Shoot the Moon

by Matt Beam

Sixteen-year-old Charlie Abbott lives with her father, a once-brilliant mathematician subject to mood swings and depressive episodes.


Making sure her dad gets out of bed and takes his meds is part of Charlie's daily routine, but lately she’s been distracted by her crush, Lachlan. Her grades are slipping and her mom is starting to ask questions. When Lachlan finally asks her out, Charlie is over the moon—until she realizes that her father has disappeared. With only a note to go on, Charlie begins to retrace her father’s steps. Along the way, she meets people who help her understand not only where he might be but also who he really is. As she discovers the truth, her search takes on greater urgency and scope.


This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Matt Beam was born in Toronto in 1970. He was a sports fanatic as a young boy, playing everything from baseball to wall ball, ice hockey to road. His favourite writers at the time were Gordon Korman, John Christopher, and Susan Cooper. He seriously disliked (and still dislikes) turnips, bubble gum and the smell of new cars.

After a fun and fruitful childhood and his chock-o-block teen days, or as he likes to call them, "his research years," Matt got serious and studied history at Dalhousie University. After 4 years of heads-down work, Matt decided it was time to have some more fun. Over the next five years, he went to Guatemala, Vancouver, Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. Down under, he earned a degree in education, and hopped across the ditch to NZ, the land of the Kiwis, sheep and the All-Blacks, where he taught grade 8 for a year, before finally deciding to return home to follow his (almost) lifelong dream of becoming a writer.

Matt has been writing fiction since the winter of 1999. When he started he had no idea what he was doing. He's only recently been upgraded to the uncertain status of having some idea of what he is doing. How boring would life and writing be if you had it all figured out.

Reviews

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

These moments hit home and pull at the heart strings in all the right ways.

Sixteen-year-old Charlie does her best to deal with her bi-polar father, whose been at rock bottom since her mother left and he didn't get the job as a professor in the math department. One day, she comes home from school to find him in a very good mood, which is great until, the next day, he takes off with the statement that he's going to 'Shoot the Moon'. Charlie knows she needs to find him quickly, but he's left very few clues behind. That isn't the most difficult aspect. however. While trying to find him, she discovers secrets, which twist everything she thought she knew about her parents upside-down.

This comes from a series of young adult books, which is thought for those teens whose talent isn't necessarily in the reading direction. The sentences are kept short, and the vocabulary mostly sticks in a comfortable realm. Yet, the plot holds the needed depth for YA readers and addresses situations they can identify with. And this book does a good job at all of these.

Not only is it a quick-paced, easy read, but the characters come across with natural flair and feel real. Their concerns are understandable, and they are the kind of people one would enjoy being friends with. Even the adults are kind, although they deal with problems in their own ways...sometimes right and sometimes wrong. There's a wonderful sense of family despite the parents being divorced and, now, leading their own lives. The problems Charlie faces are ones, which will be familiar to some, and her reactions are very understandable. Plus, there's hints of a beginning romance...although this aspect is kept heavily to the sidelines, since there are more important things going on in Charlie's life.

It's a read to enjoy from beginning to end, easy to tackle, and leaves a little food for thought.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Charlie Abbott struggles to balance being a teenager navigating school, friendships, and her first crush while also caring for her father, who has bipolar disorder. When her father disappears without warning, leaving behind only a note saying he is “shooting the moon,” Charlie immediately fears that he may be in danger. Determined to find him, her search leads her through the Canadian wilderness and into difficult conversations and discoveries about her family’s past. "Shoot the Moon" explores the emotional consequences of growing up too fast while also showing how learning to ask others for help can be an important step toward healing.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shoot the Moon is a poignant book about a girl whose father has bipolar disorder and has gone off of his medication. Charlie has appointed herself her father's caretaker and the stress of it is more than she or her father can handle. After he disappears, she realizes that she needs help and opens herself up to relationships that she had previously closed. The book is perfect for middle grades on up.

I received an advance reader copy for free. All opinions are my own.

[Erin Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from Edelweiss

I think this would be a really good book for a reluctant reader or for teens who may struggle with reading. It was concise but didn't skimp on the details.

[Corey Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book!!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another short read, but the author packed in a lot. There is always something going on and I like that Charlie is just an ordinary teen who finds out that her parents kept stuff from her.

I did no always like Charlie, actually I did not like these characters but the author created a wonderful plot, which features lots of outdoor activities.

I like the writing.

[Olivia Midgley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super easy read! Not crazy interesting or different but satisfying finish

[Michael Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turning read.

The young infatuation contrasted with (or enhanced by) the heaviness which Charlie carries is magic.

The paddling and portaging descriptions are sumptuous.

The character depth in so few pages is remarkable.

Matt Beam is a talent, pure and simple.