The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on February 26, 2019
ISBN: 1338283375
Pages: 240
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

A lovely coming-of-age story told in verse and touched with the Mexica traditions of Salazar’s own life. As puberty and the changes that come with it are overtaking her body, Celi is having a hard time reconciling the girl she still feels like with the woman her mother thinks she is becoming. Celi’s mother is anticipating the time when Celi gets her period and can celebrate with a moon ceremony with all of the women in her family. Celi does NOT want this ceremony to happen and wishes that her mother would let her experience the changes to her body in her own way. Meanwhile, Celi’s best friend Magda, gender assigned female, is struggling with gender identity issues, preferring to be called Marco and using he/him pronouns. The language in the book is poetic and beautiful and Salazar captures the voices of both the young adults and their parents as they go through the transformations with the doubts and hopes that naturally occur. The cover and frank discussions of periods and female sexuality will make this a tough sell for cisgender boys, but the topics covered are those that could shed light and foster empathy for those who don’t fit in as they approach adolescence as it provides a window into a not-often-covered view. Recommended for grades 5-8 and for collections where realistic fiction is sought after and other voices are needed.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth