adult help. In other ways, Moon's father is wrong. Moon has questions about the world and no one to answer them. Worse, he's lonely. But even if Moon is willing to give the world a chance, the world might not be willing to make room for Moon.
Thoughts
It's been years since I first read this book but it came to mind when I saw a YouTube documentary about reform schools in the midwest. It was enough to make me track the book down on Kindle and give it a re-read.
For starters, you know a story is compelling when you remember it 10+ years after first reading it. Most books I read are enjoyable in the moment but all besides the faintest impression is quickly forgotten. Alabama Moon stuck with me. The author strikes a great blend of innocence, gritty realism, and the whimsy that makes middle grade novels stand out from fiction for other ages.
That said, the "gritty realism" aspect may make this book a bit too much for some middle grade readers and their families.
Content
Language: A smattering of PG-13 level profanity used throughout. The Lord's name used in vain a few times.
Romance: Moon's older friend comments that the girls at a local laundromat are pretty and Moon responds that he doesn't care about girls.
Violence: Moon isn't afraid to fight for himself. He's roughed up a few times by a corrupt constable. Moon's father's broken leg is described. Animals are killed and butchered, though the process isn't described in great detail.
Religion: Moon doesn't make a cross for his father's grave because he figured his father was never much for that sort of thing. For most of the book, Moon believes that burning letters allows him to communicate with his deceased father.