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The Moon Sisters
After their mother’s probable suicide, Jazz and Olivia Moon struggle to move on with their lives. Olivia, an 18-year-old who can taste words and see sounds, blinds herself by staring at the sun, then decides to walk to the remote setting of her mother's unfinished novel to resuscitate her hopes and dreams. Jazz, 22, plagued by unresolved conflict with her mother and a hidden trove of her unsent letters, takes a job in a funeral home before being forced back into the role of her sister’s keeper.
The sisters’ journey through the wilds of West Virginia, disaster-prone from the start, takes a turn when they meet two train-hoppers with dangerous secrets, and Jazz learns that Olivia holds a dark secret of her own in the form of their mother's final unread letter. Mistrust, resentments and new attachments threaten to tear the two apart, until a final bizarre misadventure forces them to decide what’s really important.
This mesmerizing coming-of-age novel, with its sheen of near-magical realism, is a moving tale of family and the power of stories.
The sisters’ journey through the wilds of West Virginia, disaster-prone from the start, takes a turn when they meet two train-hoppers with dangerous secrets, and Jazz learns that Olivia holds a dark secret of her own in the form of their mother's final unread letter. Mistrust, resentments and new attachments threaten to tear the two apart, until a final bizarre misadventure forces them to decide what’s really important.
This mesmerizing coming-of-age novel, with its sheen of near-magical realism, is a moving tale of family and the power of stories.
330 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2014
141 people are currently reading
7822 people want to read
About the author
Therese Walsh
9 books507 followersTherese's second novel, The Moon Sisters, was published by Crown (Penguin Random House) in March 2014, received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, and was named one of the Best Books of 2014 by Library Journal.
Her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, was published in 2009 by Shaye Areheart books (Random House), and became a Target Breakout Book.
Therese is the co-founder of Writer Unboxed, a blog for writers about the craft and business of fiction.
She is also the 'architectural' editor of Author in Progress, the first Writer Unboxed book, published by Writer's Digest in 2016.
Before turning to novels, Therese was a researcher and writer for Prevention magazine, and then a freelance writer. She’s had hundreds of articles on nutrition and fitness published in consumer magazines and online.
She has a master's degree in psychology.
Aside from writing, Therese’s favorite things include music, art, crab legs, Whose Line is it Anyway?, dark chocolate, photography, unique movies and novels, people watching, strong Irish tea, and spending time with her husband, two kids and their bouncy Jack Russell.
Her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, was published in 2009 by Shaye Areheart books (Random House), and became a Target Breakout Book.
Therese is the co-founder of Writer Unboxed, a blog for writers about the craft and business of fiction.
She is also the 'architectural' editor of Author in Progress, the first Writer Unboxed book, published by Writer's Digest in 2016.
Before turning to novels, Therese was a researcher and writer for Prevention magazine, and then a freelance writer. She’s had hundreds of articles on nutrition and fitness published in consumer magazines and online.
She has a master's degree in psychology.
Aside from writing, Therese’s favorite things include music, art, crab legs, Whose Line is it Anyway?, dark chocolate, photography, unique movies and novels, people watching, strong Irish tea, and spending time with her husband, two kids and their bouncy Jack Russell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 466 reviews
July 1, 2018
Dear Readers,
I wrote The Moon Sisters, and love it fiercely. I'm so glad for the opportunity to tell you a little about it.
My two sisters are a part of this book in ways even they don’t realize. They inspired the push-pull-love-hate blood bond that is at the heart of The Moon Sisters.
The three of us lost our father when my youngest sister was still a teenager. Grappling with death and the very meaning of life has been something we’ve struggled with, individually and collectively, since that time. It’s no wonder that I began The Moon Sisters with the death of a parent, and sisters left to process the gravest of life-altering events in very different ways.
When I began writing The Moon Sisters, I didn’t intend for it to be a book about this, at least not exactly. I wanted to write about one sister’s quest to find a will-o’-the-wisp light, which was her mother’s unfulfilled dream. Also called “foolish fires,” these lights are sometimes seen over wetlands and are thought to lead those who follow to treasure. Despite their promise, they are never captured and sometimes lead to injury and even death for adventurers. The metaphor of that fire—that some dreams and goals are impossible to reach, and that hope itself may not be innately good—eventually rooted its way into deeper meaning as the Moon sisters tried to come to terms with real-world dreams and hopes, and with each other, in their strange new world.
I enjoyed creating polar opposites in Olivia and Jazz Moon—a dreamy synesthete, able to see sounds and smell sights, and her controlling, reality-driven sister. I wanted to know what would happen if they were plunged into 24/7 togetherness, when control was not an option. I wanted to watch as they were made to see life through the other’s eyes and confront the things they feared the most. Death. The possibility of suicide. And, perhaps hardest of all, the idea that faith and hope and control are all “foolish fires.” Would they believe, ultimately, that life was still worth living, despite its lack of promises?
I’m so proud of the book The Moon Sisters has become, and its five-year journey to completion, even if it did at times feel like my own “foolish fire.” It is solely my opinion, but I will suggest here that some fires are worth the chase.
Thank you for taking the time to read this book. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it, and that if you do you’ll share it with a sister or two.
All best,
Therese
I wrote The Moon Sisters, and love it fiercely. I'm so glad for the opportunity to tell you a little about it.
My two sisters are a part of this book in ways even they don’t realize. They inspired the push-pull-love-hate blood bond that is at the heart of The Moon Sisters.
The three of us lost our father when my youngest sister was still a teenager. Grappling with death and the very meaning of life has been something we’ve struggled with, individually and collectively, since that time. It’s no wonder that I began The Moon Sisters with the death of a parent, and sisters left to process the gravest of life-altering events in very different ways.
When I began writing The Moon Sisters, I didn’t intend for it to be a book about this, at least not exactly. I wanted to write about one sister’s quest to find a will-o’-the-wisp light, which was her mother’s unfulfilled dream. Also called “foolish fires,” these lights are sometimes seen over wetlands and are thought to lead those who follow to treasure. Despite their promise, they are never captured and sometimes lead to injury and even death for adventurers. The metaphor of that fire—that some dreams and goals are impossible to reach, and that hope itself may not be innately good—eventually rooted its way into deeper meaning as the Moon sisters tried to come to terms with real-world dreams and hopes, and with each other, in their strange new world.
I enjoyed creating polar opposites in Olivia and Jazz Moon—a dreamy synesthete, able to see sounds and smell sights, and her controlling, reality-driven sister. I wanted to know what would happen if they were plunged into 24/7 togetherness, when control was not an option. I wanted to watch as they were made to see life through the other’s eyes and confront the things they feared the most. Death. The possibility of suicide. And, perhaps hardest of all, the idea that faith and hope and control are all “foolish fires.” Would they believe, ultimately, that life was still worth living, despite its lack of promises?
I’m so proud of the book The Moon Sisters has become, and its five-year journey to completion, even if it did at times feel like my own “foolish fire.” It is solely my opinion, but I will suggest here that some fires are worth the chase.
Thank you for taking the time to read this book. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it, and that if you do you’ll share it with a sister or two.
All best,
Therese
January 8, 2016
After their mothers death, Jazz and Olivia, two sisters as different as day and night, travel to the setting of their mothers unfinished novel to lay her spirit to rest.
I didn't think I would like this book, but I did. There was alot of tension between the 2 sisters in the beginning of the book as they had different points of view regarding their mothers death. There were times during the book when I wanted to shake some sense into both of them, but I did enjoy reading about their relationships with their mother.
I didn't think I would like this book, but I did. There was alot of tension between the 2 sisters in the beginning of the book as they had different points of view regarding their mothers death. There were times during the book when I wanted to shake some sense into both of them, but I did enjoy reading about their relationships with their mother.
July 12, 2014
Review coming...wow sometimes you come across a book that speaks to your soul. Loved this book!
January 7, 2015
3.5
This is the story of Olivia and Jazz Moon, sisters who embark on a journey following the death of their Mother. One of them hoping to finish her Mother's story, the other not knowing where the journey will take her. These two sisters are polar opposites yet the bond they have is a strong one, though not always loving. The story is told from the point of view of each sister in alternating chapters, with flashbacks as well.
I appreciated that Ms Walsh gave Olivia synesthesia, a condition where one's senses are so attuned and mixed up that they can see and taste words. This made Olivia's narrative more dreamlike, more fantasy which described her well. She saw and felt everything, her life was full of color and sound. Jazz on the other hand was more black and white, very practical and old before her time while Olivia seemed childlike. The contrast between the two is huge, and didn't work well for me.
Mixed into this were letters that their Mother had written to a father who had disowned her. Letters she wrote and never sent. Both girls have different ideas of what their Mother's life was like and how it ended. The journey they make is too find some closure and along the way they learn a bit more about themselves and how the other see's the world.
I liked the premise of this story, but it took quite a bit of the book for me to be immersed in the tale. I had trouble connecting with the sisters and their feelings. I actually enjoyed the character of Hobbs and his back story more than the main characters. I did however find the writing well done, very descriptive and with a sort of magical quality, but I felt it drug in places, then rushed through to an ending that was not altogether satisfying for me. Enjoyable but did not leave me raving.
This is the story of Olivia and Jazz Moon, sisters who embark on a journey following the death of their Mother. One of them hoping to finish her Mother's story, the other not knowing where the journey will take her. These two sisters are polar opposites yet the bond they have is a strong one, though not always loving. The story is told from the point of view of each sister in alternating chapters, with flashbacks as well.
I appreciated that Ms Walsh gave Olivia synesthesia, a condition where one's senses are so attuned and mixed up that they can see and taste words. This made Olivia's narrative more dreamlike, more fantasy which described her well. She saw and felt everything, her life was full of color and sound. Jazz on the other hand was more black and white, very practical and old before her time while Olivia seemed childlike. The contrast between the two is huge, and didn't work well for me.
Mixed into this were letters that their Mother had written to a father who had disowned her. Letters she wrote and never sent. Both girls have different ideas of what their Mother's life was like and how it ended. The journey they make is too find some closure and along the way they learn a bit more about themselves and how the other see's the world.
I liked the premise of this story, but it took quite a bit of the book for me to be immersed in the tale. I had trouble connecting with the sisters and their feelings. I actually enjoyed the character of Hobbs and his back story more than the main characters. I did however find the writing well done, very descriptive and with a sort of magical quality, but I felt it drug in places, then rushed through to an ending that was not altogether satisfying for me. Enjoyable but did not leave me raving.
March 28, 2014
A great read - Therese Walsh knows how to make distinctive characters and draw you in. This book, in particular, was very lyrical in the way it was written.
March 23, 2014
Jazz and Olivia Moon are sisters and as different as can be. As the elder of the two, Jazz has always felt trapped by her mother’s expectations, while Olivia -- who has a neurological condition called synesthesia, which allows her to see sounds or taste smells -- was allowed to be free to wander and dream. The recent and unresolved death of their mother has left the entire family weighted with grief, and one day Olivia decides to travel with her mother’s ashes to the location of the fairy tale story her mother had been working on. Despite her hatred of the plan, Jazz is forced to tagalong due to the duty to protect Olivia that has been engrained in her for so long. What follows is a journey to learn the beauty and pain of dreams, along with the destruction and redemption of love.
Unfortunately, I was not as in love with this story as I thought I would be. The Moon Sisters alternated between the narrative voices of Jazz and Olivia, and both sisters were difficult for me to like or to connect with. Exasperation settled in very early for me, and it only seemed to get worse once a tattooed train jumper, named Hobbes, and an elder train jumper with dubious intentions, joined the sisters on their journey. These secondary characters had way too much baggage that distracted from the story and seemed completely unnecessary. I did not care about the mystery that surrounded Hobbes and I really did not care for the instant-love Olivia developed for a man whom she claimed “tasted like tomorrow.” I very nearly gave up the book the moment Olivia met Hobbes and it became obvious what was to happen between them because I did not want to go there.
Problems aside, the prose is very well done and there were some great quotes about life, grief, dreams, and the power to choose. This book did not do much in terms of making me feel something deeply profound as a result of the action of the characters, but since it has so many wonderful reviews from other readers I might suggest giving their reviews a look before you decide. This book might have the power to be something incredible for a certain type of reader; it just so happens that I did not fit the bill.
Unfortunately, I was not as in love with this story as I thought I would be. The Moon Sisters alternated between the narrative voices of Jazz and Olivia, and both sisters were difficult for me to like or to connect with. Exasperation settled in very early for me, and it only seemed to get worse once a tattooed train jumper, named Hobbes, and an elder train jumper with dubious intentions, joined the sisters on their journey. These secondary characters had way too much baggage that distracted from the story and seemed completely unnecessary. I did not care about the mystery that surrounded Hobbes and I really did not care for the instant-love Olivia developed for a man whom she claimed “tasted like tomorrow.” I very nearly gave up the book the moment Olivia met Hobbes and it became obvious what was to happen between them because I did not want to go there.
Problems aside, the prose is very well done and there were some great quotes about life, grief, dreams, and the power to choose. This book did not do much in terms of making me feel something deeply profound as a result of the action of the characters, but since it has so many wonderful reviews from other readers I might suggest giving their reviews a look before you decide. This book might have the power to be something incredible for a certain type of reader; it just so happens that I did not fit the bill.
January 4, 2017
I loved this one so much! I was offered this one by the publisher and I'm so thrilled I accepted because it's a wonderful story. I barely laid it down from start to finish. I'm a REALLY slow reader usually but I just rattled through this one.
It's hard for me to write a review for something I loved as opposed to one I hated as it's all about the 'feels' for me and I can't put it into words sometimes. (Just an FYI - with this one I have a lot of feels and chances are that this review is going to be all over the place because of it.)
I don't read very much in this genre (is it Women's fiction? Family drama? Coming of Age?...I'm not sure) but the thing that drew me to accepting this one was the mention of Synesthesia. It's a condition I've heard of before but don't really know much about. It's fascinating. No two people who are affected by the condition have the same experiences and it varies from person to person but Wiki describes it as -
"A neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People who report such experiences are known as synesthetes.
In layman's terms, it's the ability to hear colours, or smell sounds, or even taste words. It's fascinating to me.
Anyway, the story. It's just so interesting! Told in alternating chapters from Jazz and Olivia's points of view with some chapters interspersed with letters written by the girls' mother to her father when she was alive. Is it fate or luck that leads someone to make a certain decision over another? Is life all mapped out for us or is it just about being in the right place at the right time? Maybe it's a bit of both?
I really cared about the characters, I loved them, both the main two girls and their family and the interesting people they meet on their journey (and their stories which run alongside Jazz and Olivia's are equally wonderful). Brilliantly written, evenly paced and satisfying to the end.
I'm not doing this justice at all, I'm all over the place with it. I can't find the words. I just loved it all and everyone needs to read it!
It's hard for me to write a review for something I loved as opposed to one I hated as it's all about the 'feels' for me and I can't put it into words sometimes. (Just an FYI - with this one I have a lot of feels and chances are that this review is going to be all over the place because of it.)
I don't read very much in this genre (is it Women's fiction? Family drama? Coming of Age?...I'm not sure) but the thing that drew me to accepting this one was the mention of Synesthesia. It's a condition I've heard of before but don't really know much about. It's fascinating. No two people who are affected by the condition have the same experiences and it varies from person to person but Wiki describes it as -
"A neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People who report such experiences are known as synesthetes.
In layman's terms, it's the ability to hear colours, or smell sounds, or even taste words. It's fascinating to me.
Anyway, the story. It's just so interesting! Told in alternating chapters from Jazz and Olivia's points of view with some chapters interspersed with letters written by the girls' mother to her father when she was alive. Is it fate or luck that leads someone to make a certain decision over another? Is life all mapped out for us or is it just about being in the right place at the right time? Maybe it's a bit of both?
I really cared about the characters, I loved them, both the main two girls and their family and the interesting people they meet on their journey (and their stories which run alongside Jazz and Olivia's are equally wonderful). Brilliantly written, evenly paced and satisfying to the end.
I'm not doing this justice at all, I'm all over the place with it. I can't find the words. I just loved it all and everyone needs to read it!
December 29, 2013
The Moon Sisters is a more personal novel than The Last Will of Moira Leahy, and I believe it was kismet that Therese Walsh chose a condition like synesthesia to bestow on her character, Olivia Moon. Synesthesia is a neurological condition where senses overlap, allowing a person to hear color, for example, or taste words. It would be impossible to write from that viewpoint without taking all perceptions of how the world works, tossing them out, and starting over.
Walsh likely did much the same in her own life this past summer, when she endured a terrifying health scare. This crisis added a deeper layer of poignancy to an already mystical novel. The Moon Sisters is lush and literary, a feast for senses. It left me questioning how different life would be if I trusted my instinct half as much as my eyes, and forced me to confront some of my own prejudices. This was at times both unsettling and cathartic. I won't forget Olivia Moon or the train-hopper who "tasted like tomorrow" anytime soon.
I highly recommend The Moon Sisters. It’s the perfect novel for women to read and pass on to their sisters, their mothers and their closest friends. I foresee it creating many lively discussions at book clubs.
Walsh likely did much the same in her own life this past summer, when she endured a terrifying health scare. This crisis added a deeper layer of poignancy to an already mystical novel. The Moon Sisters is lush and literary, a feast for senses. It left me questioning how different life would be if I trusted my instinct half as much as my eyes, and forced me to confront some of my own prejudices. This was at times both unsettling and cathartic. I won't forget Olivia Moon or the train-hopper who "tasted like tomorrow" anytime soon.
I highly recommend The Moon Sisters. It’s the perfect novel for women to read and pass on to their sisters, their mothers and their closest friends. I foresee it creating many lively discussions at book clubs.
December 4, 2013
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy to blurb. Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh shimmers on the precipice where the grief-stricken teeter between loss and recovery, a place that often resembles madness. Sisters Olivia and Jazz battle as they hold each other tight in this touching coming of age tale that weighs family loyalty against distinctive truths. Walsh leavens magic realism with comedy; balances enchantment and pragmatic truth, and stirs them into a poignant family story.
December 12, 2013
I don’t want to offer any sort of spoilers, but I was startled, even a bit unsettled, by the events that open this story. I may have been unsettled, but I was hooked. The opening, and how the story plays out, are going to mean so much to so many people who’ve been affected by similar circumstances.
In Olivia and Jazz, Walsh has created a pair of sisters that perfectly represent the archetypes of just about any sibling rivalry, and yet they are utterly unique. I quickly and easily fell in love with winsome Olivia. She's such a free spirit, so innocently wise. I was fascinated by her synesthesia and the various and distinctive effects the condition has on everyone in her life. Jazz is more prickly, but I sensed something more in her. I wanted to get beyond her prickliness and to know her. I’d have to say that finally doing just that—getting to know and understand Jazz—was one of the things I loved most about reading this novel. It makes the culmination all the more powerful and moving.
The writing in The Moon Sisters is just gorgeous. Walsh’s power as a writer has grown and matured since The Last Will of Moira Leahy, which was an astonishingly well-written debut. The pace and pitch, rise and fall, are spot on. The book is chock full of beautiful phrasing and evocative metaphors. More importantly, it never feels forced. Each characters’ voice always feels natural and distinctive.
But for me “story” always trumps beautiful writing. And The Moon Sisters delivers. The story is a masterfully woven tapestry of the power of secrets and hidden longing, guilt and regret, unconditional love and forgiveness. The story builds with increasing tension and urgency, keeping the pages turning faster and faster, all the way to the emotional culmination. I was powerfully moved and left thinking long after “The End.”
In Olivia and Jazz, Walsh has created a pair of sisters that perfectly represent the archetypes of just about any sibling rivalry, and yet they are utterly unique. I quickly and easily fell in love with winsome Olivia. She's such a free spirit, so innocently wise. I was fascinated by her synesthesia and the various and distinctive effects the condition has on everyone in her life. Jazz is more prickly, but I sensed something more in her. I wanted to get beyond her prickliness and to know her. I’d have to say that finally doing just that—getting to know and understand Jazz—was one of the things I loved most about reading this novel. It makes the culmination all the more powerful and moving.
The writing in The Moon Sisters is just gorgeous. Walsh’s power as a writer has grown and matured since The Last Will of Moira Leahy, which was an astonishingly well-written debut. The pace and pitch, rise and fall, are spot on. The book is chock full of beautiful phrasing and evocative metaphors. More importantly, it never feels forced. Each characters’ voice always feels natural and distinctive.
But for me “story” always trumps beautiful writing. And The Moon Sisters delivers. The story is a masterfully woven tapestry of the power of secrets and hidden longing, guilt and regret, unconditional love and forgiveness. The story builds with increasing tension and urgency, keeping the pages turning faster and faster, all the way to the emotional culmination. I was powerfully moved and left thinking long after “The End.”
July 2, 2014
Olivia & Jazz Moon, two sisters that are complete opposites lose their mother unexpectedly. They end up on a journey to the Cranberry Glades to help resolve what actually happened with their mom...
The chapters alternate back and forth between Olivia and Jazz interspersed with letters written from their mother. Olivia has Synesthesia, which is a disorder in which her senses get discombobulated. She associated her mother as smelling like sunshine. This made for a whimsy, dreamy quality. Jazz, on the other hand, the older sister-- more responsible and constantly having to take care of younger Olivia. She struggles with letting go of control and living her life for her, instead of trying to live up to the expectations that she has set for herself.
I associated more with Jazz-- I too am an older sister to two siblings, and completely understood her struggles, as it is something that I've dealt with time and time again. The pressure that you put on yourself to ensure that nothing happens can be out of control at times. Seeing the relationship weaken and grow made my heart melt and introducing the train hoppers- especially Hobbs made for an enduring cast of characters-- quirky at times, but worth the read.
The chapters alternate back and forth between Olivia and Jazz interspersed with letters written from their mother. Olivia has Synesthesia, which is a disorder in which her senses get discombobulated. She associated her mother as smelling like sunshine. This made for a whimsy, dreamy quality. Jazz, on the other hand, the older sister-- more responsible and constantly having to take care of younger Olivia. She struggles with letting go of control and living her life for her, instead of trying to live up to the expectations that she has set for herself.
I associated more with Jazz-- I too am an older sister to two siblings, and completely understood her struggles, as it is something that I've dealt with time and time again. The pressure that you put on yourself to ensure that nothing happens can be out of control at times. Seeing the relationship weaken and grow made my heart melt and introducing the train hoppers- especially Hobbs made for an enduring cast of characters-- quirky at times, but worth the read.
December 30, 2013
THE MOON SISTERS, by Therese Walsh, is a great story, well told, with grief, and biscuits, and tattoos. It is the story of two young women, Olivia and Jazz, who've lost their mother. On the heels of her death, they are unanchored from their place inside the world, their sense of home and all its easy truths. Olivia, the dreamer, sets off for Cranberry Glades with their mother's ashes, in search of the will-o-the-wisp ghost lights that could set everything to rights. Jazz, her more practical sister, tries to stop the trip before it starts. When that fails, she goes along to keep the journey inside the boundaries of sense and self-control.
But it's not that kind of trip. The path these sisters take is hard and wild and ragged. Along the way, Olivia and Jazz fight like demons -- and hold to each other like salvation. This is a novel about grief and persistence, about dreams gone awry and dreams that must be followed to the end. It is a tale both lyrical and biting, moving through the swell and ebb of loss and mourning. It is not an easy trip, and the end is anything but predictable.
Like the journey itself, Walsh's characters are complex and satisfying. From a half-blind synesthete to a train-hopping tattoo-boy, they are freshly inked, unique. At the same time, they are utterly familiar, a mirror held to the best (and craziest) parts of any family. You've never met these girls before but, already, you know them. Their voices resonate off the page. Olivia, the synesthete, thinks that "what-ifs . . . tasted an awful lot like cheese from a can." While Jazz believes that, "Some things were meant to fly, and others were bound by their roots." Together, these two very different voices come alive inside the journey, with all its twists, its bogs and turns and heavy secrets.
As the girls travel towards Cranberry Glades, they move back and forth in time, in memories and letters and in imagination. Several generations come together with repeated themes and questions. What defines a good life? Are all dreams worthy ventures? And what is the cost, the ultimate cost, of letting go? At the end of the path, there are no easy, Disney-patterned answers. There are no tidy resolutions. THE MOON SISTERS is a journey with both wings and roots, one that left me someplace else from where I started. It's a trip in every sense, a place to lose yourself, to hop a train, to lose your sight and fall . . . and then? And then, get up, again, of course. Get up and keep on walking, eyes wide, in spite of blindness. This is a book I will not forget, and one that will not leave me.
But it's not that kind of trip. The path these sisters take is hard and wild and ragged. Along the way, Olivia and Jazz fight like demons -- and hold to each other like salvation. This is a novel about grief and persistence, about dreams gone awry and dreams that must be followed to the end. It is a tale both lyrical and biting, moving through the swell and ebb of loss and mourning. It is not an easy trip, and the end is anything but predictable.
Like the journey itself, Walsh's characters are complex and satisfying. From a half-blind synesthete to a train-hopping tattoo-boy, they are freshly inked, unique. At the same time, they are utterly familiar, a mirror held to the best (and craziest) parts of any family. You've never met these girls before but, already, you know them. Their voices resonate off the page. Olivia, the synesthete, thinks that "what-ifs . . . tasted an awful lot like cheese from a can." While Jazz believes that, "Some things were meant to fly, and others were bound by their roots." Together, these two very different voices come alive inside the journey, with all its twists, its bogs and turns and heavy secrets.
As the girls travel towards Cranberry Glades, they move back and forth in time, in memories and letters and in imagination. Several generations come together with repeated themes and questions. What defines a good life? Are all dreams worthy ventures? And what is the cost, the ultimate cost, of letting go? At the end of the path, there are no easy, Disney-patterned answers. There are no tidy resolutions. THE MOON SISTERS is a journey with both wings and roots, one that left me someplace else from where I started. It's a trip in every sense, a place to lose yourself, to hop a train, to lose your sight and fall . . . and then? And then, get up, again, of course. Get up and keep on walking, eyes wide, in spite of blindness. This is a book I will not forget, and one that will not leave me.
January 16, 2014
It took me much longer than it should have to finish this book, and not become it wasn't engrossing because it was. Not because it wasn't beautifully written, because it was. Not because it wasn't expertly plotted, because it was. It took me so long because I didn't want it to end.
There's a reason for that. Walsh's first book, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, is to this day one of my favorites. It's also the book that serendipitously led me to my literary agent, which helped my own novel get published. After my love affair with Walsh's first book, I felt like I waited a long time for her second book to come. And when it finally did, and I was fortunate to get an Advanced Copy, I felt anxious at the thought that something I had waited so long for would come and go quickly if I let the book consume me in only a few days.
So I took my time. Sipped instead of gulped. I read it slowly, which was hard because the book is magical and transcendent. You can read the back of the book blurb for more specific details (I don't feel the need to rewrite that here)but what I will say is that The Moon Sisters time and time again made me laugh, cry, sigh, hope, dream, wonder, and believe. It's that delicate blend of literary and commercial--great writing you stop and reread because it's so poignant and a gripping plot that keeps you turning the pages. Walsh's gift is making an extraordinary story out of ordinary characters in ordinary situations. There are no gimmicks here...no car chases, no whodunit hoopla, no Deus ex machina. These are real people delving into real issues about life and death, love and hate, happiness and pain. And at its heart, it's about the strength of family and finding your own truth.
I adored The Moon Sisters as much as The Last Will of Moira Leahy, but must say that Walsh, like any author should, gets better with each book.
There's a reason for that. Walsh's first book, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, is to this day one of my favorites. It's also the book that serendipitously led me to my literary agent, which helped my own novel get published. After my love affair with Walsh's first book, I felt like I waited a long time for her second book to come. And when it finally did, and I was fortunate to get an Advanced Copy, I felt anxious at the thought that something I had waited so long for would come and go quickly if I let the book consume me in only a few days.
So I took my time. Sipped instead of gulped. I read it slowly, which was hard because the book is magical and transcendent. You can read the back of the book blurb for more specific details (I don't feel the need to rewrite that here)but what I will say is that The Moon Sisters time and time again made me laugh, cry, sigh, hope, dream, wonder, and believe. It's that delicate blend of literary and commercial--great writing you stop and reread because it's so poignant and a gripping plot that keeps you turning the pages. Walsh's gift is making an extraordinary story out of ordinary characters in ordinary situations. There are no gimmicks here...no car chases, no whodunit hoopla, no Deus ex machina. These are real people delving into real issues about life and death, love and hate, happiness and pain. And at its heart, it's about the strength of family and finding your own truth.
I adored The Moon Sisters as much as The Last Will of Moira Leahy, but must say that Walsh, like any author should, gets better with each book.
October 2, 2015
I read this novel a little bit each day because I liked living with these two sisters, Olivia and Jazz, as they struggled through the challenges of sibling rivalry, depression, hope, and the lost dreams of their mother along with the grief after her death. It is ineffably sad. Filled with childhood memories and dark emotional tension, The Moon Sisters is beautifully and skillfully written. Mothers and daughters; fathers and daughters; sisters. I don't read a lot of coming-of-age dramas; I can see this novel as inspiring for young women. The family dynamics here have a slow rippling effect, like when you drop a pebble into a still pond and watch the circles wave out and separate from the source. That pond is never the same again. A poignant story if ever there was one.
November 5, 2013
The book follows sisters Jazz and Olivia after the death (was it suicide or an accident) of their troubled mother. One sister had a tight bond and nothing but lovely memories, the other never felt loved nor close to her- each having a different perception of what their mother was made of. Olivia has synesthesia (a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sense can lead to stimulation of another, for example tasting words, seeing sounds). She has led a sheltered life alongside her mother, home-schooled and free to wander and be an imaginative child. Jazz has had to be responsible and 'good', with a structured life- as the reader can imagine this doesn't lead to sisterly affection.
Jazz is about to start a job at the same funeral parlor that handled her mother's body when Olivia decides to travel to the setting of her mother's unfinished story and finding the mysterious 'bog lights'.
Duty bound and reluctant, sensible Jazz chases after her wayward sister with the goal of bringing her home. Things take a turn when their means of travel breaks down and Olivia makes nice with a tattooed troubled train-hopper, Hobbs.
I had a hard time liking either of the sisters, in fact I would have welcomed a novel about their superstitious Grandmother, by far the most interesting character. This novel will suit young adults, with just enough mystery and love. I adore magical realism but wouldn't classify The Moon Sisters as that. I wish the story had continued in this vein "The night before the worst day of my life, I dreamed the sun went dark and ice cracked every mirror in the house, but I didn’t take it for a warning." The preceding line reminds me of Alice Hoffman's stlye, but it seems the magic waned once I got into the middle. Not to say this isn't an interesting story, but I honestly felt fed up with Olivia. It follows that Olivia would be immature having lived a carefree existence, but rather than loving her free-spirited manner she tended to come off foolishly reckless- maybe that's the point. Jazz, in comparison seems decades older, unable to give herself over to anything that isn't controlled. I feel most teens and young adults won't be irritated by these girls like I was. The ending was enough to make the read worth my while, as the reader is invested in Hobb's story early on. I found myself wondering more about Hobbs than the darn bog lights anyway. Their mother is hard to like, selfishly lost in her past (but I am speaking as a mother myself,therefore my opinion is going to be biased). At times when reading the letters she has written to her father, who disowned her for getting pregnant, I felt pity but also annoyance, wanting to say buck up and take care of your children! Self-pity contaminated her family and set both her daughter's into roles they may not have otherwise have chosen. The Moon Sisters is well written, enough that you will love or dislike the characters. The author's psychology degree obviously comes in handy when creating the troubled characters, and while it is true in life as in fiction- you will feel compassion but also frustration towards everyone in the novel.
Jazz is about to start a job at the same funeral parlor that handled her mother's body when Olivia decides to travel to the setting of her mother's unfinished story and finding the mysterious 'bog lights'.
Duty bound and reluctant, sensible Jazz chases after her wayward sister with the goal of bringing her home. Things take a turn when their means of travel breaks down and Olivia makes nice with a tattooed troubled train-hopper, Hobbs.
I had a hard time liking either of the sisters, in fact I would have welcomed a novel about their superstitious Grandmother, by far the most interesting character. This novel will suit young adults, with just enough mystery and love. I adore magical realism but wouldn't classify The Moon Sisters as that. I wish the story had continued in this vein "The night before the worst day of my life, I dreamed the sun went dark and ice cracked every mirror in the house, but I didn’t take it for a warning." The preceding line reminds me of Alice Hoffman's stlye, but it seems the magic waned once I got into the middle. Not to say this isn't an interesting story, but I honestly felt fed up with Olivia. It follows that Olivia would be immature having lived a carefree existence, but rather than loving her free-spirited manner she tended to come off foolishly reckless- maybe that's the point. Jazz, in comparison seems decades older, unable to give herself over to anything that isn't controlled. I feel most teens and young adults won't be irritated by these girls like I was. The ending was enough to make the read worth my while, as the reader is invested in Hobb's story early on. I found myself wondering more about Hobbs than the darn bog lights anyway. Their mother is hard to like, selfishly lost in her past (but I am speaking as a mother myself,therefore my opinion is going to be biased). At times when reading the letters she has written to her father, who disowned her for getting pregnant, I felt pity but also annoyance, wanting to say buck up and take care of your children! Self-pity contaminated her family and set both her daughter's into roles they may not have otherwise have chosen. The Moon Sisters is well written, enough that you will love or dislike the characters. The author's psychology degree obviously comes in handy when creating the troubled characters, and while it is true in life as in fiction- you will feel compassion but also frustration towards everyone in the novel.
April 19, 2021
"I am quite certain that determined lost girls are the most powerful of all forces," writes the absent mother in this novel. Absent because her death opens the story. This tale within a tale is deftly told, reminiscent of the old pilgrimage tales and fairy tales that lead the characters into the depths of the forest to find the truth of something. Normally I don't like pov switches, but it works in this book. We move back and forth seamlessly between the two polar opposite Moon sisters, with the mother's old letters cementing the cracks between.
This is one of those new breed of books that is both popular and literary fiction. Walsh has a lyrical style, especially when trying to capture the synesthesia world of Olivia. The dialog is mostly realistic, and the rural settings well drawn. And for fans of suspense and mystery, there is a twist at the end I didn't even see coming.
Definitely recommend for readers who enjoy their lit fiction with a bit of plot, adventure, and drive forward to satisfying completion.
This is one of those new breed of books that is both popular and literary fiction. Walsh has a lyrical style, especially when trying to capture the synesthesia world of Olivia. The dialog is mostly realistic, and the rural settings well drawn. And for fans of suspense and mystery, there is a twist at the end I didn't even see coming.
Definitely recommend for readers who enjoy their lit fiction with a bit of plot, adventure, and drive forward to satisfying completion.
October 17, 2022
I like books about sisters-- maybe because I don't have one. Jazz and Olivia had a complex relationship, with a lot of guilt and resentment built in. As they traveled to see the Wil-O-Wisps, they were forced to finally get to know and understand each other as they both worked through their grief over losing their mother. There was a lyrical quality to the writing that I enjoyed, especially when the author was describing Olivia's perceptions or the beautiful West Virgina mountains.
February 18, 2014
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
* I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Random House Crown via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.*
The Moon Sisters is a truly unique story about two sisters who are both struggling after the death of their mother. Worlds apart in their way of thinking the two sisters struggle to understand each other and their actions. Olivia sets out on a journey to find the place that was the setting of her mothers unfinished novel in the hopes of finding peace and Jazz reluctantly accompanies her in order to keep her safe. The journey takes a wrong turn and a series of events happen that neither one of them could imagine. It turns from a physical journey into a journey of self discovery, family, survival, hope, secrets, friendship, relationships and understanding.
Walsh weaves a wonderful story that bounces between Jazz and Olivia's point of view with letters written by their mother Beth to their grandfather that disowned her when she left him to get married and have a family. In doing this, the reader is able to get into both Moon sister's head as well as their mother's and understand the struggles they have after losing her. It was really very well done in my opinion and made the story flow almost magically and quickly. The characters are raw, real and easy to connect to.
This is a beautiful story of love, loss and the ties that bind us that I won't soon forget. I enjoyed every minute of it! I have found a new author to enjoy.
* I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Random House Crown via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.*
The Moon Sisters is a truly unique story about two sisters who are both struggling after the death of their mother. Worlds apart in their way of thinking the two sisters struggle to understand each other and their actions. Olivia sets out on a journey to find the place that was the setting of her mothers unfinished novel in the hopes of finding peace and Jazz reluctantly accompanies her in order to keep her safe. The journey takes a wrong turn and a series of events happen that neither one of them could imagine. It turns from a physical journey into a journey of self discovery, family, survival, hope, secrets, friendship, relationships and understanding.
Walsh weaves a wonderful story that bounces between Jazz and Olivia's point of view with letters written by their mother Beth to their grandfather that disowned her when she left him to get married and have a family. In doing this, the reader is able to get into both Moon sister's head as well as their mother's and understand the struggles they have after losing her. It was really very well done in my opinion and made the story flow almost magically and quickly. The characters are raw, real and easy to connect to.
This is a beautiful story of love, loss and the ties that bind us that I won't soon forget. I enjoyed every minute of it! I have found a new author to enjoy.
March 12, 2014
I had high hopes for this novel. The cover, for one, is beautiful. The title is pretty and alluring. I just couldn’t get into it. I finished it, albeit reluctantly. I dragged my feet the whole way, like Jazz. I didn’t connect to any of the characters. Jazz complained too much for a character that was cold, distant, and rightfully so was called a b*tch by Hobbs. Olivia was too free spirited for me. I’m all for flower children. But, there comes a point when you have to act like an adult. There were moments, but so fleeting. Walsh over did it for me with Olivia’s character. She was too much to handle. Hobbs was the only character I truly liked.
The plot was slow moving for me. I was confused a little by the end, but if I say why it’d be a total spoiler. I just thought there would be more magical realism like in Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen novels. I didn’t find much of it; of anything. There were letters to the father that disowned the mother that I personally felt were unnecessary and did not move the plot along at all. I think it was used as a way to understand the mother while having her dead, but I found myself skimming them rather than devouring them.
For full review you can go to indiewritergirl0329.wordpress.com
The plot was slow moving for me. I was confused a little by the end, but if I say why it’d be a total spoiler. I just thought there would be more magical realism like in Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen novels. I didn’t find much of it; of anything. There were letters to the father that disowned the mother that I personally felt were unnecessary and did not move the plot along at all. I think it was used as a way to understand the mother while having her dead, but I found myself skimming them rather than devouring them.
For full review you can go to indiewritergirl0329.wordpress.com
January 13, 2014
For most of my life I have struggled to have a relationship with my sister that goes beyond the everyday annoyances. So reading “The Moon Sisters” was in a sense reliving all of those years and also moving beyond them too. This book is about a family dealing with the loss of a mother and whether she took her life or if her death was a complete accident. These two sisters, Jazz the eldest and Olivia the youngest, set out to come to terms with her death. The writing is poetic and convincing. The reader will definitely feel the pain that these sisters are going through. I can relate to Jazz because of her responsibilities as the eldest to look out for her sister. There were so many moments that I just wanted to shake Olivia for her selfishness. I understand that she was grieving but her ability to see beauty I felt let her have an advantage over Jazz who was acquainted with sorrow and failure. This is definitely a great novel because it made me think about grief and how to go through it with those you love
July 17, 2014
I wanted to like this book. It had come pretty highly recommended by people whose book-lists I usually agree with. But The Moon Sisters just did not speak to me.
It reminded me slightly of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cakeonly combined with Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood tossed in for good measure. I didn't LIKE Olivia or Jazz until I'd read almost two-thirds of the book ... and even then, I can't say I like them, but I finally got to the point where I wanted to know what happened to them.
A story about trying to grieve a loss while trying to answer questions that might better be left un-answered. I struggled to get through this book and only gave it 2 stars because the ending was worth it. Otherwise this was a 1 star read through and through for me.
It reminded me slightly of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cakeonly combined with Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood tossed in for good measure. I didn't LIKE Olivia or Jazz until I'd read almost two-thirds of the book ... and even then, I can't say I like them, but I finally got to the point where I wanted to know what happened to them.
A story about trying to grieve a loss while trying to answer questions that might better be left un-answered. I struggled to get through this book and only gave it 2 stars because the ending was worth it. Otherwise this was a 1 star read through and through for me.
August 29, 2013
I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of THE MOON SISTERS, and I loved every word!
Therese Walsh is a gifted storyteller whose lyrical prose captures the uniqueness of her characters and the compelling, slightly mystical nature of their journey. It's a tale of two sisters -- unalike in a multitude of ways -- and their quest for understanding the secrets of their late mother's past. The trip Jazz and Olivia take together naturally strains the bonds of an already difficult relationship, but what is slowly revealed during their time away from home proves to be truly enlightening to them both...regardless of how differently each perceives the world.
This is a novel about love, hope and, above all, acceptance. Readers will find themselves caught up in a kaleidoscope of sensory details and the richness of a story beautifully told.
Therese Walsh is a gifted storyteller whose lyrical prose captures the uniqueness of her characters and the compelling, slightly mystical nature of their journey. It's a tale of two sisters -- unalike in a multitude of ways -- and their quest for understanding the secrets of their late mother's past. The trip Jazz and Olivia take together naturally strains the bonds of an already difficult relationship, but what is slowly revealed during their time away from home proves to be truly enlightening to them both...regardless of how differently each perceives the world.
This is a novel about love, hope and, above all, acceptance. Readers will find themselves caught up in a kaleidoscope of sensory details and the richness of a story beautifully told.
March 27, 2014
The Moon Sisters is many things. On the surface, it's about two sisters who are trying to get over the death of their mother just as they come of age. But, it's also a love story-- between mother and daughters, between sisters, between new lovers. It's an adventure story, with train jumping and outlaws and bounty hunters. It's magical, with might-be fairies populating the characters' landscapes (or perhaps just their imaginations). I guess it might best be called a fable, with many lessons about these things.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how Walsh explores a brain-- not disorder-- phenomenon, maybe?-- called synesthesia. This means your brain mixes up your senses, so if you hear music, you might see shapes or colors. If you see a certain color, you might smell a certain smell. It's fascinating.
Thoughtful and entertaining.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is how Walsh explores a brain-- not disorder-- phenomenon, maybe?-- called synesthesia. This means your brain mixes up your senses, so if you hear music, you might see shapes or colors. If you see a certain color, you might smell a certain smell. It's fascinating.
Thoughtful and entertaining.
January 8, 2014
Another strong novel from Therese Walsh. The magical elements in this novel were reminiscent of Alice Hoffman, as was the beautiful writing.
Any novel about sisters and their complicated dynamic is a winner for me. Following them and their mother's journey (told through letters) was, at oftentimes, heartbreaking.
Walsh has definitely found her voice in this book and much of it reads like poetry! I'm thrilled I got a chance to preview this book before it debuts! It truly was a joy to read it!
Any novel about sisters and their complicated dynamic is a winner for me. Following them and their mother's journey (told through letters) was, at oftentimes, heartbreaking.
Walsh has definitely found her voice in this book and much of it reads like poetry! I'm thrilled I got a chance to preview this book before it debuts! It truly was a joy to read it!
May 19, 2014
Sisters|18050053]The Moon Sisters is 1.99 for kindle and Nook. This is a whimsical book about two sisters, one with synesthesia, who go on a quest to scatter their mother's ashes. Beautiful descriptions and compelling sister relationship that will strike a chord with mist siblings. Well worth the bargain price!
May 24, 2014
Jazz and Olivia Moon go on a dreamlike journey to find closure after their mother's unsettling and untimely death. There are lots of vivid descriptions in this book as many things have sights, sounds, scents, and tastes, in the magical world of the Moon sisters. Beautifully imagined.... but found the plot to be buried deep underneath all of the fantasy. 3.5 stars
February 23, 2014
This novel is a meticulously crafted journey through inward and outward stages of grief for a pair of unique and unforgettable sisters. If only we could all scale the wilderness to climb out of our pains and griefs. Fully realized characters and surprises. Highly recommended.
February 18, 2015
Engrossing story of two young sisters dealing with their mother's death, possible suicide, and becoming closer to each other in the end. I had a tiny problem with the ending, an explanation for their hobo friend Hobbs. So my rating would really be 4.50/5, which is near enough to perfect.
December 19, 2013
Sometimes, what we see on the surface is not what lies deep underneath. Sometimes, we need to be forced to interact with others before realizing our first impressions were wrong. In Therese Walsh's coming-of-age novel The Moon Sisters, Walsh tells the tale of two sisters, Jazz and Olivia, polar opposites in both physical and emotional development, as they reconcile with their mother's recent passing. This is a story that not only entertains us but enlightens us on even the relations in our own lives.
The progression of understanding between the Moon sisters begins at an all-time low, building up to something much sweeter. Walsh's execution is well done and believable, allowing us to invest in the sisters' characters more easily. With that being said, the development of each character is simple but unique, marking a distinction for not just the main cast but the backups as well. What I really liked was Walsh's alternation of points of view between Jazz and Olivia, which gives differing perspectives on the same story. Every once in a while, readers are also treated with letters from the girls' mother as sort of interludes, which adds an entirely new dimension to the story.
Walsh's writing style is easy to read, so there's not much of a problem understanding the story on the surface. However, she litters deeper, hidden meanings under each section of prose, allowing for a more enriching experience if we return for another read-through. It's works like these that are worth the investment because there is always something new to be discovered in the story. Ultimately, that's the best part of this book.
I really enjoyed this story, finding it to be a beautifully crafted work of art. As a whole, it was a simple story but a powerful one nonetheless. And, even though it has yet to be released in stores, I recommend everyone to at least give this one a quick-read through when it comes out in 2014.
Note: I received this novel through a Goodreads giveaway and would like to thank the author and publisher for their generosity. For anyone interested, the Moon Sisters arrives in stores in March 2014.
The progression of understanding between the Moon sisters begins at an all-time low, building up to something much sweeter. Walsh's execution is well done and believable, allowing us to invest in the sisters' characters more easily. With that being said, the development of each character is simple but unique, marking a distinction for not just the main cast but the backups as well. What I really liked was Walsh's alternation of points of view between Jazz and Olivia, which gives differing perspectives on the same story. Every once in a while, readers are also treated with letters from the girls' mother as sort of interludes, which adds an entirely new dimension to the story.
Walsh's writing style is easy to read, so there's not much of a problem understanding the story on the surface. However, she litters deeper, hidden meanings under each section of prose, allowing for a more enriching experience if we return for another read-through. It's works like these that are worth the investment because there is always something new to be discovered in the story. Ultimately, that's the best part of this book.
I really enjoyed this story, finding it to be a beautifully crafted work of art. As a whole, it was a simple story but a powerful one nonetheless. And, even though it has yet to be released in stores, I recommend everyone to at least give this one a quick-read through when it comes out in 2014.
Note: I received this novel through a Goodreads giveaway and would like to thank the author and publisher for their generosity. For anyone interested, the Moon Sisters arrives in stores in March 2014.
January 17, 2016
Title: The Moon Sisters
Author: Therese Walsh
Published: Crown
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"The Moon Sisters" by Therese Walsh is a interesting novel that I found especially for the Young Adult readers. It was well written showing a physical emotions and grief. We find two young ladies who have lost their mother and their lives are really turned up side down. In opening of this novel well, I will just say this was some hard read. I don't wish to give to much away but you will find once you get into this novel you will find it hard to put down until the very end. We find that one of this sisters leave their town of Tramp and takes off with their mother's ashes to 'Cranberry Glade.' The other sister tries to stop her, however, when this doesn't work she ends up going on this trip too. This is when this story takes off. What will happen on this trip? Now, this is where I say you must pick up "The Moon Sister" to see how the author presents such a well told poetic story to the reader. Was this a accidental death or a suicide of their mother? Will there be craziness along this read with voices that will appear on this journey? You will taken back and forth in time on this journey to Cranberry Glades with memories and the imagination of letters where the reader will also feel the pain that these sisters go through. "The Moon Sisters" has some well developed characters and the secondary characters are very colorful such as the tattooed drifter Hobbs and enigmatic Red Grass.
This is definitely one read that will not leave you after the read only giving you a woven journey of secrets, guilt, regret, forgiveness, unconditional love and a bit of magic for these two sisters. I found "The Moon Sisters" a very well written intriguing story about these two memorable sisters. Would I recommend "The Moon Sisters?" YES!
Author: Therese Walsh
Published: Crown
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"The Moon Sisters" by Therese Walsh is a interesting novel that I found especially for the Young Adult readers. It was well written showing a physical emotions and grief. We find two young ladies who have lost their mother and their lives are really turned up side down. In opening of this novel well, I will just say this was some hard read. I don't wish to give to much away but you will find once you get into this novel you will find it hard to put down until the very end. We find that one of this sisters leave their town of Tramp and takes off with their mother's ashes to 'Cranberry Glade.' The other sister tries to stop her, however, when this doesn't work she ends up going on this trip too. This is when this story takes off. What will happen on this trip? Now, this is where I say you must pick up "The Moon Sister" to see how the author presents such a well told poetic story to the reader. Was this a accidental death or a suicide of their mother? Will there be craziness along this read with voices that will appear on this journey? You will taken back and forth in time on this journey to Cranberry Glades with memories and the imagination of letters where the reader will also feel the pain that these sisters go through. "The Moon Sisters" has some well developed characters and the secondary characters are very colorful such as the tattooed drifter Hobbs and enigmatic Red Grass.
This is definitely one read that will not leave you after the read only giving you a woven journey of secrets, guilt, regret, forgiveness, unconditional love and a bit of magic for these two sisters. I found "The Moon Sisters" a very well written intriguing story about these two memorable sisters. Would I recommend "The Moon Sisters?" YES!
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