Trying to fit in and belong, in the messiness of middle school, isn’t easy.
Figuring out who your real friends are and discovering who you are is a big deal.
Meet Luna. It’s the start of grade 7 and she knows she’s quiet, observant, and loves to read and create zines with her best friend Scott.
When she gets caught up in wanting to be in the popular group, she has to figure out how much of herself she is willing to compromise to fit in.
“Turns out seventh grade was complicated because the number 7 was shaped like a cliff, and all of us were suddenly dropping off the safe, flat land of childhood into free fall. We were tumbling, arms flailing, unsure how any of us were going to land on our feet.”
Newberry honour winning author, Chanel Miller does a powerful job of describing what it’s like to navigate the awkwardness of middle school, the peer and social pressures, and all the unfamiliar physical changes that make up this age.
The Moon Without Stars is a coming-of-age story that takes on big topics including firsts (periods, bras, crushes), friendships, bullying, grief, depression, anxiety, bipolar depression, eating disorders, drunk driving, parent mental health, and diversity.
I highly recommend this book for a pre-teen (12 years or older) who wants to feel seen and heard. Written with deep feeling, you will want to laugh, cry with, and scream at Luna as you witness her make mistakes, and help pick her back up, as she finds a way back to herself.
“No one gets to say who you are, except you.”
Any adult who wants to be reminded of the joys and pains of young teenage life will benefit from reading this story, and be able to relate to the teens in their lives that much more.
Helps with: middle school friendships, bullying, understanding the power of words, firsts, crushes, kindness, seeking help from others, diversity, art, writing, creativity, popularity, insecurity, self-confidence, depression, grief, anxiety, eating disorder, menstruation, and forgiveness.
Author: Chanel Miller
Publisher: Philomel Books, 2026