Review | Half Moon Summer

Summary: Half Moon Summer

Drew and Mia were born on the same day in Half Moon Bay, California, but their lives have taken different paths. When Mia returns to Half Moon Bay where Drew still lives, both kids form a friendship and start training for a half-marathon together for different reasons. Mia wants to solve her family’s housing issues while Drew is doing it for his dad, who’s received a crushing diagnosis of ALS.

The Good

Here’s what the book’s pages look like in Drew’s chapters. Mia’s chapters are written in verse and are more sparse, while Drew’s are in prose.

I loved the writing in this book — especially the prose sections. Drew and Mia form such a sweet friendship and it’s obvious that they share a special bond. They understand each other’s feelings and it’s rare to see such platonic boy-girl friendships in middle grade literature, particularly for soon-to-be 8th graders like Drew and Mia.

Mia’s family is separated with her dad in Hawaii caring for her ailing grandmother. The cost of traveling and being without work is high, threatening to halt the work on the home they’re building in Sacramento (where they’ve moved from). Mia is understandably anxious and when she discovers that running the marathon might provide an opportunity to solve this problem.

Drew’s summer isn’t off to a great start with his best friend, Isaac moving away and his dad showing concerning physical symptoms: dropping stuff, falling at random moments, and being more tired than usual. Instead of long video game sessions, his dad gets him into running and Mia joins in to beat the boredom and sadness of her current circumstances.

This book inspired me to get back into running. I loved seeing both kids (especially Drew) get stronger on the track and it’s such a wonder the way the body adjusts to running longer and longer distances. The author’s experience as a runner definitely shines through her. When Drew eventually discovers his father’s diagnosis, it is crushing. Still, the author handles everything with a hopeful tone.

Overall: Half Moon Summer

Half Moon Summer is a moving, insightful, and hopeful book about dealing with devastating life changes with the aid of strong friendships and a supportive community. Starring a male and female lead and featuring prose and verse chapters, this is a great pick for readers who want to try verse novels without committing fully. The vivid summertime setting and hopeful tone makes this a perfect summer read!

My Rating

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Parent with ALS
• No profanity
• Brief mention of a potential crush, but no sexual content otherwise

Diversity

• Ethnicity: Main characters are cued white
• Sexual orientation: Main characters are straight, as are most side characters

Recommended for ages: 9+

Good for kids who like:

• Ten Thousand Tries by Amy Makechie
• Books with multiple narrators
• Verse novels
• Takedown by Laura Shovan

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Book Details

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