Margin Notes

A Moon Without Stars introduces the reader to Luna, a middle school student who knows exactly who she is; she is the quiet girl who has always had her best friend, Scott, by her side. But, as with all coming-of-age stories, her world is turned upside down when she enters a new friend group and has to make choices about who she is and who she wants to be.

In her author’s note, Miller captures the heart of the middle school experience: “I think we often overlook the daily trials of young people. But ask any adult if they remember middle school, and I you’ll realize they’re carrying memories that profoundly shaped their sense of self.” We can recall that exciting and achy time; enduring small humiliations, strengthening our perspectives, scavenging for bits of confidence, laughing uncontrollably, hurting from rejection, and wondering if who we were becoming was enough.”

This perfectly frames the story we see unfold for Luna. Her insecurities, her tentative steps toward confidence, and her shifting friendships feel deeply authentic and mirrors the kind of emotional landscape students navigate every day. This book is a perfect addition to all middle level bookshelves and especially for those grappling with changing friendships, questioning their identity or place within a peer group or experiencing any type of emotion turbulence that comes with growing up.