Red Moon Rising

by K.A. Holt

Space-farmer Rae Darling is kidnapped and trained to become a warrior against her own people in this adventurous middle grade space western that “will lasso readers and have them hoping for a sequel” (Booklist).

Rae Darling and her family are colonists on a moon so obscure it doesn’t merit a name. Life is hard, water is scarce, and the farm work she does is grueling. But Rae and her sister Temple are faced with an added complication—being female is a serious liability in their strict society. Even worse, the Cheese—the colonists’ name for the native people on the moon—sometimes kidnap girls from the human colony. And when Rae’s impetuous actions disrupt the fragile peace, the Cheese come for her and Temple.

Though Rae and Temple are captives in the Cheese society, they are shocked to discover a community full of kindness and acceptance. Where the human colonists subjugated women, the Cheese train the girls to become fierce warriors. Over time, Temple forgets her past and becomes one of the Cheese, but Rae continues to wonder where her loyalties truly lie. When her training is up, will she really be able to raid her former colony? Can she kidnap other girls, even if she might be recruiting them to a better life?

When a Cheese raid goes wrong and the humans retaliate, Rae’s loyalty is put to the ultimate test. Can Rae find a way to restore peace—and preserve both sides of herself?

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Westerns

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2016

Reviews

[Liz Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story: Stranded on a rock in space and trying to grub a living out of the desert, the humans hate and fight the native Kihuut. Nicknamed the Cheese, these aliens kidnap girls, who are never seen again. It's only when Rae and her sister Temple are snatched that the other side of the story comes into view: the settlers' diseases have decimated them, rendered them childless, and ruined their trade. No wondered there's such hatred on both sides. Even more amazing--the Cheese treat women like valuable team members, not like they're fit only for doing housework. After a while, Rae may not even want to go back...but she'll be forced to do so in order to prevent an all-out war. Even then, it might still be too late.

June Clever's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (oppression of women, racism) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I liked this one a lot! Rae has a spunky voice and believably comes to see her own peoples' shortsightedness and prejudice, which leads her to make a series of difficult decisions in this sci-fi coming of age novel. A way is left open for a sequel, which is to be hoped for!

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rae is growing up with a hard life on a barren moon near the planet that her grandparents were trying to get to before their spaceship crashed 30 years before. The humans who survived have been scraping by, under constant threat from the native people, who they call "Cheese." Rae's own mother was killed by them and her cousin abducted. Everything changes the day Rae and her younger sister are captured. Suddenly, everything she thought she knew about this moon and its inhabitants is turned on its ear. This book is not only an exciting adventure story, but contains interesting food for thought on feminism, religious beliefs, and treatment of native people. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.

[Jayden T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is normal a slow moving but very interesting. The characters are a amazing and I love how this is called red moon rising. It's a good story about Rae darling on a mission with Temple against the cheese. And the cheese is a good nickname as well. It sucks this did not get a medal yet I think it should. I rate it 4 stars because perfect story cool name and a lot more. Rae and temple are going on a journey to defeat the cheese mostly. There no quotes on the back of the book so I don't know anything of what people think. Will Rae and temple make friend along the way? And defeat the cheese? Read the book to find out

[Leanne C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very different from the other K.A.Holt books I have read. I liked those ones AND this one. Red Moon was an interesting look at 'colonialism' on a distant planet. Some complicated relationships between the planet's inhabitants and the humans that live there, made more complicated by a not-so-honest past. I liked the strong female protagonist and I feel like this story could handle a sequel one day (I am hopeful, as I would like to know what happens next!)

[The Captain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ahoy me mateys. It is time for this book to walk the plank . . .

This is a young adult sci-fi novel. It takes place on a nameless moon. There are two cultures on this moon – humans and the non-humans they call the Cheese (of all things). The book has a cool cover with a girl on a horse and a flying creature:

The cover made me interested in the novel because it has been a while since I read any space-related sci-fi, and I wanted to remedy that. If only this book was as fun as its cover. Overall, the humans’ community felt like a western town. Horses in space? Usually I will read anything that has horses in it. But the horses in the book could not help me suspend my disbelief. The Cheese lizard culture was even weirder.

I only finished this book because it was short (322 pages with large-ish font). The main character, Rae, had some good qualities, and I was entertained by the sister Temple. However, the plot was just too simple and unexciting. The history of the human colony and the other native communities was never really explained to my satisfaction. The tech of the planet seemed arbitrary. And the humans had an annoying version of a seemingly simple Christian-based religion. This book also seems to set itself up for a possible sequel. I will not partake.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced adventure novel set on a far away moon. Perfect for what I wanted - strong female protagonist, action with limited violence (it's there, but not egregiously gory) and a message. Adequate world building that left me with a few questions (food?) but not too many to let them go.

I had a really hard time understanding who the red crescent people were and their role as a third species (or were they human?) and this led me to want to give this three stars instead of four. But I liked the rest of it enough to round up. :) If you are a stickler for that kind of thing, be forewarned (or read closer than I did?).

If you are an adult and you liked this but wanted more exploration of the themes of colonization and messing with established themes, you might like The Sparrow.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expansive world building in this MG sci-fi filled with puritanical space farmers and human-like native peoples who ride pterodactyls!! on a dry, dusty moon. Rae comes to question what makes a family and how to live peaceably with an enemy society. Satisfying ending that is left open enough for a possible sequel.

[Jason June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book as soon as I found out there was a group of aliens called the Cheese! This was SO. GOOD! It is so fast-paced, and even though it's set on a faraway moon, this reads like a Western. Read it!

[Miss Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feminist space western!

[Liza]

Why would you name something "The Cheese" and have it taken seriously? -_-

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Got me through an incredibly long day at State Robotics.

[Nadia T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story plot! Definitely recommend it!

[Prachi Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read out loud with my daughter who is 10. We loved the lead character who is a strong girl with opinions and a true fighter. We could relate. Would read again.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Moon Rising is the beginning of a promising series with a winning main character that is navigating a world in which right and wrong seem to be moving targets. Rae and her family are colonists on a moon. They were with a large group that meant to inhabit a more hospitable place but their craft crashed and they become farmers, living a tough life in a hot, barren world.

This particular area has some indigenous peoples and there is conflict with them as well. Rae sees them as a villainous enemy but then events conspire to show her that her world is not so black and white. She is a smart, fierce character who is able to see the good and the bad in others.

This is not an easy lesson to learn and the conflict between the two groups on the moon gets intense and violent by middle grade standards. The world building in this novel is really good and one could draw comparisons between colonial events on earth and these events in space, although I don't believe the author has pulled any details from actual events.
I hope K.A. Holt goes back to this world and shows how Rae's ability to see the perspectives of both groups impacts the development of this world as she gets older and becomes a candidate for leadership among her people.

This is a thinking person's action/sci-fi.

[Hannah Bergstrom de Leon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. The world Holt is creating is exceptionally creative. The deep history being revealed intrigues me and the characters and their motivations and transformations have such potential, but it just didn't come together for me. With that said, I am not the intended audience so take this critique with a big ol' grain of salt :). If the premise captures you, give it a try.

[Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a spoiler warning but a trigger warning for: colonialism, extreme violence (including gender-targeted violence), "white savior" complex and other things. Honestly I can end the review with this trigger warning because that really tells you everything you need to know.