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What the Moon Said
ans of the Little House books will fall in love with Esther.
Thanks to her superstitious mother, Esther knows some tricks for avoiding bad toss salt over your left shoulder, never button your shirt crooked, and avoid black cats. But even luck can’t keep her family safe from the Great Depression. When Pa loses his job, Esther’s family leaves their comfy Chicago life behind for a farm in Wisconsin.
Living on a farm comes with lots of hard work, but that means there are plenty of opportunities for Esther to show her mother how helpful she can be. She loves all of the farm animals (except the mean geese) and even better makes a fast friend in lively Bethany. But then Ma sees a sign that Esther just knows is wrong. If believing a superstition makes you miserable, how can that be good luck?
Debut author Gayle Rosengren brings the past to life in this extraordinary, hopeful story.
Thanks to her superstitious mother, Esther knows some tricks for avoiding bad toss salt over your left shoulder, never button your shirt crooked, and avoid black cats. But even luck can’t keep her family safe from the Great Depression. When Pa loses his job, Esther’s family leaves their comfy Chicago life behind for a farm in Wisconsin.
Living on a farm comes with lots of hard work, but that means there are plenty of opportunities for Esther to show her mother how helpful she can be. She loves all of the farm animals (except the mean geese) and even better makes a fast friend in lively Bethany. But then Ma sees a sign that Esther just knows is wrong. If believing a superstition makes you miserable, how can that be good luck?
Debut author Gayle Rosengren brings the past to life in this extraordinary, hopeful story.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2014
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August 27, 2018
Although I originally read this exquisite and heartwarming novel in 2014, I loved Gail Rosengren's What the Moon Said so much, I adored it so much that I simply have not been able to pen and post a for and to me adequate review. Since the author is also a GR friend, I recently realised that I should really post a review, although I still think that any review I do post, will not even remotely come close to describing how much this book was and still is a pleasure and a joy to read (I have reread it at least five times since 2014 and each time, I love and appreciate it even more, and will more than likely continue to do so).
Now I think one of the main reasons that I enjoyed What the Moon Said so very much is the fact that the father is German and the mother Russian (or perhaps Russian Mennonite), but that even though the story takes place in 1930's America, there is no "all Germans are evil" presented and shown; it is simply a story about individuals, many of them of German background (and mostly farmers) trying to make ends meet, and how the whole community helps and sustains one another. While I do have some rather huge issues with the mother and her strict and uncompromising ways, I actually also very much appreciate the fact that the author has not shied away from depicting her as a character with faults and problematic, superstitious ideas (and one should indeed remember that the mother does, in fact, apologise and accept that she has made mistakes, and that alone, is worth gold in my opinion).
Yes, What the Moon Said is, indeed, truly wonderful (a real treasure and a perfect book for middle grade readers to read on their own or with their parents). And truth be told, I actually adored What the Moon Said almost as much as the Anne of Green Gables series and those who know me should realise that this is probably the absolute highest praise I can give to a children's book. Most highly recommended to anyone, and even many adults will likely find this book a lovely reading pleasure!
Now I think one of the main reasons that I enjoyed What the Moon Said so very much is the fact that the father is German and the mother Russian (or perhaps Russian Mennonite), but that even though the story takes place in 1930's America, there is no "all Germans are evil" presented and shown; it is simply a story about individuals, many of them of German background (and mostly farmers) trying to make ends meet, and how the whole community helps and sustains one another. While I do have some rather huge issues with the mother and her strict and uncompromising ways, I actually also very much appreciate the fact that the author has not shied away from depicting her as a character with faults and problematic, superstitious ideas (and one should indeed remember that the mother does, in fact, apologise and accept that she has made mistakes, and that alone, is worth gold in my opinion).
Yes, What the Moon Said is, indeed, truly wonderful (a real treasure and a perfect book for middle grade readers to read on their own or with their parents). And truth be told, I actually adored What the Moon Said almost as much as the Anne of Green Gables series and those who know me should realise that this is probably the absolute highest praise I can give to a children's book. Most highly recommended to anyone, and even many adults will likely find this book a lovely reading pleasure!
February 12, 2018
What the Moon Said
‘What the Moon Said’ is one of the best books I have read in a long time yet it is for eight to twelve year olds.
I found it a beautiful read set in the time of the great depression in America. The main character is little Esther and the themes in the book are centered on this child. Sometimes she is the narrator when for example she describes her bewilderment at some of the painful issues between her Mother and herself. Her Father is American and her Mother is Russian and is fanatical in her superstitious nature. This aspect of her character runs through the whole story causing Esther in particular problems in whether to believe them or not.
The large family, all girls except the youngest child, face the unexpected risk of poverty when the Father loses his job in the city and decides to put what savings they have into purchasing a farm out in the country
Little Esther, a dreamy imaginative child lives a dual life. When things are too hard for Esther to bear, she retreats into her private dream world where she can escape from the pain of reality often conversing with her beloved doll. This often gets her into trouble.
Esther longs to feel loved by her Mother who spends all of her days working hard to keep her family fed and clothed. Esther cannot seem to sense this love no matter how she tries to please her Mother. She is sure in her heart that she is not good enough to be loved and often makes unfavourable comparisons concerning her Mother’s attitude towards her elder sister and younger brother in contrast to how her Mother treats her.
This fear is manifested primarily in her relationship with her superstitious Russian Mother. Esther sees her Mother as someone who is always irritated, disappointed or even angry with her. In her mind she does not have her Mother’s approval, so to escape from this pain she retreats into her imaginary world where her Mother is all loving. She does endure a lot of emotional stress for because of her low self esteem for she herself does make many mistakes in her efforts in general to receive love. Esther doesn’t realise how often her hard pressed Mother is irritated by her own constant day dreaming when she should be doing things her Mother has asked her to do.
In the latter part of the book, the harsh conditions during the long hard winter escalates, causing the family and their animals to suffer general hardship. Hunger is their greatest enemy. Food has run out and the family are starving and in desperate need.
It is at this point that dramatic events now take place leading to Esther being returned to Chicago to stay with her big sister Julie.
It is in this latter part of the book; Esther finally begins to learn the truth about love and the acceptance of reality rather than forever escaping into her imaginary world with her beloved doll to find it. She discovers what it actually means to her alone, rather than having her big sister Julie's explanation. She discovers that love is not just about hugs and kisses. She at last learns that words can be the smallest part of loving.
The continuing struggle with the state of affairs on the farm now causes the whole family to have to come back to Chicago. This is where the author ties up all the loose ends to finish the story.
Earlier in the book, Esther had longed for her own Mother to give her hugs and kisses in the way her best friend received so many from her own stoic Mother. At the end of the book she learns that her friend’s Mother had left the family to run off with a lover.
She might not be so demonstrative and she causes issues with her superstitious nature, but her love for her family shines through all the hard work and dedication in the way she gives her whole life to keeping the family together no matter how hard the choices she has to make. She improvises, no matter what dark clouds of troubles swirl around them.
One small issue I do have with the ending is that it feels a little rushed. It is almost as if that now Esther’ problems are ironed out… she isn’t sure where to go next, for Esther is without doubt the major character. This is just my personal impression though and others might not agree with me.
I had a constant lump in my throat during most of the second half of the book and found myself fighting tears. I identified with this lonely little girl. She tries so hard to please her Mother as the story unfolds.
As a child and into my teens even, I also struggled with my perception of an undemonstrative Mother that I carried inside of me for various personal reasons. I seemed to be a disappointment to her no matter how hard I tried.
I recommend this book highly. I enjoyed it as an adult. It would also be ideal to read with your children or to them.
‘What the Moon Said’ is one of the best books I have read in a long time yet it is for eight to twelve year olds.
I found it a beautiful read set in the time of the great depression in America. The main character is little Esther and the themes in the book are centered on this child. Sometimes she is the narrator when for example she describes her bewilderment at some of the painful issues between her Mother and herself. Her Father is American and her Mother is Russian and is fanatical in her superstitious nature. This aspect of her character runs through the whole story causing Esther in particular problems in whether to believe them or not.
The large family, all girls except the youngest child, face the unexpected risk of poverty when the Father loses his job in the city and decides to put what savings they have into purchasing a farm out in the country
Little Esther, a dreamy imaginative child lives a dual life. When things are too hard for Esther to bear, she retreats into her private dream world where she can escape from the pain of reality often conversing with her beloved doll. This often gets her into trouble.
Esther longs to feel loved by her Mother who spends all of her days working hard to keep her family fed and clothed. Esther cannot seem to sense this love no matter how she tries to please her Mother. She is sure in her heart that she is not good enough to be loved and often makes unfavourable comparisons concerning her Mother’s attitude towards her elder sister and younger brother in contrast to how her Mother treats her.
This fear is manifested primarily in her relationship with her superstitious Russian Mother. Esther sees her Mother as someone who is always irritated, disappointed or even angry with her. In her mind she does not have her Mother’s approval, so to escape from this pain she retreats into her imaginary world where her Mother is all loving. She does endure a lot of emotional stress for because of her low self esteem for she herself does make many mistakes in her efforts in general to receive love. Esther doesn’t realise how often her hard pressed Mother is irritated by her own constant day dreaming when she should be doing things her Mother has asked her to do.
In the latter part of the book, the harsh conditions during the long hard winter escalates, causing the family and their animals to suffer general hardship. Hunger is their greatest enemy. Food has run out and the family are starving and in desperate need.
It is at this point that dramatic events now take place leading to Esther being returned to Chicago to stay with her big sister Julie.
It is in this latter part of the book; Esther finally begins to learn the truth about love and the acceptance of reality rather than forever escaping into her imaginary world with her beloved doll to find it. She discovers what it actually means to her alone, rather than having her big sister Julie's explanation. She discovers that love is not just about hugs and kisses. She at last learns that words can be the smallest part of loving.
The continuing struggle with the state of affairs on the farm now causes the whole family to have to come back to Chicago. This is where the author ties up all the loose ends to finish the story.
Earlier in the book, Esther had longed for her own Mother to give her hugs and kisses in the way her best friend received so many from her own stoic Mother. At the end of the book she learns that her friend’s Mother had left the family to run off with a lover.
She might not be so demonstrative and she causes issues with her superstitious nature, but her love for her family shines through all the hard work and dedication in the way she gives her whole life to keeping the family together no matter how hard the choices she has to make. She improvises, no matter what dark clouds of troubles swirl around them.
One small issue I do have with the ending is that it feels a little rushed. It is almost as if that now Esther’ problems are ironed out… she isn’t sure where to go next, for Esther is without doubt the major character. This is just my personal impression though and others might not agree with me.
I had a constant lump in my throat during most of the second half of the book and found myself fighting tears. I identified with this lonely little girl. She tries so hard to please her Mother as the story unfolds.
As a child and into my teens even, I also struggled with my perception of an undemonstrative Mother that I carried inside of me for various personal reasons. I seemed to be a disappointment to her no matter how hard I tried.
I recommend this book highly. I enjoyed it as an adult. It would also be ideal to read with your children or to them.
October 29, 2022
When Gayle Rosengren's debut novel was immediately received to widespread acclaim and repeated mention of viability for the 2015 Newbery awards, I noticed the stir. Not every first-time novelist is greeted with the enthusiasm that met What the Moon Said. Nothing appeared especially groundbreaking or original about the basic story: A girl in 1930s Chicago has her life shaken up by the onset of the Great Depression and moves with her family to start anew on a Wisconsin farm, just about as vastly different an existence as one could have from the big-city atmosphere of the Windy City. But the positive furor over the book allayed any doubts I might have had about giving it a chance, and after a heartfelt read, I see why readers readily embraced this novel. With a story that stands tall measured against the preponderance of its contemporaries, What the Moon Said scores points not by clever plot twists or innovative themes, but by the author's uncanny sensitivity to what affects readers' emotions. Gayle Rosengren locates key pressure points and applies force to them with breathtaking finesse, causing the characters' trials to hit home hard with us, raising our anger, indignation, pity, and effervescent joy each in its turn. What the Moon Said makes ten-year-old Esther's calamities feel like our own, so our response to them is as heated as hers, and that allows a rare bond to form between reader and third-person fictional lead. Perhaps Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's Jody Baxter (The Yearling, 1938) or Bette Greene's Patty Bergen (Summer of My German Soldier, 1973) are other main characters with whom that connection is equally strong, literary figures whose emotions seem to emanate from inside our own heads, but they are far from common in the vast field of literature, and that is why What the Moon Said is a special story, easily worthy of at least three and a half stars. Gayle Rosengren has gifted us a wonderful work of art that will touch hearts in perpetuity.
The market crash of October 29, 1929 is only months past when the tidal wave impacts Esther's family in Chicago. Her best friend Shirley Rubinstein moves away without a word about what happened or where she's going, not even a goodbye to her closest pal. Esther hears through the grapevine that Shirley's father lost his job and had to leave town to pursue an employment opportunity, but the absence of her dear friend hurts no less for Esher just because it may have been necessary. Still, she counts herself lucky that her own father retains his job in America's tenuous economy...until the rug is pulled from under him when his company abruptly lays him off work. With no money left to pay the rent on their apartment, Esther's family is as free-floating as Shirley Rubinstein's, but her father brings a swift end to the uncertainty. He purchases a farm in rural Wisconsin where the family can live and maintain the crops and animals to keep themselves fed and sell at market. It's a major lifestyle change, but Esther and her sisters and little brother, Walter, can deal with it. But can they turn the farm into an equitable commercial operation?
"Wasn't life ever certain? Wasn't anything forever?"
—What the Moon Said, P. 121
As the family departs for Wisconsin, Esther observes the attention her mother shows her sisters and brother, and begins feeling badly that she, herself, doesn't ever seem to garner as much praise or loving affection from her. Ma is a strict, no-nonsense immigrant from Russia, who lived in poverty as a child and had to make do without extraneous amusements, and it shows in her life philosophy. Esther sadly thinks back on the fondness frequently shown by Shirley Rubinstein's mother to her daughter, and wishes Ma were that demonstrative toward her. Maybe Ma doesn't love her that much, but Esther determines that on the new farm where there will never be an end to work waiting to be done, she can make herself so indispensable that Ma has to come around to loving her, even hug her eventually as Mrs. Rubinstein did for Shirley.
The farm is nothing like the romanticized acre of Americana Esther hoped for, but it isn't all bad, and the family gradually makes inroads toward improving the property as their stay extends into weeks and months. The old-world superstitions Ma clings to are kept more seriously than ever, with insignificant actions taking on devastating or bountiful hidden meaning when interpreted in the light of what Ma's Russian forebears believed. Killing a spider could bring disaster as the family makes tentative progress in the farming business; the moon's visibility dictates if it's permissible to give or receive haircuts; a dubiously positioned birthmark is the deciding factor in who Esther and her siblings can choose for friends. Fortunately for Esther as she tries to adjust to life on a farm and ease her way into Ma's good graces so she might love her more, a friend her own age pops up soon after the move and mercifully reaches out to Esther. The two girls have a lot in common and enjoy each other's company, but Ma isn't about to make things easy in her overstressed condition. She has rigid ideas of how things should be run and won't tolerate dissent on issues that are important to her, particularly ones that could tip the balance of luck against the family and ruin them in their attempt to make good as proprietors of the farm. Try as she might to ease Ma's mind, the endless ordeals of this new life seem too much for Ma to ever relax, and Esther is a frequent scapegoat for her frustrations. After coming so far from Chicago, Esther and her family are still the same people they were before the market crashed. But is that such a bad thing, in the end?
"Part of growing up is accepting things the way they are. Making the best of them instead of always wishing they were different."
—Mr. Rubinstein, What the Moon Said, P. 198
What the Moon Said doesn't rely chiefly on repetition or length to emphasize its themes. At only two hundred fourteen pages in first editions there's no room to let the story sprawl without thought for reining it in, but no additional space was required for this to be an emotionally transformative novel that builds as tensely and beautifully as pretty much anything else on the juvenile market. At least a dozen issues are treated insightfully, but the main source of emotional electricity is Esther's relationship with Ma, a difficult woman whose passions simmer below the surface, but burn hot enough to scald anyone who handles them carelessly. Esther wants only to feel cared for by Ma, to be close with her and receive some fawning as other girls her age in Chicago were treated to by their mothers, but Ma appears oblivious to Esther's need for attention, deliberately drawing back from moments of physical affection with her youngest daughter. Nothing Esther does ever thaws the stubborn ice, and Ma's litany of superstitions creates intense hardship for Esther in other areas of her personal life, especially her new friendships with kids in Wisconsin. Girls with American mothers are confused by the hocus-pocus that colors Esther's worldview, and aren't sure what to make of Ma. Ultimately, the most powerful feelings engendered by this book in us, the reader, whether they be hackles raised, tempers heated to boiling, or pride so sudden and overwhelming we're not sure how to contain it, are from events that take place between Esther and her mother. The most complicated relationships often harbor the greatest potential for reward, and never has that been more apparent to me than in What the Moon Said.
"It had been such a special day, she wanted to press the happy memories firmly into her mind so she'd never forget."
—What the Moon Said, P. 115
Gayle Rosengren's writing is gorgeous, wise, and surprisingly forceful, and I'm not sure which of those attributes it owns to the deepest degree. The story is something of a quest for Esther on the trail of discernment toward her family and the world around her, and a sincere, even-keeled girl like Esther is a privilege for us to learn beside. I learned just as much as she did between the covers of this book. The lead-up to Esther's climactic epiphany is lovely, prelude to a sunburst of personal understanding that illuminates the book like a torch in a dark room: "She realized suddenly that she didn't want (her older sister's) answers. She wanted to find her own. And something inside her was telling her she was very close now. Her thoughts were like seeds planted and sprouting in dark soil. Esther could feel them growing, working their way to the surface." Esther is a thoughtful girl, a reader, not likely to let any situation in her life go unconsidered for long, and when the import of everything happening in her family over the past year finally comes home to roost, the impact reverberates through every page of the story, forward and back: "Love was actions more than words. And not just easy actions like hugs and kisses. It was hard ones, like sticking by someone in bad times, not just in good. It was working for them, even when you were tired. It was putting their needs first, even before your own. It was taking care of them when they were sick. It was forgiving them when they disappointed you. It was protecting them and teaching them." Wow. The payoff the book is leading to from the first page turns out to be a grand one, an exquisite masterpiece of literature that would do marvelous credit to an author with twenty bestsellers to her name, let alone one making her debut. In a shattered, hurting world, it isn't perfection in people that draws us to them and convinces us to stay, but the fount of real love that no barrier can dam forever, giving way sooner or later to the deluge that proves what we knew deep down even before we could acknowledge it to ourselves. The expression of that truth is the most valuable takeaway of What the Moon Said, and it sure has a way of finding a permanent home in the reader's heart. With full support of the world's book enthusiasts or nothing but the recommendation of a handful of sensitive literates, this novel is a bona fide classic through and through.
So, after all the buzz in 2014 that What the Moon Said should be seriously considered for a 2015 Newbery, would I have given it a medal of one color or another? It was a tough, deep field, with eligible entries including Nil by Lynne Matson, Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage, West of the Moon by Margi Preus, and Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo. That list doesn't even include The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, El Deafo by Cece Bell, or Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, the three books that actually won the Newbery awards. I can't say absolutely whether I would have voted for What the Moon Said as a top three Newbery pick in 2015, but I do believe it is every inch Newbery worthy, and regardless of what Gayle Rosengren accomplishes in any of her other books, her writing has a lasting place in my heart because of this one. The starry sky of children's literature has added another pretty twinkling pinpoint to its endless array, and I am pleased to have momentarily basked in the sweet, warm glow of its eternal light. I hope you, dear reader, will do the same.
The market crash of October 29, 1929 is only months past when the tidal wave impacts Esther's family in Chicago. Her best friend Shirley Rubinstein moves away without a word about what happened or where she's going, not even a goodbye to her closest pal. Esther hears through the grapevine that Shirley's father lost his job and had to leave town to pursue an employment opportunity, but the absence of her dear friend hurts no less for Esher just because it may have been necessary. Still, she counts herself lucky that her own father retains his job in America's tenuous economy...until the rug is pulled from under him when his company abruptly lays him off work. With no money left to pay the rent on their apartment, Esther's family is as free-floating as Shirley Rubinstein's, but her father brings a swift end to the uncertainty. He purchases a farm in rural Wisconsin where the family can live and maintain the crops and animals to keep themselves fed and sell at market. It's a major lifestyle change, but Esther and her sisters and little brother, Walter, can deal with it. But can they turn the farm into an equitable commercial operation?
"Wasn't life ever certain? Wasn't anything forever?"
—What the Moon Said, P. 121
As the family departs for Wisconsin, Esther observes the attention her mother shows her sisters and brother, and begins feeling badly that she, herself, doesn't ever seem to garner as much praise or loving affection from her. Ma is a strict, no-nonsense immigrant from Russia, who lived in poverty as a child and had to make do without extraneous amusements, and it shows in her life philosophy. Esther sadly thinks back on the fondness frequently shown by Shirley Rubinstein's mother to her daughter, and wishes Ma were that demonstrative toward her. Maybe Ma doesn't love her that much, but Esther determines that on the new farm where there will never be an end to work waiting to be done, she can make herself so indispensable that Ma has to come around to loving her, even hug her eventually as Mrs. Rubinstein did for Shirley.
The farm is nothing like the romanticized acre of Americana Esther hoped for, but it isn't all bad, and the family gradually makes inroads toward improving the property as their stay extends into weeks and months. The old-world superstitions Ma clings to are kept more seriously than ever, with insignificant actions taking on devastating or bountiful hidden meaning when interpreted in the light of what Ma's Russian forebears believed. Killing a spider could bring disaster as the family makes tentative progress in the farming business; the moon's visibility dictates if it's permissible to give or receive haircuts; a dubiously positioned birthmark is the deciding factor in who Esther and her siblings can choose for friends. Fortunately for Esther as she tries to adjust to life on a farm and ease her way into Ma's good graces so she might love her more, a friend her own age pops up soon after the move and mercifully reaches out to Esther. The two girls have a lot in common and enjoy each other's company, but Ma isn't about to make things easy in her overstressed condition. She has rigid ideas of how things should be run and won't tolerate dissent on issues that are important to her, particularly ones that could tip the balance of luck against the family and ruin them in their attempt to make good as proprietors of the farm. Try as she might to ease Ma's mind, the endless ordeals of this new life seem too much for Ma to ever relax, and Esther is a frequent scapegoat for her frustrations. After coming so far from Chicago, Esther and her family are still the same people they were before the market crashed. But is that such a bad thing, in the end?
"Part of growing up is accepting things the way they are. Making the best of them instead of always wishing they were different."
—Mr. Rubinstein, What the Moon Said, P. 198
What the Moon Said doesn't rely chiefly on repetition or length to emphasize its themes. At only two hundred fourteen pages in first editions there's no room to let the story sprawl without thought for reining it in, but no additional space was required for this to be an emotionally transformative novel that builds as tensely and beautifully as pretty much anything else on the juvenile market. At least a dozen issues are treated insightfully, but the main source of emotional electricity is Esther's relationship with Ma, a difficult woman whose passions simmer below the surface, but burn hot enough to scald anyone who handles them carelessly. Esther wants only to feel cared for by Ma, to be close with her and receive some fawning as other girls her age in Chicago were treated to by their mothers, but Ma appears oblivious to Esther's need for attention, deliberately drawing back from moments of physical affection with her youngest daughter. Nothing Esther does ever thaws the stubborn ice, and Ma's litany of superstitions creates intense hardship for Esther in other areas of her personal life, especially her new friendships with kids in Wisconsin. Girls with American mothers are confused by the hocus-pocus that colors Esther's worldview, and aren't sure what to make of Ma. Ultimately, the most powerful feelings engendered by this book in us, the reader, whether they be hackles raised, tempers heated to boiling, or pride so sudden and overwhelming we're not sure how to contain it, are from events that take place between Esther and her mother. The most complicated relationships often harbor the greatest potential for reward, and never has that been more apparent to me than in What the Moon Said.
"It had been such a special day, she wanted to press the happy memories firmly into her mind so she'd never forget."
—What the Moon Said, P. 115
Gayle Rosengren's writing is gorgeous, wise, and surprisingly forceful, and I'm not sure which of those attributes it owns to the deepest degree. The story is something of a quest for Esther on the trail of discernment toward her family and the world around her, and a sincere, even-keeled girl like Esther is a privilege for us to learn beside. I learned just as much as she did between the covers of this book. The lead-up to Esther's climactic epiphany is lovely, prelude to a sunburst of personal understanding that illuminates the book like a torch in a dark room: "She realized suddenly that she didn't want (her older sister's) answers. She wanted to find her own. And something inside her was telling her she was very close now. Her thoughts were like seeds planted and sprouting in dark soil. Esther could feel them growing, working their way to the surface." Esther is a thoughtful girl, a reader, not likely to let any situation in her life go unconsidered for long, and when the import of everything happening in her family over the past year finally comes home to roost, the impact reverberates through every page of the story, forward and back: "Love was actions more than words. And not just easy actions like hugs and kisses. It was hard ones, like sticking by someone in bad times, not just in good. It was working for them, even when you were tired. It was putting their needs first, even before your own. It was taking care of them when they were sick. It was forgiving them when they disappointed you. It was protecting them and teaching them." Wow. The payoff the book is leading to from the first page turns out to be a grand one, an exquisite masterpiece of literature that would do marvelous credit to an author with twenty bestsellers to her name, let alone one making her debut. In a shattered, hurting world, it isn't perfection in people that draws us to them and convinces us to stay, but the fount of real love that no barrier can dam forever, giving way sooner or later to the deluge that proves what we knew deep down even before we could acknowledge it to ourselves. The expression of that truth is the most valuable takeaway of What the Moon Said, and it sure has a way of finding a permanent home in the reader's heart. With full support of the world's book enthusiasts or nothing but the recommendation of a handful of sensitive literates, this novel is a bona fide classic through and through.
So, after all the buzz in 2014 that What the Moon Said should be seriously considered for a 2015 Newbery, would I have given it a medal of one color or another? It was a tough, deep field, with eligible entries including Nil by Lynne Matson, Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage, West of the Moon by Margi Preus, and Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo. That list doesn't even include The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, El Deafo by Cece Bell, or Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, the three books that actually won the Newbery awards. I can't say absolutely whether I would have voted for What the Moon Said as a top three Newbery pick in 2015, but I do believe it is every inch Newbery worthy, and regardless of what Gayle Rosengren accomplishes in any of her other books, her writing has a lasting place in my heart because of this one. The starry sky of children's literature has added another pretty twinkling pinpoint to its endless array, and I am pleased to have momentarily basked in the sweet, warm glow of its eternal light. I hope you, dear reader, will do the same.
September 10, 2016
What The Moon Said is to me, a story about the real meaning of love.
All through their challenges during the great recession, Esther tried over and over to make her mother show her that she loves her. She wanted her mother to hug her and tell her she loves her. In the end, after many hardships and tears and painful moments she realized things are never white or black.
I lost count of all the many moments I saw similarities between Esther's life and my own childhood. Some of them are too personal to share on the internet. Others have a bittersweet taste like I remember making cones out of old newspapers as a kid so I could go sell roasted peanuts during summer breaks with my cousins.
Esther's family went through a lot and her mother's superstition didn't help much. However I loved that even the mother had to learn the hard way that sometimes signs could be wrong or better yet they could mean nothing at all. I love that this book showed in a vivid and poignant way that maybe real love is to stick together when life get rough, when life gets so gloom and dark and hopeless that you can only hope to make it till tomorrow, and maybe the day after and so on.
This is a quiet book but a very powerful one. It teaches a lot of lessons but not in a preachy way. You see everything Esther feels. You are right there in her thoughts. You struggle with her over what decision is the right one. You get angry with her when she fails over and over to make her mother see her when she's doing good things, great things, and not when she messes up.
I remembered all those feelings and I was shocked at how raw some of them still were, after so many years. This book needs to get into the hands of every kid.
I apologize this review is so personal. On a lighter note, if you enjoy books like The Little House on The Prairie you might enjoy What The Moon Said. And if you accidentally knocked over salt don't forget to throw some over your left shoulder. Just in case, because you never know.
All through their challenges during the great recession, Esther tried over and over to make her mother show her that she loves her. She wanted her mother to hug her and tell her she loves her. In the end, after many hardships and tears and painful moments she realized things are never white or black.
I lost count of all the many moments I saw similarities between Esther's life and my own childhood. Some of them are too personal to share on the internet. Others have a bittersweet taste like I remember making cones out of old newspapers as a kid so I could go sell roasted peanuts during summer breaks with my cousins.
Esther's family went through a lot and her mother's superstition didn't help much. However I loved that even the mother had to learn the hard way that sometimes signs could be wrong or better yet they could mean nothing at all. I love that this book showed in a vivid and poignant way that maybe real love is to stick together when life get rough, when life gets so gloom and dark and hopeless that you can only hope to make it till tomorrow, and maybe the day after and so on.
This is a quiet book but a very powerful one. It teaches a lot of lessons but not in a preachy way. You see everything Esther feels. You are right there in her thoughts. You struggle with her over what decision is the right one. You get angry with her when she fails over and over to make her mother see her when she's doing good things, great things, and not when she messes up.
I remembered all those feelings and I was shocked at how raw some of them still were, after so many years. This book needs to get into the hands of every kid.
I apologize this review is so personal. On a lighter note, if you enjoy books like The Little House on The Prairie you might enjoy What The Moon Said. And if you accidentally knocked over salt don't forget to throw some over your left shoulder. Just in case, because you never know.
December 11, 2013
An outstanding MG novel that I'm sure will become a favorite of students and teachers alike. I was completely captivated by this historical fiction novel, which takes place during the Depression. Esther is a young girl struggling to get her mom's approval and love. Her mom is very superstitious and these superstitions guide Esther's enter family, determining the good luck and bad luck they'll have. At times, it's frustrating, hurtful, and confusing for Esther, especially when she is forbidden to play with a girl she really likes as a friend.
Readers will move with Esther and her family from Chicago to a farm in Milwaukee. They'll experience hunger, they'll celebrate the holidays with them, they'll go through Esther's illness and recovery. Even though the novel takes place a good eighty years ago, readers will be able to relate to the characters. Family, friendship, and being neighborly are some of the bigger themes of this novel. It'll has a timeless appeal like Little Women and Little House on the Prairie.
This MG novel is a winner!
Readers will move with Esther and her family from Chicago to a farm in Milwaukee. They'll experience hunger, they'll celebrate the holidays with them, they'll go through Esther's illness and recovery. Even though the novel takes place a good eighty years ago, readers will be able to relate to the characters. Family, friendship, and being neighborly are some of the bigger themes of this novel. It'll has a timeless appeal like Little Women and Little House on the Prairie.
This MG novel is a winner!
August 28, 2018
A sad but happy book! I wish in the ending Ma would have done something more than just smile at her, but I'm not the author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2014
A ring around the moon is an omen of bad things to come. Ten-year-old Esther doesn’t know whether or not she believes her Ma’s superstitions, but the moon’s warning seems to come true when her father loses his job in Chicago. The year is 1930 and the nation is in the grip of the Great Depression. City jobs are impossible to find. Esther and her family move to a ramshackle farm in Wisconsin to eke a living out of the land. There is no electricity or plumbing, but Esther is excited about the move. There are horses and cows and, best of all, a dog.
Not wanting to bring more misfortune, Esther does her best to follow her Ma’s rules. But life is not simple when a sign of bad luck means that Esther must turn her back on the only friend she has. Esther is caught between loyalty to her Ma and her own heart, all while trying to survive the harsh Wisconsin winter.
Rosengren’s WHAT THE MOON SAID is a large-hearted debut. It is my favorite kind of historical fiction, making a long-ago time feel as real and relatable as current day. While some of Esther’s struggles — farm life and gripping poverty — may be unfamiliar to some young readers, Esther’s deepest wishes will hit very close to home. Readers will easily see themselves in Esther’s desire to understand her place in the family, her need for friendship, and her pleasure in everyday adventure.
Not wanting to bring more misfortune, Esther does her best to follow her Ma’s rules. But life is not simple when a sign of bad luck means that Esther must turn her back on the only friend she has. Esther is caught between loyalty to her Ma and her own heart, all while trying to survive the harsh Wisconsin winter.
Rosengren’s WHAT THE MOON SAID is a large-hearted debut. It is my favorite kind of historical fiction, making a long-ago time feel as real and relatable as current day. While some of Esther’s struggles — farm life and gripping poverty — may be unfamiliar to some young readers, Esther’s deepest wishes will hit very close to home. Readers will easily see themselves in Esther’s desire to understand her place in the family, her need for friendship, and her pleasure in everyday adventure.
February 20, 2014
What a perfect historical fiction middle-grade novel--it is right on the nose for about age 8-10, the perfect next step for children who have outgrown books like Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series. This will greatly appeal to fans of the Little House in the Big Woods series. I love the chapter heading art by Jonathan Bean ("Building Our House"). Lends itself to so many educational extension activities--sure to become a great favorite of teachers and homeschooling families.
February 16, 2014
This story combines the best of a classic vignette-based tale with elements seldom found in books for this age. Set in an early year of the depression, it spans life in a Chicago apartment and a rural SE Wisconsin farm community. Esther deals with some self-inflicted angst about not being loved as much as her siblings, but also faces the power and fears conveyed by her mother's strict adherence to old world superstitions.
Throughout it all she takes tentative steps toward maturity, gaining perspective and appreciation for her family.
Esther and her stories will stay with me.
Throughout it all she takes tentative steps toward maturity, gaining perspective and appreciation for her family.
Esther and her stories will stay with me.
August 17, 2013
So bittersweet! I want to give Esther a hug...no, not just one hug...ALL THE HUGS! Knowing that Esther's book is based on the real experiences of author's mother made the story events hit so much closer. And I love the ending. Without giving away too much, it's hopeful but realistic. I'd recommend this book to fans of the "Little House on the Prairie" series.
January 7, 2014
Esther is a sensitive endearing heroine in this beautiful piece of historical fiction. Not just an exploration of a time and place, but of a way of perceiving the world. Once ensconced with Esther, through good times and bad, I didn't want to leave her side.
May 28, 2014
Completely adorable. If you are a fan of the Little House books, you MUST read Rosengren's debut. You'll love Esther's adventures in depression-era Wisconsin!
May 10, 2016
Loved all the historical details of life in Chicago and life on a Wisconsin farm from the point of view of 11-year-old Esther. Favorite quote: "Home was more than a place. Home was family."
June 1, 2015
I really enjoyed this book! I was considering this book for my tween book club, and after reading it, I think it would be a excellent choice.
Esther Vogels is a young girl living in Chicago in the year 1930, during the Great Depression. Esther and her older sister, Violet, spend their free time enjoying going to the movies and playing like normal children. They realize so many people are suffering during this time, but their father has a good job, and everything seems fine. Their mother, wisely planned ahead and did make cut backs in case of the the hard times falling onto the Vogels. Ma is superstitious and sees a bad sign in the moon. Then Pa loses his job, and the family makes a tough decision. They leave their apartment in the city and buy an old farm in Wisconsin. The oldest sister, Kate, is married and stays in the city. Julia, the next oldest stays with her, leaving the three youngest children, Violet, Esther, and Walter to move to the farm. Esther finds a dog, Mickey, left by the previous owners and surprisingly is allowed to keep him!
When I first picked up the book, I thought it would be more about the depression, but in actuality it is a story of a young girl trying desperately to obtain her mother's love and affection. Ma is from Russia, and her beliefs in superstitions control her life. I will be honest.....I hated Ma. I understand her position, especially when we learn her story and why she is the way she is now. I just felt she was downright nasty to Esther. She did not treat the other children as harshly as Esther, which made Esther feel unloved and unwanted by her mother. She spends the whole book trying to be a good girl and win her mother's affection. This was heartbreaking to me. I wanted to reach through the book and slap the mother, reminding her she had five children, and she should learn to treat them equally. Readers do learn why she is the hardest on Esther, which I do understand her fears, I felt it did not give her the right to be so cold to her daughter. Her superstitions constantly were confusing and hurting Esther, especially when she was forbidden to play with Bethany, the only girl that really befriended her.
Without giving away the story, I will add this much...Esther does learn a very valuable lesson about love. She realizes it comes in all forms. In the beginning of the book she had on ideal image as to what her mother should be, basing it on Mrs. Rubenstein, her city friend's mother. She thinks her mother should be like Mrs. Rubenstein and eventually realizes love shows itself in many forms. As an adult reader you can tell that Ma loves Esther very much, but has trouble showing her.
Very deep book and one I think that should be read by middle grade readers. This being the authors first book, I hope she writes more!
Esther Vogels is a young girl living in Chicago in the year 1930, during the Great Depression. Esther and her older sister, Violet, spend their free time enjoying going to the movies and playing like normal children. They realize so many people are suffering during this time, but their father has a good job, and everything seems fine. Their mother, wisely planned ahead and did make cut backs in case of the the hard times falling onto the Vogels. Ma is superstitious and sees a bad sign in the moon. Then Pa loses his job, and the family makes a tough decision. They leave their apartment in the city and buy an old farm in Wisconsin. The oldest sister, Kate, is married and stays in the city. Julia, the next oldest stays with her, leaving the three youngest children, Violet, Esther, and Walter to move to the farm. Esther finds a dog, Mickey, left by the previous owners and surprisingly is allowed to keep him!
When I first picked up the book, I thought it would be more about the depression, but in actuality it is a story of a young girl trying desperately to obtain her mother's love and affection. Ma is from Russia, and her beliefs in superstitions control her life. I will be honest.....I hated Ma. I understand her position, especially when we learn her story and why she is the way she is now. I just felt she was downright nasty to Esther. She did not treat the other children as harshly as Esther, which made Esther feel unloved and unwanted by her mother. She spends the whole book trying to be a good girl and win her mother's affection. This was heartbreaking to me. I wanted to reach through the book and slap the mother, reminding her she had five children, and she should learn to treat them equally. Readers do learn why she is the hardest on Esther, which I do understand her fears, I felt it did not give her the right to be so cold to her daughter. Her superstitions constantly were confusing and hurting Esther, especially when she was forbidden to play with Bethany, the only girl that really befriended her.
Without giving away the story, I will add this much...Esther does learn a very valuable lesson about love. She realizes it comes in all forms. In the beginning of the book she had on ideal image as to what her mother should be, basing it on Mrs. Rubenstein, her city friend's mother. She thinks her mother should be like Mrs. Rubenstein and eventually realizes love shows itself in many forms. As an adult reader you can tell that Ma loves Esther very much, but has trouble showing her.
Very deep book and one I think that should be read by middle grade readers. This being the authors first book, I hope she writes more!
April 3, 2014
Esther’s Ma pays attention to a lot of signs to keep her family safe. Frequent occurrences, like seeing a ring around the moon or a spider before breakfast, have to be analyzed to determine whether they will bring good luck or bad. And when it comes to Ma, Esther feels like she always needs good luck.
The family lives in Chicago at the start of the Great Depression, but when Pa loses his job, they all move to a farm in Wisconsin. The place is run-down, has no electricity or indoor plumbing, and requires lots of hard work, but Esther finds joy in country life. She doesn’t understand why Ma is always looking for signs to help direct their lives, but Esther is also looking for signs—actions that will tell her that Ma truly loves her even though she always seems to be messing up.
What the Moon Said by Gayle Rosengren is fun to read because Esther’s voice is innocent, hopeful, and trusting. She wants to believe her mother loves her, buy Ma is not one to show her emotions outwardly. Always focused on the tasks at hand, she doesn’t take time for hugs and kisses. It’s not until Esther experiences a few setbacks and begins to see the faults in other lives she thought were perfect, that she truly sees how Ma shows love.
Esther is lively, thoughtful, considerate, and wholly irresistible. You’ll fall in love with her as she struggles to understand the people in her own family as well as the world around her. I highly recommend What the Moon Said for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 8 to 12.
The publisher gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The family lives in Chicago at the start of the Great Depression, but when Pa loses his job, they all move to a farm in Wisconsin. The place is run-down, has no electricity or indoor plumbing, and requires lots of hard work, but Esther finds joy in country life. She doesn’t understand why Ma is always looking for signs to help direct their lives, but Esther is also looking for signs—actions that will tell her that Ma truly loves her even though she always seems to be messing up.
What the Moon Said by Gayle Rosengren is fun to read because Esther’s voice is innocent, hopeful, and trusting. She wants to believe her mother loves her, buy Ma is not one to show her emotions outwardly. Always focused on the tasks at hand, she doesn’t take time for hugs and kisses. It’s not until Esther experiences a few setbacks and begins to see the faults in other lives she thought were perfect, that she truly sees how Ma shows love.
Esther is lively, thoughtful, considerate, and wholly irresistible. You’ll fall in love with her as she struggles to understand the people in her own family as well as the world around her. I highly recommend What the Moon Said for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 8 to 12.
The publisher gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 12, 2014
Esther Vogel lives in Chicago during the early part of the Great Depression with her Russian immigrant parents and sisters. Life is good with movie serials, ice cream shops, and her friend, Shirley, but Esther wishes her mother was more affectionate like Shirley's mother, instead of being so superstitious about everything. However, her mother's beliefs about the ring around the moon bringing bad luck do come true and Esther's father loses his job. Pa and Ma decide use the money they have saved for a house to buy a farm in Wisconsin instead, but Ma has a dream where there is rain, and rain before a journey is a bad omen.
The farm is hard work but Esther loves the animals,the idea of being pioneers, and at school meets Bethany, who Esther's mother forbids her to be with because Bethany is marked on her face with--a mole.
The mother/daughter relationship,in Esther's mind, is strained even more now because of superstitions. It takes an illness and a move back to Chicago for Esther to finally learn the depth of her mother's love.
I always enjoy reading stories set during the Great Depression and was intrigued by the many superstitions brought up in the story, possibly believed by Russian immigrants.
The farm is hard work but Esther loves the animals,the idea of being pioneers, and at school meets Bethany, who Esther's mother forbids her to be with because Bethany is marked on her face with--a mole.
The mother/daughter relationship,in Esther's mind, is strained even more now because of superstitions. It takes an illness and a move back to Chicago for Esther to finally learn the depth of her mother's love.
I always enjoy reading stories set during the Great Depression and was intrigued by the many superstitions brought up in the story, possibly believed by Russian immigrants.
September 3, 2016
Original review found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
This book is definitely geared towards the middle grade demographic. Although I have not read a lot of stories for this age group I thought this was a really cute read. It takes place during the depression so it has the historical fiction aspect that I love in my reads. It gives the opportunity to educate young readers about the time in a way that they do not really realise they are learning something.
This story was written in a way that there were no real bad people in the story. Through Esther the reader goes on a journey of life changes and learning to accept things the way they are. This is a story about family and love and growing up.
Although this was not a challenging read for me I still enjoyed the time I spent in the story. I would recommend this book to the younger audience who is not looking for a lot of action. I can see that this story could be of good educational use.
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
This book is definitely geared towards the middle grade demographic. Although I have not read a lot of stories for this age group I thought this was a really cute read. It takes place during the depression so it has the historical fiction aspect that I love in my reads. It gives the opportunity to educate young readers about the time in a way that they do not really realise they are learning something.
This story was written in a way that there were no real bad people in the story. Through Esther the reader goes on a journey of life changes and learning to accept things the way they are. This is a story about family and love and growing up.
Although this was not a challenging read for me I still enjoyed the time I spent in the story. I would recommend this book to the younger audience who is not looking for a lot of action. I can see that this story could be of good educational use.
April 14, 2014
Growing up in the early years of the Great Depression is hard for Esther. Her parents, both immigrants, decide to buy a farm in Wisconsin and leave Chicago behind. Esther makes the best of the move, accepting their new farm, out-dated house, and hard work. She also tries to understand her mother and does everything she can to earn her mother's affection. The story traces the ups and downs of Esther's determination to help her family, make friends, and do her best in school.
Recommended for grades 4 through 6, this is a lovely example of historical fiction.
Recommended for grades 4 through 6, this is a lovely example of historical fiction.
May 11, 2014
I so loved this book. Every time when something bad happened in the story, I would think, "Oh, I wish the author wouldn't turn the story this way." But then the author wrote the lesson to be learned or the good that came the family's way, I would then think, "I loved the way this story turned out to be." The story was well-thought out. The story of this family made you appreciate what you had, but of course, the main character, Esther, learned the same thing.
Read
January 11, 2014If I had to choose one word to describe this book it would be "kind."
Esther wants so much for her mother to tell her she loves her, but Ma is not the demonstrative type. And Esther's journey is to learn that love is expressed in many ways.
Great for a snuggle in bed read aloud, as well as an accurate portrait of the struggles of an immigrant family during the Depression.
Esther wants so much for her mother to tell her she loves her, but Ma is not the demonstrative type. And Esther's journey is to learn that love is expressed in many ways.
Great for a snuggle in bed read aloud, as well as an accurate portrait of the struggles of an immigrant family during the Depression.
February 17, 2014
I won this book from Goodreads.................It was actually better than I thought it would be, It was a very interesting story, It was absolutely worth reading, I would actually like to read more books by this author :)
May 23, 2019
Almost ten years old and small for her age, Esther longs for her mother's love, but her mother remains cool and harsh towards Esther. Ma seems to love Esther's older sisters and younger brother, but not Esther. It's older sister Julia who provides love and sometimes money for the younger children to have a happy childhood. Life in Chicago in 1930 isn't easy so when Pa loses his job, the family moves to a farm in Wisconsin. Esther is excited to finally have animals and eager to do as many chores as possible to earn her mother's love. Esther's Ma is wedded to her old world superstitions and is afraid of everything. When she makes a prediction based on a sign or makes a pronouncement, it is so or must be obeyed . Life on the farm is full of animals, and chores, school and friends. Esther tries hard to understand her Ma, but she still longs for hugs and kisses like her best friend Shirley's mother.
2.75 stars
I would have liked this book so much more if Esther's realizations at the end were not so pronounced and mature for a 10 year old. I know an almost 9 year old and a 10 1/2 year old and neither one of them would come to the conclusions Esther does at the end. I hate when books for children hammer home the message in that way. Also Ma's constant superstitious nonsense drove me crazy. I get that she's a peasant farmer from Russia and therefore uneducated, but it's rather repetitive. I have mixed feelings about the SO obvious allusions to Little House in the Big Woods and even some to Anne of Green Gables. While the author has THE BEST taste in books, the allusions were way too obvious and made me roll my eyes a bit. My nieces, unfamiliar with my favorite books, wouldn't get the "Easter eggs" hidden in the story. On the plus side, I was so curious where the plot was going and how the author was going to resolve Esther's situation with Ma, I skipped ahead to the end before I stayed up all night reading.
I found Esther a little annoying. Her constant need for attention drove me crazy. I didn't find her willful, just a normal little girl trying to earn her mother's love and I found that very sad. Esther's mother is absolutely crazy. I was waiting for her older daughters need to laugh and say "Oh Ma! No one in America believes in that stuff anymore" but they seem to buy into it too. I liked Bethany's family. They're loving and cheerful and don't believe in silly superstitions. Esther's Pa is kinder but he adds to the problem by not checking his wife's behavior even when he's asked to intervene. He's otherwise a kind, hard working man and I liked him. Violet is your typical middle grades novel older sister. Violet is obedient and kind of a goody goody but when push comes to shove, she sides with Esther. Julia is kind and sympathetic to Esther but she lives her own adult life and can't do much to help.
This book is best read by 9-12 year olds interested in historical fiction.
2.75 stars
I would have liked this book so much more if Esther's realizations at the end were not so pronounced and mature for a 10 year old. I know an almost 9 year old and a 10 1/2 year old and neither one of them would come to the conclusions Esther does at the end. I hate when books for children hammer home the message in that way. Also Ma's constant superstitious nonsense drove me crazy. I get that she's a peasant farmer from Russia and therefore uneducated, but it's rather repetitive. I have mixed feelings about the SO obvious allusions to Little House in the Big Woods and even some to Anne of Green Gables. While the author has THE BEST taste in books, the allusions were way too obvious and made me roll my eyes a bit. My nieces, unfamiliar with my favorite books, wouldn't get the "Easter eggs" hidden in the story. On the plus side, I was so curious where the plot was going and how the author was going to resolve Esther's situation with Ma, I skipped ahead to the end before I stayed up all night reading.
I found Esther a little annoying. Her constant need for attention drove me crazy. I didn't find her willful, just a normal little girl trying to earn her mother's love and I found that very sad. Esther's mother is absolutely crazy. I was waiting for her older daughters need to laugh and say "Oh Ma! No one in America believes in that stuff anymore" but they seem to buy into it too. I liked Bethany's family. They're loving and cheerful and don't believe in silly superstitions. Esther's Pa is kinder but he adds to the problem by not checking his wife's behavior even when he's asked to intervene. He's otherwise a kind, hard working man and I liked him. Violet is your typical middle grades novel older sister. Violet is obedient and kind of a goody goody but when push comes to shove, she sides with Esther. Julia is kind and sympathetic to Esther but she lives her own adult life and can't do much to help.
This book is best read by 9-12 year olds interested in historical fiction.
Read
October 11, 2014It's 1930 in Chicago, Esther has been living here with her Ma, Pa, and sisters and brothers. When the Great Depression hits, everyone is losing their jobs, Pa included. The Vogel family decide to move to a farm in Wisconsin thinking they can make a fresh start leaving two of the daughters behind. Country life turns out to be disappointing as the farm turns out to be more challenging then they thought, it has an outhouse, there's no ice box or electricity and tending to the animals and crops is hard work. Esther is eager to take on the challenge, she wants to prove to Ma that she can be worthy of her love by helping out and make her proud of her. Maybe then Ma will show her the same affection as her friend Shirley's mom does. Ma was born in Russia and therefore has many superstitions and signs that she believes in. Spider's before breakfast means good luck, buttoning a shirt incorrectly or putting your shoes on a table are bad luck. Ma's signs guide her, but sometimes her signs interfere, especially when Ma says Esther can't be friends with Bethany because she has a mole on her face that makes her "marked" or dangerous.
Esther is a very creative and imaginative girl. She daydreams about life in the country with her family and lovely images of fields, bubbling brooks, orchards and barns filled with animals. It was very easy to relate to Esther's feelings of hopefulness and also relate to her struggles to leave best friends and trying to make new ones. Esther is seen as a very lonely girl who draws comfort in the dog that she finds, playing with her doll and writing letters to her older sister. Her relationship with her mother is heart wrenching. Esther accurately portrays a girl who believes that her mother doesn't love her as much as her siblings. Everything she seems to try makes her mother seem like she is less and less proud of her. Esther makes mistakes, and her thoughts reflect that of a girl at this age. Esther isn't able to take into account her mother's European upbringing and history as reasons for not being as affectionate with her. I was delighted when Esther finally came to realize that Ma's lack of overt displays of affection didn't mean that she loved her any less just that "love was actions more than words." What The Moon Said gives an accurate description of one family as they navigate through the Depression and its hardships. It will appeal to children who enjoy historical fiction similar to Little House on the Prairie.
Esther is a very creative and imaginative girl. She daydreams about life in the country with her family and lovely images of fields, bubbling brooks, orchards and barns filled with animals. It was very easy to relate to Esther's feelings of hopefulness and also relate to her struggles to leave best friends and trying to make new ones. Esther is seen as a very lonely girl who draws comfort in the dog that she finds, playing with her doll and writing letters to her older sister. Her relationship with her mother is heart wrenching. Esther accurately portrays a girl who believes that her mother doesn't love her as much as her siblings. Everything she seems to try makes her mother seem like she is less and less proud of her. Esther makes mistakes, and her thoughts reflect that of a girl at this age. Esther isn't able to take into account her mother's European upbringing and history as reasons for not being as affectionate with her. I was delighted when Esther finally came to realize that Ma's lack of overt displays of affection didn't mean that she loved her any less just that "love was actions more than words." What The Moon Said gives an accurate description of one family as they navigate through the Depression and its hardships. It will appeal to children who enjoy historical fiction similar to Little House on the Prairie.
August 5, 2014
Well, I finished it and I am still trying to figure out why I found the book a bit more problematic than I expected. One of my Goodreads friends described it as being like Anne of Green Gables, only about the Depression era. I guess one of the things that troubles me about this - and perhaps my respect for Anne of Green Gables colored my perception of this book - was that Anne was continually striving to be honest and good. She had trouble measuring up, but she was usually completely honest about her failures.
In this book, I got the feeling that various characters were excusing their failures. Esther goes against her mother's explicit instructions to not be a friend to Bethany - and makes excuses for her failure to obey her mother. Her mother, in turn, only changes her mind about Bethany, because she saved Esther's life. She didn't really change her mind about the superstitions.
The final realization about love and family is wonderful, but it felt a bit hollow to me. I expected the revelation about Tatiana, but it came so late in the book that, while it provided explanation, it didn't provide redemption for some of the things the mother had done.
Finally, I am not sure what to think about the men preventing the auction of the neighbor's farm by blocking the road. On the one hand, it showed solidarity in the community. On the other hand, it was not completely honest. I think it was necessary, but I also think it might have merited some discussion with the children about why, in some cases, there were reasons to not be completely straightforward.
In this book, I got the feeling that various characters were excusing their failures. Esther goes against her mother's explicit instructions to not be a friend to Bethany - and makes excuses for her failure to obey her mother. Her mother, in turn, only changes her mind about Bethany, because she saved Esther's life. She didn't really change her mind about the superstitions.
The final realization about love and family is wonderful, but it felt a bit hollow to me. I expected the revelation about Tatiana, but it came so late in the book that, while it provided explanation, it didn't provide redemption for some of the things the mother had done.
Finally, I am not sure what to think about the men preventing the auction of the neighbor's farm by blocking the road. On the one hand, it showed solidarity in the community. On the other hand, it was not completely honest. I think it was necessary, but I also think it might have merited some discussion with the children about why, in some cases, there were reasons to not be completely straightforward.
March 14, 2014
Esther loves living in Chicago. It's the Depression but her hard working immigrant parents have provided a warm and safe home for their family of seven. Pa works hard at Zeigler's Laundry to provide for the family and Ma guides them with firm no nonsense wisdom and a large dose of the superstitions she learned in her homeland of Russia. But Pa looses his job and the family makes the hard decision to move to a farm in Wisconsin where they think life will be more sure. Soon our cheerful and bright Esther is loving living like a pioneer especially when she can have the dog and horse she has always dreamed of. Esther yearns for her mother's approval and affection. But Ma does not kiss and seldom gives hugs and Esther thinks this may mean she doesn't love her. Your heart will ache for Esther as she bungles many attempts to receive these signs of affection. She doesn't change her mother but she will learn that love is actions more than words. Written in a perfect voice for middle grade readers the book will appeal to those who love the Little House books and would be great for classroom discussion.
August 4, 2014
A ring around the moon is an omen of bad things to come. Ten-year-old Esther doesn’t know whether or not she believes her Ma’s superstitions, but the moon’s warning seems to come true when her father loses his job in Chicago. It is 1930 and the nation is in the grip of the Great Depression. Jobs in the city are impossible to find. After a ling discussion between her patents, the make a big scary decision. Esther and her family use the little savings they have and purchase a farm in Wisconsin to eke a living out of the land. Only father has ever seen the property. When the family finally arrived, it'd bad. There is no electricity or plumbing, but Esther is still excited about the move and the adventure of living little house on the pararie. There are horses and cows and, best of all, a dog. Her parents would never let her have a dog in Chicago.
Not wanting to bring more misfortune, Esther does her best to follow her Ma’s rules. But life is not simple when a sign of bad luck means that Esther must turn her back on the only friend she has. Esther is caught between loyalty to her Ma and her own heart, all while trying to survive the harsh Wisconsin winter.
Not wanting to bring more misfortune, Esther does her best to follow her Ma’s rules. But life is not simple when a sign of bad luck means that Esther must turn her back on the only friend she has. Esther is caught between loyalty to her Ma and her own heart, all while trying to survive the harsh Wisconsin winter.
January 19, 2019
Illinois author Gayle Rosengren's first book is a historical fiction story about the depression in the 1930's. Esther is a ten year old with three older sisters and one younger brother. She is happy with her life in Chicago because her father has a good job and she enjoys her school. When her father loses his job, his parents are forced to make a decision that will change Esther's world. They buy a farm in Wisconsin. Esther feels like a pioneer girl because they have outside bathrooms, no running water or electricity. The oldest two sisters have jobs in Chicago so they do not move. Esther makes the transition easily except for the superstitions of her mother who was raised in Russia. The family goes along with these rituals except for Esther who is told not to associate with a new best friend because she has a birthmark on her face. Esther must decide for herself what is right and wrong. This coming of age story is gentle and endearing. It will inform children about life during the great depression. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
February 20, 2014
What the Moon Said (which I have read twice) is an absolutely terrific Middle Grade historical fiction book, with one of the best main characters, vibrant & lovable Esther, in recent Middle Grade literature. And so skillfully written, with just the right voice for someone of Esther's age, a perfect structure (flows seamlessly from scene to scene, chapter to chapter), and truly beautiful use of language. A great mother-daughter relationship book. Also, because it is written so well and at an age-appropriate level for Middle Grade minds, would be an excellent read out-loud book for home or the classroom. And a very enjoyable read for teens & adults, too. Teachers & Librarians will love this book, both as a teaching tool and as recommended reading. Terrific book. What more can I say? There are wonderful general descriptions of the story-line of What the Moon Said in other comments on this site and in the Kirkus & Publishers Weekly reviews.
April 19, 2014
How do we tell the difference between superstition and accepting life as it is? Esther struggles with this question as we all do. We all want to step over the crack or throw salt over our shoulder now and then, "just to be sure" and then we have something besides life itself or ourselves to blame when things go wrong.
The contrast between employment opportunities during the Depression and today would be an interesting talking point with youngsters. I wonder if children of unemployed parents would be able to relate to Esther's family.
I like that not everything in this story had a happy ending as Esther had consequences for her actions. Her suffering is an example that life goes on and there can still be love in a family. Many children may relate to her questions about a parent's love and how it is displayed.
I thought there was going to be a different connection between Esther and Tatiana, so this brought suspense into the story.
I think this would be a good read aloud!
The contrast between employment opportunities during the Depression and today would be an interesting talking point with youngsters. I wonder if children of unemployed parents would be able to relate to Esther's family.
I like that not everything in this story had a happy ending as Esther had consequences for her actions. Her suffering is an example that life goes on and there can still be love in a family. Many children may relate to her questions about a parent's love and how it is displayed.
I thought there was going to be a different connection between Esther and Tatiana, so this brought suspense into the story.
I think this would be a good read aloud!
October 5, 2013
Gayle Rosengren has drawn from her family's history during the Great Depression to write this sweet, tender, realistic story about a girl's struggle with her relationship with her mother and dealing with change in circumstances. The characters are well-drawn and, as a reader, I loved this family. [Warning: it's a two-hanky read.] The immigrant mother's superstitions were fascinating in how they affected decisions and created dilemmas for this family. The language and content make this story accessable to advanced second grade readers, or would be the perfect read-aloud book for teachers in elementary classrooms.
Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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