No Moon

by Irene N. Watts

A story of reliance and resilience.Did you call out to us, Johnny, before your small body was dragged down under the water? Why didn't we hear you? I am sorry! I'll never forget.Louisa Gardener is the fourteen-year-old nursemaid to the young daughters of a wealthy, titled family living in London, England, in 1912.Despite the bullying Nanny Mackintosh, for whom she is an extra pair of hands, she loves her work and her young charges. Then everything changes. The family decides to sail to New York aboard the Titanic. An accident to the children's nanny, only days prior to the sailing, means that Louisa must go in her stead. She cannot refuse, although she dreads even the mention of the ocean. Memories she has suppressed, except in nightmares, come crowding back.When Louisa was five and her sister seven years old, their two-year-old brother died on an outing to the seaside. Since that time, Louisa has had a fear of the ocean. She blames herself for the accident, though she has been told it wasn't her fault.If Louisa refuses to go on the voyage, she will be dismissed, and she will never get beyond the working-class life she has escaped from.How Louisa learns self-reliance, overcomes her fears, and goes beyond what is expected of a girl makes No Moon an unforgettable story.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Fiction, Childrens, British Literature, 20th Century

Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2010

About the author

Irene N. Watts is a German-born Canadian writer and educator. She was born in Berlin in 1931 and lived there for seven years. She moved to the United Kingdom by way of Kindertransport and was educated in England and Wales. Watts earned degrees in English literature and modern history at Cardiff University.

Reviews

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Moon tells the story of Louisa Gardener, who is taken on at the age of fourteen as a nursemaid to the young daughters of a wealthy British family. The year is 1912, and Louisa finds herself on the maiden voyage of the Titanic with the Milton daughters in her care.

This book strongly reminded me of the Dear Canada series, as well as its American counterpart the Dear America series. The narration is undoubtedly similar, as well as the same historical themes. The length is perfect for a children's book, and could easily be incorporated into elementary curriculum as both a novel study & historical studies. It deals with history, mainly the tragedy of the Titanic (and by no means does it gloss over the sad parts), but at the same time would be manageable for a student in elementary school.

This is the way girls should learn their history. The author has made an effort to make it as historically accurate as possible, with only the major characters being fictional, and yet has crafted a story around the topic to make it appealing to young girls and boys. I dreaded history as a young girl because it was presented so dryly - I couldn't relate to these names thrown around in my history textbook! I loved the Dear Canada series for making history accessible, and this is exactly what No Moon does.

Some story lines I felt were slightly extraneous - that of Roberts for example. I'm not sure her return was really important, and really added nothing to the plot except as a foil to Louisa. I felt like more was coming - so much emphasis was placed on Louisa recognizing her, and I felt like it had to be building up to something. The story also skips ahead sometimes which was a slightly frustrating, but not so excessively that I got confused.

A solid novel, with great educational value.

[Kimm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became very conflicted after reading this book. The story is interesting. That the point of view is from a teenage girl gives it a special innocence that I enjoyed. I haven’t read many stories that involve the Titanic, but reading Louisa’s perspective about the voyage and subsequent sinking of the ship gave me goose-bumps. I couldn’t help but conjure up images of James Cameron’s Titanic as I read along (which I freely admit added a great deal to my emotional connection to the story)

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. That part of the book is towards the end, and it’s really the story prior to it that I am conflicted over. First, the book is very short, which will add to my claim that the story could have been fleshed out so much more! There were moments when I felt like events were skipped over a little too hastily. The Gardener family had much more to offer, particularly Louisa’s sister, as could have Nanny Roberts’ story. I thought it would have served better to leave out what was only referenced briefly, or to pursue those storylines fully. The thoughts behind them were too good to waste in my opinion. I felt like I was shown a vein of an idea, and began to follow it down a path, only to find it locked behind a door to nowhere.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like disaster books, this one’s for you!!!

[Books and Literature for Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest with you, don't like Titanic stories; never have and probably never will. They scare me. I remember watching a documentary on TV about what researchers uncovered when they finally found the Titanic 73 years later after it sank... ballroom floors covered in moss, a once elegant staircase in shambles, and–the eeriest image of all: a pair of shoes firmly planted on the ocean floor, as if someone just stepped out of them. Every time someone suggests I watch Titanic, I shake my head no. Too sad, I say.
When I first started reading No Moon I expected the entire book (which is only 232 pages long) to take place aboard the RMS Titanic. Instead, more than half of the book took place on land with barely a quarter of the story dealing with the tragic event of April 14, 1912. I really liked Louisa's voice; she kept me pulled into the story, no matter if it was going a bit slow or not. No Moon was an excellent historical piece not only with capturing a perspective on the Titanic, but with the Victorian and pre-World War I era as well. Some people might not find "downstairs life" (i.e. servant life) enticing, but I do. Especially since you may have never realized that running giant household could take so many different jobs and people! I have never read any of Watt's books until now, but I am familiar with some of her other titles: Remember Me, Finding Sophie, Goodbye-Marianne, and Clay Man. I'm glad I got the chance to read No Moon–it was a great story.

Recommendation: Not a fan of Titanic stories? Me neither, but that didn't stop me from enjoying No Moon! I thought it was a fantastic historical fiction book; read it to celebrate the Titanic's 98th birthday. Recommend to teens ages 12+.
.................................................
This Book is For: Teens who enjoy historical fiction set in the Victorian Era and readers who like short books.
Content: None (G)


The Last Straw: "And suppose there is no moon?"
"No moon? There is always a moon." (pg. 122)


|Pages: 232|Year Published: April 2010|Publisher: Tundra|
|Genre: Historical fiction, 1900s, Victoria Era, WWI, coming of age|
|Age Group: YA, ages 12+|Content: None (G)|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 5/5|Cover: 5/5|

Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com

[Sarai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like one of those books where the author had found all kinds of historical information and wanted to share it with the reader - how the social classes were divided, what kinds of fashions were worn, information about the Titanic. So in that regard, it was interesting.

The story was pretty good, a little choppy at times. But I see this book more as a way to get history across to people in the guise of fiction.

Product Description
A story of reliance and resilience.Did you call out to us, Johnny, before your small body was dragged down under the water? Why didn't we hear you? I am sorry! I'll never forget.

Louisa Gardener is the fourteen-year-old nursemaid to the young daughters of a wealthy, titled family living in London, England, in 1912.

Despite the bullying Nanny Mackintosh, for whom she is an extra pair of hands, she loves her work and her young charges. Then everything changes. The family decides to sail to New York aboard the Titanic. An accident to the children's nanny, only days prior to the sailing, means that Louisa must go in her stead. She cannot refuse, although she dreads even the mention of the ocean. Memories she has suppressed, except in nightmares, come crowding back.

When Louisa was five and her sister seven years old, their two-year-old brother died on an outing to the seaside. Since that time, Louisa has had a fear of the ocean. She blames herself for the accident, though she has been told it wasn't her fault.

If Louisa refuses to go on the voyage, she will be dismissed, and she will never get beyond the working-class life she has escaped from.

How Louisa learns self-reliance, overcomes her fears, and goes beyond what is expected of a girl makes No Moon an unforgettable story.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After 5 year old Louisa Gardner and her older sister forget to watch their younger brother, Johnny, by the seaside and he drowns, Louisa is terrified of the water. As she ages, she wants to have a job like her older sister. When she has the chance to be a nursemaid in a wealthy family's household, she eagerly accepts the position. Unfortunately
her superior, Nanny Mackintosh is extremely strict with both her and the children. The family decides to take a trip on the Titanic and Nanny Mackintosh is unable to go. Louisa has to go or be dismissed. When the unthinkable happens, Louisa must face her fear to save the children...and herself. This is a gripping historical fiction story told from Louisa's perspective. The afterword gives additional factssuch as after the Titanic tragedy, many seagoing regulations were put into place to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. These regulations may have saved the 1,503 people who died when the Titanic sank. Received a starred review from Booklist.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't find any fault with this book. I enjoyed it, but it is a story based on a devastatingly sad true event. It was an easy read that I liked, but I also learned from it. I love the authors note in the back sharing facts about the titanic. One other reviewer said something about how the author wanted to share all of these historical facts with the reader and so crammed them into a story. But the truth is that in a story like the sinking of the titanic, the separation of the classes (as well as the fashions of the time, etc.) is an essential part of the tale. If you like historical fiction, give this book a try. You won't regret it.

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louisa is a young London girl who acquires a job as a nursery maid for a rich family, the Miltons. Although it's a dream job, it comes with hard challenges. The worst is that lady Milton has requested Louisa to join them on the Titanic's maiden voyage. Louisa has a fear of water --- after a fatal childhood experience, and it terrified of the voyage. Other intrigue is stirred up as the story takes course.

For a book written for youth, I found it quite enjoyable, both the fictional and historical accounts. I wish there was a sequel.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet again a different take on the sinking of the Titanic. By a simple twist of fate a 14 year old nursery maid is taken along to look after the children of a wealthy family. Well done without dwelling on the horror of the story too much.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different twist on what happened to the passengers aboard the Titanic told from the point of view of a young nursemaid to a wealthy English family

[Jean Piscopo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hear what happened aboard the Titanic from a nursemaid's point of view. Historical with a twist.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about a young nanny's experience on the Titanic. (I think I could have handled being a mother if I had a professional posse to take care of them!)

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction with the Titanic central to the story but it's especially notable for vividly depicting the rigid class divisions of the time.

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love anything to do with the Titantic. This book had a loveable main character, Louisa, who comes from a poorer family and leaves them to be a nursemaid to a society family. I could tell that this book was geared to a younger audience. It was a quick and easy read. The plot was well-written, however I guess because it was geared to a much younger audience, I felt that some parts were skipped over too quickly. There was more time spent on the background and how Louisa came to be on the Titantic's maiden voyage than actually being on the ship. I would have like to have seen more details about the Titantic and the life aboard the ship than the life before the voyage. I felt that the author seemed to rush the voyage and went straight for the iceberg incident and the sinking of the ship. That would be my only negative thing about this book. Overall an enjoyable read for a younger audience.

[Cheyenne Tindall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it, because unlike other books about this topic that I've read, they (unlike this book) have trouble really showing and explaining the differences in classes, what it was like to be in the working class, and the life of people around this time in different classes. Also, the kids are adorable.

[Amanda Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. A quick read and grabs you from the go.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical fictional novel set in 1912 in London. It gave the perspective of someone who did not want to be on the Titanic but ended up there anyway.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Louisa Gardener is the second-oldest child in a large working-class family living in London in 1911. She left school a couple of years ago to help her mother with housework and caring for her younger siblings, but now she wants to have a real job, like her older sister Kathleen. Louisa is very lucky, as on her first job interview she is hired to be a nursemaid to two little girls, the daughters of a wealthy titled family in London. Louisa has always loved children, having helped to care for her four younger siblings. And it is a very good position, as the servants in this household are treated very well. Louisa is a bit unhappy that Nanny Macintosh, whom she assists in the nursery, is very strict, but overall she is happy with her job, and very fond of Alexandra and Portia, the little girls she helps care for.

Almost a year goes by, and Louisa is very settled in her routine with helping care for the girls. She is also anticipating her week off to spend with her family, as Lord and Lady Milton are planning to bring the girls on a trip to New York to visit relatives. Because Louisa's little brother drowned during a trip to the seashore when Louisa was just five years old, Louisa is very afraid of water, and she blames herself for not protecting her brother, even though she was just a little girl herself. So she is quite relieved to be staying behind in London while Nanny Macintosh accompanies the girls and their parents on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. But then a few days before the trip, Nanny Macintosh falls down the stairs, and is too injured to travel. Louisa must take her place or lose her job. Will she be able to overcome her fear of the water to save herself and her young charges when disaster strikes?

Although the description on the back cover of this book makes it sound like the voyage on the Titanic is the major focus of the story, it actually doesn't take place until the second half of the novel. The first half is mostly about Louisa's life in London, settling into her new job, and the memories of her brother's death that haunt her years later. Even though it's not written as a diary, the writing style of this book still reminded me a lot of the Dear America series, and I think it would appeal to the same readers. My one complaint was some of the historical facts seemed a bit forced, such as Louisa having a conversation about how there aren't enough lifeboats while talking a walk on the deck the day before the ship sinks.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The night before the picnic, Kathleen and I stayed awake longer after Johnny had been brought to his room and settled in his crib.

Louisa Gardener, haunted by the drowning death of her baby brother 10 years previously, is about to set sail on the Titanic as a nursemaid to a wealthy family's daughters. Overcoming her fear of the ocean to get on board is bad enough, but when disaster strikes will Louisa be able to keep her head and save the children in her care?

I really like reading Titanic fiction so when I saw this book at the library, I thought I would give it a try. The book could have been so much better. It was very short and did not seem to have a good handle on what it wanted to be about. There was the baby brother's death, Louisa's determination to get a job, the dynamics of the family she worked for, and then, as an afterthought, the voyage on the Titanic. With a book this short it pays to focus on just one or two things instead of trying to cram so much in. It would not have been so bad if the book was 300-400 pages long, but a 200 page book just isn't going to cut it. I felt this especially because I picked up the book because of the Titanic, a voyage that is only covered in about 40-50 pages of the book.

The book is also written very simply for its intended audience (YA). It is very much a telling book and not a showing book. Like many books on the subject, it also goes a bit too far into listing all the facts that the author knows instead of incorporating the facts seamlessly into the story.

It's not a horrible book and there are some very interesting things here about the dynamics between servants in a household (it gave me such a craving to watch Downton Abbey). Younger readers (3rd-5th grade) might enjoy it a bit more than teens. I would recommend other middle grade titles over this one though including Titanic Crossing and Voyage on the Great Titanic: The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady, R.M.S. Titanic, 1912.

[Alyssa Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Moon is a story about Louisa, a nursemaid who finds herself in charge of two young children while their family sails on the Titanic. Threading factual information about the early twentieth century within a personal narrative format, Watts gives a general overview of what life was like in the early twentieth century within a story that tells of the tragedy of the Titanic. In some ways, I was disappointed by this book, but I can see how that might be useful for introducing children to the subject of the Titanic and the early 1900s.

The Good Things:

This is a great book for children who are reluctant or beginning readers. The story is simple, easy to follow, short, and moves along quickly. It provides a nice contrast between the people of the working-class and upper-class in England during the early twentieth century, and even hints at the burgeoning of the women's rights movement. I could see elementary school teachers reading this aloud in their class to complement a history unit for this time period. It brings up a lot of things to reflect and learn about, such as women's rights, marriage practices, work practices, family dynamics, etc., which makes it a great starter for a unit.

The Bad Things:

As an adult reader, I was a little disappointed in story's lack of complexity. I think that the emotional response of the Titanic's sinking could have been explored further. Instead, the characters said something along the lines of, "Oh, this is so terrible!" And then the story moved on. On a related note, the characters also seemed over-simplified, and I would have liked to see more growth or change within the side characters.

Overall, I think this is a great introduction to the story of the Titanic and it introduces topics that children could research and explore on their own. It'd be a good pleasure read for kids interested in the subject, but I could definitely see elementary school teachers using this in their classroom as an introduction to early twentieth century England and the Titanic.

*I was provided a free copy of this book from the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.*

[Paige Y. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she was just five years old, Louisa Gardener and her sister Kathleen were told to watch over their baby brother while they were on a visit by the sea. But they were both little girls and they let him get out of their sight. His body was found later, drowned in the ocean. Louisa has been deathly afraid of the ocean ever since.
Now Louisa is a nursemaid for a wealthy London family. She loves her new job. It’s hard work and the Nanny Mackintosh is difficult to work for but she knows she is fortunate to have such a good position when she’s only fourteen. Now, because Nanny Mackintosh has broken her ankle and her wrist, Louisa has been told that she will be in charge of Lord and Lady Milton’s two daughters as they sail across the Atlantic on the Titanic. She doesn’t want to go but she doesn’t want to lose her job either so one fateful day she and the Milton family set sail on the most famous and tragic ship of all times.
I’m doing a series of booktalks on the Titanic on Monday, so my weekend will be spent read a number of books, both fiction and nonfiction, about the ship. I really enjoyed this one. Irene Watts must be a fan of Upstairs, Downstairs because she does an excellent job of portraying the lives of both the servants and those they serve and there were several parts of the novel that reminded me of that series.

[Lana Del Slay · Rating 3 out of 5]

NUTSHELL: About a young teenage girl, for other young teenage girls. Does that very well, though. 7 just because I was the wrong audience.

Another mysterious title. Not so much. There's no moon on the night the protagonist Louisa's brother dies. Nor is there any moon the night the Titanic sinks. Since you know from the back of the book that she'll end up on the sinkable unsinkable ship, you can guess that the story is really about what happens before that.

And what does happen? Like I said, Louisa's little brother dies -- drowns, actually, leaving Louisa with a fear of water. Her family's poor and stays that way. As Louisa grows up, she longs to help like her big sister, who's gone out to work, but her mother insists she stay home and help with the younger kids.

Obviously she doesn't stay home forever. Right. An opportunity does come up for her to be nursemaid to a rich family, assisting a very strict nanny, and Louisa gets the job. Unfortunately for water-phobic Louisa, guess which family wants to sail on the Titanic?

And? And it's fair to assume she doesn't die, since this was written in the first person for a younger age range. Louisa's only fourteen when the ship sails. I'm not telling who else lives, though. That's a punch in the gut you get to experience for yourself. Well, more like a pinch in the gut, given.

[Zandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Louisa Gardener works as an assistant to a strict nanny in a very wealthy household. She loves her job, as it gives her a chance to rise from her poor beginnings. Everything is going well until she learns she has to accompany the family on a voyage to American on the inaugural sailing of the Titanic. This is a problem for Louisa because she has feared the ocean ever since her younger brother drowned when she was five-years-old. This fresh perspective on the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic provides a memorable story. The beauty of this book lies in the description of how beautiful and opulent the ship was. Readers get an authentic feel for the class distinctions represented on the ship as well. This is a fascinating read and if you like the movie Titanic, you will like this book.

[Itasca Community Library]

No Moon tells the story of a young British girl at the turn of the 20th Century. As a young teen, Louisa jumps at the chance to become a nursemaid for a wealthy family in London, as it means she can help her parents support their large family. It’s hard work and Louisa quickly learns her place in the hierarchy of the staff. Her dedication to her job doesn’t go unnoticed, though, and she is asked to join the family on their vacation to New York when the head nanny falls just before the trip. Louisa and her young charges set sail on the doomed Titanic.

This book offers a very interesting glimpse of life in England at this time and the stark divisions between the different classes. Fans of stories about the Titanic will also enjoy seeing the journey from Louisa’s perspective.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a lovely book that starts out with a horrible family tragedy, when little Johnny drowns at the seaside (blame the mother, who tells her 5-and 7-year-old daughters, Louisa and Kathleen, to watch their baby brother, give me a break). Watts uses this event to create some tension many years later, when 14-year-old nursery maid Louisa is told she will be accompanying her employers on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Afraid of the ocean, Louisa knows she must go anyway. This novel for middle graders joins the already stuffed Titanic fiction shelves but is still very readable and interesting. Recommended.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story, simply written without a lot of the emotions that would have been going on inside the main character. But the writing style suited the setting, early 1900's London. Louisa is from a working class family, a hard, no-nonsense life where kids grow up into adult responsibilites quickly. Louisa becomes a nursemaid to a wealthy family, subordinate to the Nanny, who is overly strict and despotic. But Louisa puts up with her to keep her job. Louisa has to take the nanny's place on the family's voyage on the Titanic, and her maturity and strength, and fear of the water, are tested. I would have liked more emotional characters, more detail to the story, but it was good.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of a servant, this story is about one of the survivors of the Titanic. Louisa works as a nursemaid for an aristocratic British family. She has care of their two youngest children. When she is offered the opportunity to make the voyage she is at first very reluctant. Her younger brother had been drowned and she is afraid of being near water as a result. Since the voyage offers her the chance to advance, her family encourages her to take the position. Young readers are shown a glimpse of the glamour and the tragedy, with some characters behaving heroically and others not so much.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters and the dynamics between the sisters. The book did a really good job setting up London and I found it easy to imagine. It's one of those books where you know what is going to happen and the characters don't. It still shocks me that some people didn't believe the ship was sinking or the fact that they put life boats down without being completely full.

There were two components that bothered me about this book. One, I didn't find Nanny Mackintosh to be that evil. Two, why was Roberts such a big part of the story? I felt that those characters took away from the story.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louisa's little brother drowned in the ocean at the age of two. Ever since, she has been afraid of water. When the parents she tends inform her she will be accompanying the family on their voyage on the Titanic in place of Nanny , Louisa is scared. She doesn't know how to get out of it without losing her job, so Louisa goes and makes sure she and the girls knows about all the safety precautions, such as how to wear a life vest and were the lifeboats are. Of course, we all know the fate of the Titanic, and Louisa uses her knowledge to save her and the girls lives.

Recommended ages 10-12.

[Diana S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars***!
" I read this book for the 100th anniversary of The Titanic. For those of you, who enjoyed the drama series - Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs may enjoy this book. It's about a young girl (Louisa) who became the nursery maid for Lord & Lady Milton. You experience the ins & outs of the household staff during the victorian times in London, England. A situation happens which led Louisa to be in charge of the children during the maiden voyage on the Titanic. It was a quick read and keep me interested till the very end. " :)