Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Half Moon Summer (Peachtree Publishing, 2023) by Elaine Vickers is such a great book! And I love that not only is it in two points of view, but that one is in verse–really makes it easy to keep the characters apart in my head.
Could a half-marathon help two 12-year-old kids with both of their problems?
On September 23 in Half Moon Bay, California, two babies were born. Baby Drew only quit crying when placed in baby Mia’s bassinet.
Now it’s the summer before both turn thirteen and for the first time the two are reunited and start running together to train for a half-marathon. Drew is running because of his father’s diagnosis. Mia hopes running will solve her family’s housing problem.
The author made me sympathetic toward both characters.
Elaine Vickers is an award-winning author of picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels. Read more about her here and see her other books here.
I’m glad you enjoyed this book so much. Thanks for sharing it with us this week.
Another strong recommendation from you, Sue. I heard very good things about HALF MOON SUMMER
I’ve heard great things about this book, and it isn’t too often that I see books that feature running. I have a belated MMGM post for Elephant Touch in case you’re interested in checking it out.
I have relatives in Half Moon Bay but have never visited. This book was a pleasure to read with great characters. Thanks for giving it some more love on MMGM this week.
I really like this book as well. The dual points of view — prose and poetry — was so clever. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I love your share today. Perfect read right now with such important topics. I especially like how the story is told from two very different viewpoints. Adding to my list.
Half Moon Bay seems a popular setting for books. Do kids really run half marathons these days? What’s the minimum age?
The answer is, “It depends.”
https://www.sikids.com/kid-reporter/why-cant-us-kids-run-a-marathon
This sounds an emotional and heartfelt read. I like the idea of the two POVs been told in such a separate manner, sounds like it works really well. Thanks for sharing!
This is the second great review I have read of this book. I have a couple students who are into marathons and triathlons. One went to a triathlon camp for the second summer in a row (it is a free camp in honor of a victim of the Sandy Hook School shootings who loved running). I will have to check this book out as it sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing.