I read this magical tale called A Nearer Moon for children by Melanie Crowder over the weekend and thought I would share.
Luna’s challenge
Luna is a young girl who lives in a village raised on stilts alongside a river and dam. All of her life she has heard stories about the time before the dam appeared. In the river, the sprites danced and no one wasted away and died from a mysterious illness after drinking just a drop of water.
Meanwhile, beneath the river lives Perdita, a water sprite. She used to pass her days enjoying the water until the day her people finished their magical door to lead them to places where humans have not yet touched and explored.
But when Luna’s little sister falls ill with the wasting illness, she is faced with a challenge; determined, she seeks a cure for her beloved sister.
A tale of hope
A Nearer Moon is an inspiring tale about hope and overcoming adversity. Despite setbacks, Luna doesn’t give up and along the way, she learns that magic does, indeed, exist in the world.
While reading the story, I also found myself reflecting on the impact we have had on the living world. Our modern lives are structured in such a way that we are disconnected from so many of Mother Nature’s cycles and processes. A Nearer Moon reminded me of the importance of staying connected with the Earth. When we build a relationship with her, not only does she reveal her magic (often found in the tiny), but we come to value her. And when we value something or someone, we then go on to care for them.
About the author
Melanie Crowder is an author, who holds a MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has written a number of books for young readers, including the acclaimed An Uninterrupted View of the Sky. Today, she lives in Colorado.
You can learn more about Melanie Crowder and her books by visiting her website.
The book is now available from The Book Depository and Amazon.
The book’s publisher is Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
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