Winging It

by Megan Wagner Lloyd, Michelle Mee Nutter (Illustrator)

Twelve-year-old Luna never wanted to move from California to Virginia, even if it is near historic Washington, DC, and no matter how excited her dad is to show her the sites and introduce her to the area where her late mother grew up. And she definitely doesn't want to live with a very formal grandmother she barely knows. But during a visit to the National Museum of Natural History, the rarely seen luna moth for which Luna was named sparks her curiosity. Using her mother's old naturalist notebooks as a guide, Luna, who has always preferred the indoors, endeavors to see a real luna moth with her own eyes. Learning more about nature just might help her make a new friend, figure out how to feel at home in her new life, and understand the mother she never got the chance to know.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Contemporary, Nature

272 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Megan Wagner Lloyd is the writer of the kids' graphic novels ALLERGIC and SQUISHED, co-created with illustrator Michelle Mee Nutter, and the SUPER PANCAKE series, co-created with illustrator Abhi Alwar. She's also the author of HAVEN: A SMALL CAT'S BIG ADVENTURE, and several picture books. She lives with her family in the Washington DC area.

Sign up for her newsletter: meganwagnerlloyd.com
Find her on Instagram: @meganwagnerlloyd

Reviews

[Christine Lucia Asha · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUST READ BOOKS in every genre:
Thriller Say Goodbye
Memoir The Yellow House
SciFi Murder by Memory
Romance Time Loops & Meet Cutes

Nature inspired! It doesn't hurt that she is named after a moth!

A young girl wants to follow in her deceased mother's footsteps and record her nature experiences after moving all the way across the country with her father. She gains a circle of trusted friends and her long unattached grandmother. Great characters.

#mustread #blackgirlmagic #lovenature #livegreen

[Oyinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5✨ really cute

[Meri🧋 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🦔🌳🦋🌻

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I read this together not once but twice over the weekend, and she started her own nature journal! So for her, this is a 5-star read. Mama is more curmudgeonly with her 5-star ratings, though I also quite enjoyed it. It's a sweet, quiet middle grade graphic novel that follows 12-year-old Luna through all the seasons. It opens with her finding out she can't attend a special weekend away with her best friends because she and her father are moving all the way from California to Virginia! Her dad has a new job, and they're living with her maternal grandmother until they can find a place of their own. Luna's mother died when she was very young, and she doesn't have much of a relationship with her grandmother. While Luna doesn't think of herself as a nature person, she does want to find the luna moth she's named after, and a kid next door makes being outside fun. Her grandmother also talks a lot about how much her mother loved nature, and gives Luna her mother's nature journals, which inspired Luna to keep her own.

It's quiet but lovely. It was a perfect read for my 7-year-old, who is an advanced reader, but often finds middle grade novels to be too stressful, or too crush-centered (we're still in "yuck" phase there). She immediately asked to put more books by the author and illustrator on hold at the library. Done!

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for all those who say graphic novels aren’t real books…this book starts off with a punch to the heart - Luna doesn’t remember her mother who died when she was young, but named her Luna in honor of her love of nature. Just as Luna is getting ready to ask her dad for an epic hangout with her best friends in LA, he surprises her by saying he got a new job and they have to move across the country, to Virginia, to live with her maternal grandmother, who she has rarely seen. Moving to a new place, starting a new school, having her dad be too busy to talk to her, a grandmother who seems strict and distant - real life issues that seem small but loom large in a kid’s life. Luna’s frustration and resilience makes her a character you want to root for, and her interactions with new friends, her father and especially her grandmother, are delightful in their familiarity, humor and honesty. My particular favorite is the interaction between Luna and her grandmother as they struggle to figure each other out. The overarching theme of looking for the elusive Luna moth, as a way to remember and honor her mother, allows for some beautifully detailed illustrations and will have readers running to create their own versions of nature journals (and helpfully, there’s a guide at the back of the book!) my kids devoured this book in one sitting and will definitely be handing this book to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson, for readers who love their graphic novels with complex, relatable characters and drawings that add so much more meaning to the story. Thanks to @Scholastic for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen Petro-Roy]

This was lovely.

[Logan R · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good, but very predictable, so...

[Megan Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoyed this. It was a great look at how we sometimes have to adapt against our will and how those situations end up healing something we didn’t know needed healing.

And I love ANYTHING that encourages people to get back out into nature and appreciate it. That’s how we get people to want to protect it.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially liked the way the grandma relationship panned out in this appealing realistic fiction story about a girl who moves across the country and learns to love nature. Not a lot happens plotwise, but Megan Wagner Lloyd always writes great characters, and this is no exception.

[Hannah Gazdziak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. I am a huge fan of this author and have read all of their books.

[Karine Hamel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐
Cute story!
Now i want to start a nature journal! 🌷🐸🍃🌈🐿️

[Hayden Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounding up. I liked how Luna's relationship with her grandmother evolved throughout the story.

[Vera Kamvar · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was soooo good but a little predictable. it inspired me to make a nature journal.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luna prefers the indoors, though she is actually named after the beautiful luna moth. Her mother was a big nature lover, but she passed away when Luna was a baby.

After an unexpected move from California to DC (where her mom grew up), Luna receives a collection of nature journals that her mother made when she was younger. Luna decides to make her own nature journals and get more involved in the outside world. She joins an environmental club at school, helps her grandmother in her garden, and becomes a "nature detective" with her next door neighbor. Her goal is to see a luna moth, and after many aborted attempts, she finds one.
Not a lot of conflict in this one, just the big move, and then learning how to live with her grandmother (her mom's mom) who she did not see much growing up.

A cute story overall.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice graphic novel especially for those who love nature

[Emma Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would be five stars for excellent illustrations and character development but I took away 1 star for LGBTQ side characters.
I think this portrayal of what it’s like to live with a grandparent is very accurate to what I’ve experienced. Older adults are more set in their ways, they have rules that are not very flexible, they are limited in what they can do. But they do surprise you when you make the effort to spend time with them.

[Keshia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid story from this duo! The storytelling and illustrations really are top notch.

[Penelope Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

veary good

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter are really the perfect kids graphic novel team

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Luna has always lived in California with just her dad; her mother died when Luna was just a baby.  Summer vacation is in full swing for Luna as she excitedly plans a girls’ trip to Los Angeles with her best friends and their moms, when Dad drops some life-altering news: he is being transferred to Washington, DC. and they will be moving before the start of the school year.  Even more astounding is that they will be living temporarily in Virginia, in her mother’s childhood home with Grandma Wright, her maternal grandmother whom Luna barely knows.  

Upon their arrival, Luna immediately chafes at her strict grandmother’s house rules and old-fashioned expectations, and worries a great deal about fitting in at her new school.  But she sees a number of positives in her new situation too: she enjoys sightseeing in Washington, and marvels at the changing season and the forest environs of Grandma’s neighborhood.  She also considers the move an opportunity to learn more about her mother; Mom was a nature-loving environmental lawyer, and named her daughter after a moth, but Luna has not inherited the outdoorsy gene.  When Grandma shares her mom’s childhood nature journals, Luna begins to see exploring the woods and fields around her as a way to make a connection with Mom AND establish some new friendships.  She soon befriends a little neighbor girl named Sophie, a self-proclaimed detective, and the two set out to explore the woods together, recording all of their interesting finds in a new journal.  Making friends her own age takes a little more time, but she bonds with Sophie’s older brother Oliver and bravely joins the environmental club at school, quickly becoming an active member and good friends with Riri, the club president.  The family dynamic improves as Luna and Grandma get to know each other better; a small challenge arises when Grandma breaks her leg ice skating and she has to allow Luna to help her more.  The ice is melting between the two of them at last, and when a planned camping trip with Dad (to fulfill Luna’s quest to spot a rare luna moth) may have to be called off, Grandma offers to step in. Despite torrential thunderstorms, the trip turns out to be a meaningful bonding experience for both of them.

This is a gentle and comforting coming-of-age story that incorporates several themes that readers will relate to and/or empathize with: grief, moving, intergenerational connections, and environmental concerns.  Taking place over the course of one year in Luna’s life, from July to July, the book is divided into monthly sections with scrapbook-like chapter headings.  Documenting the passage of time and the changing seasons in this way is an effective means to highlight Luna’s progress as she acclimates to her new home and circumstances - the slowly evolving relationships with her father and Grandma, the development of new friendships, and the changes in herself as well.  She grows in confidence as the year goes by, strengthening her passion for, and understanding of, the natural world around her.  The dialog in each scene feels authentic, whether a conversation between Luna and her reserved grandmother, or a text message exchange with her besties back in California, and the speech bubbles are easy to follow.  The graphic novel layout includes a variety of panel sizes, as well as page spreads from the journals of both Luna and her mother, and the comic-book style illustrations bring every character and scene to life by perfectly depicting movements and emotions.  The book is also noteworthy in its seamless and unremarkable inclusivity; Luna is multiracial, Oliver uses hearing aids and has two moms, and the community is diverse.  A simple set of instructions for creating your own nature journal is included. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Luna, whose mother died when she was a baby, lives in California with her father. She's planning a girls' trip to Los Angeles with her good friends Gabriella and Mia, but her father breaks bad news to her: because of his job, he is being transferred to the Washington, D.C. area, and the two are going to be staying with her mother's mother, whom Luna has only seen once a year and doesn't feel a connection to at all. She has to start 7th grade in a new school, but does join the school nature club, since her mother was an outdoorsy person. Luna is not, but once her grandmother gives her her mother's nature journals, Luna starts one of her own, and spends more time outside. It helps that neighbors Sophie and Oliver are out a lot, and the club introduces her to some of the parks and museums in the area. It's not easy to get along with her grandmother, who has lots of rules about not leaving back packs on the floor and taking off shoes, and has two cats and a dog who are not particularly friendly. Eventually, however, the two work on their connection. When Luna and her father plan a camping trip so that she can try to see a Luna moth in the forest, her father has a work commitment, so her grandmother steps in. Will Luna be able to see a Luna moth, and make peace with her new life in the DC area?
Strengths: Lloyd and Nutter's Allergic and Squished are super popular in my library because they deal with dogs and big families, respectively. The illustration style is similar to Raina Telgemeier's or Gale Galligan's in that it is bright, with clear, realistic cartoon style characters and well developed backgrounds. There is a realistic amount of drama; Luna misses her friends, wants to know more about the mother she never met, and wonders why she doesn't have a closer relationship with her grandmother. She doesn't have a particularly hard time at her new school, but does miss her friends. This will be a nice, light read for fans of graphic novels.
Weaknesses: It wasn't really necessary to kill the mother off in order for Luna to bond with her grandmother. It is not stated in the text, but I wonder if part of the estrangement was because Luna's father is Black and the mother was white. Exploring that would have added some depth to an otherwise light plot. Of course, perhaps this isn't an issue as much as it was in 2008 when Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It was published.
What I really think: I will probably buy a copy of this, and it will circulate well, but it wasn't my favorite. This just needed a little extra... something. My students won't have any objections to it, though!

[Annalise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book I've read by Megan Wagner Lloyd, and by far my favorite out of all of them. I feel like it was the perfect book to read that's quick and wholesome during summer, and I absolutely LOVED the nature aspect of it, as well as everything else. 🌱🌸

○♡ SUMMARY ♡○
Luna has always loved living in California with her Dad, even though her mother, who was a major nature explorer, died when she was very young. Luna doesn't really remember much of her. So when her Dad announces that his job is transferring him to Virginia; the very state her Mom grew up in, and that they'll be staying with her grandmother, Luna is even more unsure of how to feel! She's not the best acquainted with her Grandma Rosemary, who, let's just say, is a very prim and proper woman. She likes things to be a certain way, but in spite of that, is very much an outdoorsy lady. Through her time with her grandmother, Luna learns not only more about her but also more of the truth behind her mother, and finds herself spending much more time outside with a very nice girl named Sophie. Together, they explore the outdoors, and, on Luna's mind, finding a luna moth. The very animal she was named after. It turns out Virginia may not be as bad as she'd thought! 🌹🌳😃

○♡ OPINIONS ♡○
Like I said, I absolutely loved this book! Full 5 stars 🌟!! The panels are just full of color and animals, which is so fun to look at, and on top of that, there's so much more packed into this book than just nature. Family discovery, friendship, and a girl finding her place; it's just so wholesome and made me really happy. Especially because it is set in the state of Virginia, my home state! So that was really cool. It's not just about how Luna handles moving across the country, but it's about how she navigates newfound friendships, explores nature, and really dives into her mother's past. I thought Sophie was an absolutely adorable character; mini Sherlock Holmes lol; and I thought the photo Luna's grandmother gave her of Luna next to her Mom was so precious and sweet. This was also, again, just the perfect book to read in summer; all the animals were so well drawn and just engaging to look at, I loved it! Seeing her relationship with her grandmother progress was also really fun. 🩷 And it was nice seeing her try to find a luna moth and live up to her name. Lol sorry if this was really long-winded, but I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a little bit of a smile during the summer, this book will give you one!! ☀️🌹😀

[LiteraryCryptid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming graphic novel that explores family, identity, and grief through the life of twelve year old Luna.

Luna finds her life turned upside-down when her father announces that they are moving from their home in California to live with her maternal grandmother in Virginia. While her dad is showing Luna all the things her late mum grew up around, Luna is worried about starting this new chapter of her life with someone she doesn't really know and in a whole new neighbourhood. Slowly she starts to make new friends, explore her new home, and build a deeper bond with her family and the mum she never knew.

This is adorable and I loved every second of it. Luna is a heartwarming character who grows consistently through the novel. There is a diverse cast of characters within, each having their moment to shape the changes in Luna's life and assist with her growth. The entire novel does an exemplary depiction of grief, both through Luna's eyes as a child who lost her mum at a very young age, and through her family members as they also continue to process their loss an the impact on their current life.

An added bit of fun - this book is great for inspiring young readers to get outside and explore their neighbourhoods. Luna builds her community and friendships through her ongoing interest in nature. Her journey is a great way to encourage young readers to get outside and engage with the natural world around them as well.


Publishing: October 21, 2025
Thank you to Scholastic for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

[vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A return to form for this duo of creators. I liked but didn't love Squished, but I really found Allergic to be so special. Winging It is what I was looking for: kindhearted, emotionally resonant characters and a good story arc. Maybe too many people got injured here (?), but the start of relationships post-Luna's big cross country move was great to see develop. The grandmother/granddaughter relationship, the new neighbor kids, and school friends. Luna's nature journal reminded me of how I loved scrapbooking and memory keeping as a kid. I loved the DMV representation here, like the Smithsonian museums, walking around the Capitol, and the change of the seasons.... though I will say the scenes of cherry blossoms with like four people in the background are quite unrealistic ;)

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming middle grade graphic novel with a nature focus. Luna and her father have just moved in with her maternal grandmother. Her mother died when she was a baby, under circumstances that are never discussed. The cross country move is a huge change for Luna, and so is living with her rigid grandmother. This is a very episodic book, with each month being represented by a small handful of scenes. Over the course of the year, she finds a niche at her new school, befriends the neighbors, slowly bonds with her grandmother, and most importantly to the narrative, forges her own connection with nature by starting a nature journal. Her late mother also kept her own nature journal, which helps her feel connected to the parent she never really knew. Even outside of the emotional connections, the nature journals look very fun, and I can see a lot of young readers being inspired to start their own. All of the characters are realistically written, and Luna is an especially engaging protagonist.

[Michelle Tuite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading 2026
Book 61: Winging It by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Saw this middle grade realistic fiction graphic novel on GR recommended after reading something else. Grabbed it at the library. #MiddleGradeMarch

Synopsis: Using her mother's old naturalist notebooks as a guide, Luna, who has always preferred the indoors, endeavors to see a real luna moth with her own eyes. Learning more about nature just might help her make a new friend, figure out how to feel at home in her new life, and understand the mother she never got the chance to know.

Review: Winging It is a story of grief and fitting in where you are new. Luna lost her mom, now her dad is moving her away from everything she knows to live with grandma. Luna learns more about the mom she doesn’t remember all that much, and is determined to connect with her in some way. Recommending this book as well, 4.25⭐️.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luna has to move from California, leaving all her friends. She's going to live with her grandmother, who she doesn't know, in Virginia. She tries to make friends with the neighbors and kids at school but it's hard. Then she finds an interest in the outdoors. Her mother who passed away when she was a baby loved the outdoors. She made journals of her adventures in nature. Luna decides to do the same with her next door neighbor. Luna is named after a Luna moth that is only seen during summer months and it becomes Luna's goal to see one in person. She joins an environmental outdoorsy group at school and learns about nature adding to her excitement of finding the Luna moth. As she gets to know her grandmother she learns more about her mother. This is a story of a girl who never knew her mother and feels like something is missing in her life because of that.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun!
This charming, colorful graphic novel features nature, butterflies and moths, and the search for a luna moth. But there's more to the story, of course.

Luna and her father move from California to Virginia, move in with Grandma (Luna's mother's mother), and make new friends, rebuild their lives. As Luna begins to fit it, she also learns about nature and the environment. AND, the family learns to like one another.

It's an uplifting tale, much needed for this day and age.

The graphics are charming and easy to follow. This one is perfect for kids of all ages. I'm inspired to go outside and explore my local community and mother nature.

Thanks to Graphix and Scholastic http://www.scholastic.com/graphix for an ARC to read and review

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luna has always wanted to know more about her mother, who died when she was a baby. Now, her father must move from California to Virginia for a new job. This is their chance to connect with Grandma Wright, Luna’s maternal grandmother. . . However, Grandma Wright is VERY particular and Luna feels like she and her father “don’t fit in”. Luna misses her friends and the wonderful “girls’ trip” they had planned before she was pulled across the country.
Gradually, Luna makes new friends, Grandma Wright starts to open up and even shares nature journals created by Luna’s mother when she was young. A camping trip, grandma’s garden, and finding a REAL Luna moth seals their emergence as a true FAMILY!