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Moon River
In this debut novel from author Amber D. Tran, a tale of adolescence and heartbreak unfolds. Nine-year-old Abigail Kavanagh first meets Ryan Mills during the summer of 1999. A shy and awkward boy, Ryan hides behind his wide-framed glasses while Abigail is determined to learn everything there is to know about him. The next few summers are filled with birthday parties, adventures in and around the West Virginian mountainsides, and late night conversations where they share their most secretive and personal thoughts.
Their friendship starts to crumble when Abigail befriends the attractive and musical Lilly Anderson, a girl who is also interested in uncovering the mysterious nature surrounding Ryan. However, everything comes to an end the summer of 2004, and Abigail must decide if her new journey is worth traveling alone.
A novel that takes place in a small town in northern West Virginia, Moon River is a story that exploits the brutal honesty in growing up fast, loving too young, and losing too soon.
Their friendship starts to crumble when Abigail befriends the attractive and musical Lilly Anderson, a girl who is also interested in uncovering the mysterious nature surrounding Ryan. However, everything comes to an end the summer of 2004, and Abigail must decide if her new journey is worth traveling alone.
A novel that takes place in a small town in northern West Virginia, Moon River is a story that exploits the brutal honesty in growing up fast, loving too young, and losing too soon.
- GenresContemporary
222 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2016
2 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Amber D. Tran
4 books27 followersBorn and raised in the heart of the Appalachia, Amber spent her childhood growing up on gravel roads and playing Pokémon Red on her Game Boy Color. At the age of 10, she discovered her fascination with creative writing and turned a 1-page homework assignment into a 35-page document for her 5th grade teacher. Less than a year later, she wrote her very first book about a female basketball player with leukemia. She will spare you the pain from having to read it.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from West Virginia University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a concentration in creative writing, Amber moved to northern Alabama. She married her husband after meeting him in a Dragon Ball Z chat room. She is currently employed as a senior technical writer and Scrum Master for a software company. In her free time, she enjoys playing TERA, League of Legends, and Dungeons & Dragons.
Her award-winning debut novel Moon River was released in September.
She is featured in multiple literary journals, magazines, and anthologies around the world. Her work can be found in The Icarus Anthology, Cheat River Review, HeartWood Literary Magazine, The Stray Branch, Memoir Mixtapes, and Sidereal Magazine.
Amber currently lives in Alabama with her husband and two dogs, Ahri and Ziggs.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from West Virginia University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a concentration in creative writing, Amber moved to northern Alabama. She married her husband after meeting him in a Dragon Ball Z chat room. She is currently employed as a senior technical writer and Scrum Master for a software company. In her free time, she enjoys playing TERA, League of Legends, and Dungeons & Dragons.
Her award-winning debut novel Moon River was released in September.
She is featured in multiple literary journals, magazines, and anthologies around the world. Her work can be found in The Icarus Anthology, Cheat River Review, HeartWood Literary Magazine, The Stray Branch, Memoir Mixtapes, and Sidereal Magazine.
Amber currently lives in Alabama with her husband and two dogs, Ahri and Ziggs.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 26, 2017
*Thank you to the author for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!*
Actual Rating: 3.5
First off, I really like the cover for this book, and just the mood that it gives off - a bit of nostalgia, and a bit of home - fits the book so well.
For me, the blurb for this book was a little misleading, as it made the book seem like a typical young adult contemporary novel, when in reality it was a lot more. Moon River centers around Abigail, and the best word for what this book is is coming-of-age. Abigail met Ryan when she was only nine years old. Back then, he was different - a little shy, but still full of adventure. But of course, things change, and the arrival of Lilly Anderson throws everything they've ever known out of equilibrium.
The writing style is what I have to start with, because I thought it was absolutely mesmerizing and beautiful. It was definitely different from the type of young adult writing I had been expecting, and the book had a sort of soft, memoir-like atmosphere throughout. Another unique thing about this book is that it spans years and the story is told in anecdotes that happened during this time period. I was a little unused to this style; it felt a bit like what authors do when setting up the scene for their story during the rising action, but for Moon River the entire book was written in this sort of style and it took me a while to realize that the story was already well under way.
I did really like the characters; they were multifaceted and I thought they were realistic in a way that highlighted their flaws and yet made me love them regardless. There was something special in this book that also underlined the relationship between the characters; this was perhaps one of the strongest aspects of this book, as it focused a lot on how characters were linked together, either emotionally or physically.
The plot, like I said, was different from what I was used to because of how long of a time this book covered. Nevertheless, I found myself emotionally invested in the plotline, and it was an intriguing journey to follow Abigail as she grew up and learned more about herself and about the world. I read a review that compared this book to John Green, and though I do see a bit of a similarity, I actually connected with this book more than I did with John Green's. Overall, I would still recommend this book to a lot of people who enjoy memoirs or contemporary novels, and I hope they enjoy Abigail's journey as much as I did.
Actual Rating: 3.5
First off, I really like the cover for this book, and just the mood that it gives off - a bit of nostalgia, and a bit of home - fits the book so well.
For me, the blurb for this book was a little misleading, as it made the book seem like a typical young adult contemporary novel, when in reality it was a lot more. Moon River centers around Abigail, and the best word for what this book is is coming-of-age. Abigail met Ryan when she was only nine years old. Back then, he was different - a little shy, but still full of adventure. But of course, things change, and the arrival of Lilly Anderson throws everything they've ever known out of equilibrium.
The writing style is what I have to start with, because I thought it was absolutely mesmerizing and beautiful. It was definitely different from the type of young adult writing I had been expecting, and the book had a sort of soft, memoir-like atmosphere throughout. Another unique thing about this book is that it spans years and the story is told in anecdotes that happened during this time period. I was a little unused to this style; it felt a bit like what authors do when setting up the scene for their story during the rising action, but for Moon River the entire book was written in this sort of style and it took me a while to realize that the story was already well under way.
I did really like the characters; they were multifaceted and I thought they were realistic in a way that highlighted their flaws and yet made me love them regardless. There was something special in this book that also underlined the relationship between the characters; this was perhaps one of the strongest aspects of this book, as it focused a lot on how characters were linked together, either emotionally or physically.
The plot, like I said, was different from what I was used to because of how long of a time this book covered. Nevertheless, I found myself emotionally invested in the plotline, and it was an intriguing journey to follow Abigail as she grew up and learned more about herself and about the world. I read a review that compared this book to John Green, and though I do see a bit of a similarity, I actually connected with this book more than I did with John Green's. Overall, I would still recommend this book to a lot of people who enjoy memoirs or contemporary novels, and I hope they enjoy Abigail's journey as much as I did.
August 31, 2017
*Thank you to the author and The Review Chain for providing an ARC of this book*
Moon River is a well-written and deeply emotional coming of age story of a girl, Abigail, growing up in rural Appalachia in the early 90s. From what I can gather, it is a partially, if not entirely autobiographical story of the author's childhood involving a boy on whom she had a lifelong crush and a handful of friends and acquaintances involved in his story.
That being said, I think the summary provided for this book is a little off base. While Abby's friend, Lilly, is of course a major character, it seems to me that this book all came down to being Ryan and Abby's stories. Not just about them growing up, but also about all the people who let them down and slip through the cracks. Without any major reveals, the main character ends up getting mental health treatment in the course of the book, and there's this really great way that the author built the story so intricately that we as readers completely missed how much she was suffering, despite being in her narration.
This is, of course, a debut novel. I think there was some amount of its autobiographical nature getting in the way of storytelling. There were many scenes that could have been cut, or characters that could have been combined. But the emotional weight of the story lands perfectly, and Ryan's story had me hooked until the end.
This is a quick read, so I definitely suggest picking it up! Reading it may open your eyes to some people around you. And above all, I hope the process of writing this has helped the author release some of what she's been holding.
Moon River is a well-written and deeply emotional coming of age story of a girl, Abigail, growing up in rural Appalachia in the early 90s. From what I can gather, it is a partially, if not entirely autobiographical story of the author's childhood involving a boy on whom she had a lifelong crush and a handful of friends and acquaintances involved in his story.
That being said, I think the summary provided for this book is a little off base. While Abby's friend, Lilly, is of course a major character, it seems to me that this book all came down to being Ryan and Abby's stories. Not just about them growing up, but also about all the people who let them down and slip through the cracks. Without any major reveals, the main character ends up getting mental health treatment in the course of the book, and there's this really great way that the author built the story so intricately that we as readers completely missed how much she was suffering, despite being in her narration.
This is, of course, a debut novel. I think there was some amount of its autobiographical nature getting in the way of storytelling. There were many scenes that could have been cut, or characters that could have been combined. But the emotional weight of the story lands perfectly, and Ryan's story had me hooked until the end.
This is a quick read, so I definitely suggest picking it up! Reading it may open your eyes to some people around you. And above all, I hope the process of writing this has helped the author release some of what she's been holding.
February 12, 2017
A Heartrending Story of Adolescent Love and Friendship
Amber Tran’s debut novel paints a rich tapestry of details that easily transports readers into the West Virginia world of her characters. Scenes like the one when Abigail drops the ice cream or the visit to the haunted house are suspenseful, coming-of-age moments with stark imagery that linger long after the book closes. Abigail’s multi-year crush on Ryan is heartfelt, and her many friendships are complex—as girlfriends often are during those years. I read the book over a weekend and thoroughly loved it!
Amber Tran’s debut novel paints a rich tapestry of details that easily transports readers into the West Virginia world of her characters. Scenes like the one when Abigail drops the ice cream or the visit to the haunted house are suspenseful, coming-of-age moments with stark imagery that linger long after the book closes. Abigail’s multi-year crush on Ryan is heartfelt, and her many friendships are complex—as girlfriends often are during those years. I read the book over a weekend and thoroughly loved it!
October 10, 2017
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Moon River by Amber D. Tran is a beautiful but sad story of chilhood, adolescense and growing up. The story was well written and the characters were approachable but complex enough to be realistic. I fell in love with this book from the very beginning and just couldn't stop reading it until I reached the end.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Moon River tells the growing-up story of Abigail and her friends especially concentrating on Abigail's relationship with Ryan, a friend and a longterm crush of Abigail's. In the beginning of the book the characters are still young children and I really enjoyed reading about their childhood. Their behavior and their problems are so small (like Abigail's backbag being broken) but so real. They share beautiful friendships and great adventures but on the other hand, the story also shows how cruel children can be and what peer pressure can make people do.
As Abigail and her friends reach their pre-teen years, life becomes more complicated. What I liked about this phase was how each character was so different, and even tough sometimes their behavior annoyed me (especially Lily's), it was obvious they were dealing with their own issues that made them act the way they did. I'm not sure Ryan's suicide was necessary because the book would have worked just fine without something so tragic. However, I loved how the author handled grief and the need for closure. The fact that Abigail never got the closure she needed also prevented her from fully starting to recover until much later.
What I would have liked to know is what was actually going on in Ryan's life that made him start taking his mother's medication at such an early age. His struggles were never really explained and the same goes for Lily. Why was she in such a need of attention all the time? But I guess one of the points of the story is the lack of answers and what that does to the grieving people. It's hard being the one left behind and not knowing what really happened and if something could have been done in order to prevent the suicide. I think Lily and Ryan were not good for each other but I'm not sure Abigail and Ryan would have been either. There seemed to be pros and cons in every relationship in this book but that's life and that's one of the reasons I liked this book so much. It felt real!
I definitely recommend this book to everyone! Thank you for the author for the free copy!
Moon River by Amber D. Tran is a beautiful but sad story of chilhood, adolescense and growing up. The story was well written and the characters were approachable but complex enough to be realistic. I fell in love with this book from the very beginning and just couldn't stop reading it until I reached the end.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Moon River tells the growing-up story of Abigail and her friends especially concentrating on Abigail's relationship with Ryan, a friend and a longterm crush of Abigail's. In the beginning of the book the characters are still young children and I really enjoyed reading about their childhood. Their behavior and their problems are so small (like Abigail's backbag being broken) but so real. They share beautiful friendships and great adventures but on the other hand, the story also shows how cruel children can be and what peer pressure can make people do.
As Abigail and her friends reach their pre-teen years, life becomes more complicated. What I liked about this phase was how each character was so different, and even tough sometimes their behavior annoyed me (especially Lily's), it was obvious they were dealing with their own issues that made them act the way they did. I'm not sure Ryan's suicide was necessary because the book would have worked just fine without something so tragic. However, I loved how the author handled grief and the need for closure. The fact that Abigail never got the closure she needed also prevented her from fully starting to recover until much later.
What I would have liked to know is what was actually going on in Ryan's life that made him start taking his mother's medication at such an early age. His struggles were never really explained and the same goes for Lily. Why was she in such a need of attention all the time? But I guess one of the points of the story is the lack of answers and what that does to the grieving people. It's hard being the one left behind and not knowing what really happened and if something could have been done in order to prevent the suicide. I think Lily and Ryan were not good for each other but I'm not sure Abigail and Ryan would have been either. There seemed to be pros and cons in every relationship in this book but that's life and that's one of the reasons I liked this book so much. It felt real!
I definitely recommend this book to everyone! Thank you for the author for the free copy!
June 6, 2017
My Review of Amber D Tran's Moon River
Read June 1 2017
Raw, parts made me laugh, cry. Real and touching. The book speaks for itself. It bluntly, accurately wove the mind of a child, through the years, slowly growing up, into the mind of an adult that we can more easily recognize. Hard to capture that, the author did phenomenally. Broadly, it deals with the reality of growing up, and loss, the multitude of lessons learned, fun had and changes between friends and family over time.
Read June 1 2017
Raw, parts made me laugh, cry. Real and touching. The book speaks for itself. It bluntly, accurately wove the mind of a child, through the years, slowly growing up, into the mind of an adult that we can more easily recognize. Hard to capture that, the author did phenomenally. Broadly, it deals with the reality of growing up, and loss, the multitude of lessons learned, fun had and changes between friends and family over time.
June 21, 2017
****I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review****
“Moon River” is a sweet, but heart crushing, tale of growing up in the heart of Appalachia during the late 1990’s. As I am about the same age as the characters in Tran’s book, and have recently moved to the South (so a bit closer?), I found myself instantly pulled into the story of Abigail and her elementary through early highschool friends. I found myself reliving aspects of my own childhood through Tran’s novel of first love and how abusive so-called “friends” can be, as these kids navigate growing up and all the complex emotions that come along with it. Be forewarned though, this book, while beautifully written with wonderful characters, does not have a happy ending and I find it necessary to give a trigger warning for those who have dealt with bullying, suicide, and depression as this may become exceptionally difficult to read if you have been affected by either (as I have).
We follow along as Abigail begins to discover who she is through her growing and fluctuating relationships with her friends and the childhood butterflies she feels for the mysterious Ryan. We watch all these children grow up and mature over various summers, school years, and bus rides together. Tran has a marvelous way of drawing the reader in and making the stories and characters feel so relatable that you feel like you are right there next to Abigail as she swelters alongside her friends during a summer drought, during a tense car ride back from McDonald’s, to betrayal when Abigail learns that her best friend is far too self-centered to ever really love her or treat her right. She shows us how the innocence of Abigail’s youth and her love for her friend(s) blinds her to the abusive nature of the friendship and has her clinging to the frayed strings of the friendship in the hopes that one day it’ll change.
Honestly, I don’t know what person HASN’T experienced something like what Abigail goes through, so I found these anecdotes to be very cathartic (even when I didn’t think it still affected me 20 years later!). Tran has such a poetic way of showing us how Abigail feels about her friends, family, and her crush, that I found the book hard to put down on several occasions as I was so immersed with Abigail and her little dramas.
The only thing I would have liked more of, was to see how Abigail grew after the terrible event that rocked her school. It’s such a long build-up to that point that the end felt a little unsatisfying (at least to me) because I wanted Abigail to feel like she healed or grew or maybe just learned something from the experience. She does, Tran assures us of that, but it’s so brief compared to the build-up that I would have just liked a little more. I know most of the instances described in “Moon River” are true experiences, but it is fictional as well, so embellishing at the end a bit more would have been fine (and welcomed) even if that’s not exactly how it happened in Tran’s experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and nostalgic novel, but it did bring me close to tears at the end, my breath hitching at the story’s conclusion. That’s an awesome feeling but it can be overwhelming if heavy topics like suicide and depression aren’t something you want to deal with. I’d say it was worth it for Tran’s exceptional writing, but I know that’s not possible for everyone. Still, even with my own experiences with this subject matter, I’d give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, hands down!
“Moon River” is a sweet, but heart crushing, tale of growing up in the heart of Appalachia during the late 1990’s. As I am about the same age as the characters in Tran’s book, and have recently moved to the South (so a bit closer?), I found myself instantly pulled into the story of Abigail and her elementary through early highschool friends. I found myself reliving aspects of my own childhood through Tran’s novel of first love and how abusive so-called “friends” can be, as these kids navigate growing up and all the complex emotions that come along with it. Be forewarned though, this book, while beautifully written with wonderful characters, does not have a happy ending and I find it necessary to give a trigger warning for those who have dealt with bullying, suicide, and depression as this may become exceptionally difficult to read if you have been affected by either (as I have).
We follow along as Abigail begins to discover who she is through her growing and fluctuating relationships with her friends and the childhood butterflies she feels for the mysterious Ryan. We watch all these children grow up and mature over various summers, school years, and bus rides together. Tran has a marvelous way of drawing the reader in and making the stories and characters feel so relatable that you feel like you are right there next to Abigail as she swelters alongside her friends during a summer drought, during a tense car ride back from McDonald’s, to betrayal when Abigail learns that her best friend is far too self-centered to ever really love her or treat her right. She shows us how the innocence of Abigail’s youth and her love for her friend(s) blinds her to the abusive nature of the friendship and has her clinging to the frayed strings of the friendship in the hopes that one day it’ll change.
Honestly, I don’t know what person HASN’T experienced something like what Abigail goes through, so I found these anecdotes to be very cathartic (even when I didn’t think it still affected me 20 years later!). Tran has such a poetic way of showing us how Abigail feels about her friends, family, and her crush, that I found the book hard to put down on several occasions as I was so immersed with Abigail and her little dramas.
The only thing I would have liked more of, was to see how Abigail grew after the terrible event that rocked her school. It’s such a long build-up to that point that the end felt a little unsatisfying (at least to me) because I wanted Abigail to feel like she healed or grew or maybe just learned something from the experience. She does, Tran assures us of that, but it’s so brief compared to the build-up that I would have just liked a little more. I know most of the instances described in “Moon River” are true experiences, but it is fictional as well, so embellishing at the end a bit more would have been fine (and welcomed) even if that’s not exactly how it happened in Tran’s experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and nostalgic novel, but it did bring me close to tears at the end, my breath hitching at the story’s conclusion. That’s an awesome feeling but it can be overwhelming if heavy topics like suicide and depression aren’t something you want to deal with. I’d say it was worth it for Tran’s exceptional writing, but I know that’s not possible for everyone. Still, even with my own experiences with this subject matter, I’d give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, hands down!
September 14, 2017
A curious read that deals with some very heavy topics, so I certainly agree with some other reviews I read... I went in with my eyes closed. That being said...
It's hard to truly rate a story like this that deals in death, darkness, depression, delusion, drugs, and other activities that are meant to cause self harm yet ripple effect to so many more. The lives shown here could have been anyone, anywhere, even those you know having similar outcomes or perhaps intervention at just the right moment... so simply saying "I loved" or "I loathed" doesn't seen to cut it. I appreciated the way the author broached the issues the characters were dealing with in their teen years, how she addressed the changes occurring and yet the brick wall that couldn't seemed to be broken through to reach them. She gave those who've lost their voice a chance to find it once again and see that there is another way. I struggled with the disturbing sexual aspects introduced with characters so very young... pedophiles, odd "join our group" initiations, and experimenting...it just seemed like one too many elements for one story, let alone this group.
In the end, it was a page turner with no true happy endings in sight, but it does splash a cold dose of reality in the face of those that perhaps find it hard to imagine these things in life. Yes, it's fiction, but it could just as easily not be.
**copy received for review
It's hard to truly rate a story like this that deals in death, darkness, depression, delusion, drugs, and other activities that are meant to cause self harm yet ripple effect to so many more. The lives shown here could have been anyone, anywhere, even those you know having similar outcomes or perhaps intervention at just the right moment... so simply saying "I loved" or "I loathed" doesn't seen to cut it. I appreciated the way the author broached the issues the characters were dealing with in their teen years, how she addressed the changes occurring and yet the brick wall that couldn't seemed to be broken through to reach them. She gave those who've lost their voice a chance to find it once again and see that there is another way. I struggled with the disturbing sexual aspects introduced with characters so very young... pedophiles, odd "join our group" initiations, and experimenting...it just seemed like one too many elements for one story, let alone this group.
In the end, it was a page turner with no true happy endings in sight, but it does splash a cold dose of reality in the face of those that perhaps find it hard to imagine these things in life. Yes, it's fiction, but it could just as easily not be.
**copy received for review
August 25, 2017
For some reason, this book was not for me, although I liked the writing. There are some good aspects, but I keep thinking of the dislikes so I cannot improve my rating much.
Good things: I can relate to the crush Abigail had on Ryan. I did have my secret childish love on a boy at that age. All the feelings and actions are quite close to reality so it’s easy to feel as part of the story. I also liked how the author managed to keep the narration strictly for her point of view, although for me this felt like a gap in the story.
Things that I did not like: these kids were talking sex at a very young age and there was a bullying scene I did not enjoy at all. I did not like the main character either. She accepted her friends’ bad treatment, only to be included in a group.
Even if “Moon River” has not received a big score from me, I do believe Amber D. Tran is a great author. I would read more books by her, just that this one was not for me, or to my taste.
For a detailed review and other thoughts on other books, please visit my blog, www.lillysbookworld.wordpress.com
Good things: I can relate to the crush Abigail had on Ryan. I did have my secret childish love on a boy at that age. All the feelings and actions are quite close to reality so it’s easy to feel as part of the story. I also liked how the author managed to keep the narration strictly for her point of view, although for me this felt like a gap in the story.
Things that I did not like: these kids were talking sex at a very young age and there was a bullying scene I did not enjoy at all. I did not like the main character either. She accepted her friends’ bad treatment, only to be included in a group.
Even if “Moon River” has not received a big score from me, I do believe Amber D. Tran is a great author. I would read more books by her, just that this one was not for me, or to my taste.
For a detailed review and other thoughts on other books, please visit my blog, www.lillysbookworld.wordpress.com
June 15, 2017
When the author first approached me to review the story, I was unsure of what to expect from a memoir-style novel. I don’t normally read this sort of stuff, so I have little to compare it to. So I can only offer my perspective as a fiction writer/reader. The only thing I knew to expect was a higher quality than a self-published novel, because Amber Tran’s novel Moon River was picked up by a small publisher. I was pleasantly surprised to discover an easy-to-read, vivid writing style that captures emotions with clarity and unique imagery.
Therefore, I was more than happy to settle in to read about MC Abigail’s experiences growing up while having a deep and moving crush on the mysterious and intriguing Ryan Mills. The story starts off when Abigail is about 8 or 9 years old, and goes through the years and summers that she spent growing closer to Ryan, a boy older than her by a few years, but then drifting apart as they got older (around 12 or so), with a shocking event that deeply affects the characters as well as the reader.
Plot: 3 out of 5 stars.
This is probably the weakest part of this novel (though I should quickly point out that it’s not too detrimental to the story itself). I found that there was little to no plot, as events are basically listed in chronological order, with the occasional flashback inserted within the narrative. I wasn’t too fond of this format, because I found my mind wandering on numerous occasions and it took me a long time to get through the first 30 or 40 percent of the story. I think the story could have benefitted from the writer treating each school year as separate parts, i.e. Part I, Part II, etc, making each year and the subsequent summer almost like episodes in a TV series. Episodic parts would have encapsulated each year better than a chapter. However, Tran is a strong writer, and there are pockets of vivid scenes and clashing characters, despite the first half being rather meandering and aimless (much like life sometimes). It started dragging quite a bit at the middle, so I decided to skip some pages (which I’m loathe to do).
I started reading again at the start of Chapter 12, (and based on how quickly I caught on to the events occurring, I didn’t miss much in those skipped pages) and I zoomed through the rest of the book in no time. This is the best and most gripping part of the book.
Characters: 4 out of 5 stars.
Since this is a memoir, the characters don’t require development--they are who they are. That being said, I found far too many characters introduced at the beginning, never letting me grasp any of them clearly, not even the main ones that show up throughout the story, until I was well past the halfway mark of the book. (I had trouble keeping them straight, and they all seemed to blend together.) Additionally, there were characters that showed up at the beginning that never show up later on. One of the things that lend to this confusing, vague character introduction is, in my opinion, the fact that the characters are introduced by the narrator (Abigail) almost always without her interacting with the character. The only character she interacts with in a way suitable for fiction writing is Ryan, whom she observes, and we observe him through her. Later on, the other character who takes a solid form is Lilly, because Abigail interacts with her a lot. Nevertheless, the main characters who are depicted with most clarity are Abigail (the MC), Lilly (her best friend), and Ryan (her love interest). There are plenty of other characters that seem rather peripheral to the story and distant from the reader, but that’s only because they have little to no interaction with Abigail, and if they do, it’s perfunctory or the interaction is just delivered as an anecdote as opposed to a scene in the story.
The main characters that were well-depicted, however, were solid and clear, and made me feel like I really knew these people by the time I was done with the book, which made the shocking twist even more shattering.
Writing Style: 4 out of 5 stars.
This is probably the writer’s strongest point. With a writing style that wasn’t necessarily super-witty or funny or given to hyperbole, it was clear, precise and evocative and full of original imagery. Amber Tran touched on many things I remember when I was a kid, like VHS tapes or MSN Messenger, or making a huge deal about the tiniest things that happened with a boy I had a crush on. In other words, I thought of things I remember to this day, but never actually dwelled upon for years until I read her book.
I also found it a tad disturbing that so many people in one small community would be so ill-equipped to handle emotional stress or trauma. I also found it disturbing that children that are 9 and 10 years old would do the things some of them do in this story. It deals with many dark behaviors that children and adolescents sometimes practice, like cutting or suicidal behavior, or underage drinking and sexual promiscuity, but I did feel these things were not addressed with the gravity they deserved, but were treated like they are just a part of everyday life for most people, and they are not. (At least, they never were for me.) As a child, I never did 1/10th of the things these characters do, and it almost seems over the top for me, almost cliché. I also can’t imagine these children having so little supervision that they can get into all kinds of troubles, acting and doing things adults or deranged, disturbed people do, while still only being children. I would have found it off-putting if I didn’t know this was a memoir.
I also sort of felt bad for the MC at times, and I don’t think she examines much of what was happening with her psychologically. Maybe she can’t, as a child, and can only accept what’s happening to her. Much of the book that was spent on characters or events that had no connection with the latter part of the story could have been spent exploring this aspect of Abigail, like why she is depressed, what did she and her therapist discuss, did she reach any epiphanies about her psyche, and more. This would have made the story more about Abigail rather than being about her best-friend Lilly or her love interest Ryan.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
This story almost got an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, but I gave it 4 out of 5 instead, because of the powerful, gripping last 30 percent of the story. Because of a sudden, shocking twist that I totally didn’t see coming, the plot suddenly sped up and became more cohesive, it became more urgent and reactive as opposed to anecdotal and reflective. The former is what makes a great story move with lightning speed. I would recommend this story to anyone, but with a suggestion to skip some of the middle pages if it begins to drag. Definitely worth reading, if only for the latter half.
Therefore, I was more than happy to settle in to read about MC Abigail’s experiences growing up while having a deep and moving crush on the mysterious and intriguing Ryan Mills. The story starts off when Abigail is about 8 or 9 years old, and goes through the years and summers that she spent growing closer to Ryan, a boy older than her by a few years, but then drifting apart as they got older (around 12 or so), with a shocking event that deeply affects the characters as well as the reader.
Plot: 3 out of 5 stars.
This is probably the weakest part of this novel (though I should quickly point out that it’s not too detrimental to the story itself). I found that there was little to no plot, as events are basically listed in chronological order, with the occasional flashback inserted within the narrative. I wasn’t too fond of this format, because I found my mind wandering on numerous occasions and it took me a long time to get through the first 30 or 40 percent of the story. I think the story could have benefitted from the writer treating each school year as separate parts, i.e. Part I, Part II, etc, making each year and the subsequent summer almost like episodes in a TV series. Episodic parts would have encapsulated each year better than a chapter. However, Tran is a strong writer, and there are pockets of vivid scenes and clashing characters, despite the first half being rather meandering and aimless (much like life sometimes). It started dragging quite a bit at the middle, so I decided to skip some pages (which I’m loathe to do).
I started reading again at the start of Chapter 12, (and based on how quickly I caught on to the events occurring, I didn’t miss much in those skipped pages) and I zoomed through the rest of the book in no time. This is the best and most gripping part of the book.
Characters: 4 out of 5 stars.
Since this is a memoir, the characters don’t require development--they are who they are. That being said, I found far too many characters introduced at the beginning, never letting me grasp any of them clearly, not even the main ones that show up throughout the story, until I was well past the halfway mark of the book. (I had trouble keeping them straight, and they all seemed to blend together.) Additionally, there were characters that showed up at the beginning that never show up later on. One of the things that lend to this confusing, vague character introduction is, in my opinion, the fact that the characters are introduced by the narrator (Abigail) almost always without her interacting with the character. The only character she interacts with in a way suitable for fiction writing is Ryan, whom she observes, and we observe him through her. Later on, the other character who takes a solid form is Lilly, because Abigail interacts with her a lot. Nevertheless, the main characters who are depicted with most clarity are Abigail (the MC), Lilly (her best friend), and Ryan (her love interest). There are plenty of other characters that seem rather peripheral to the story and distant from the reader, but that’s only because they have little to no interaction with Abigail, and if they do, it’s perfunctory or the interaction is just delivered as an anecdote as opposed to a scene in the story.
The main characters that were well-depicted, however, were solid and clear, and made me feel like I really knew these people by the time I was done with the book, which made the shocking twist even more shattering.
Writing Style: 4 out of 5 stars.
This is probably the writer’s strongest point. With a writing style that wasn’t necessarily super-witty or funny or given to hyperbole, it was clear, precise and evocative and full of original imagery. Amber Tran touched on many things I remember when I was a kid, like VHS tapes or MSN Messenger, or making a huge deal about the tiniest things that happened with a boy I had a crush on. In other words, I thought of things I remember to this day, but never actually dwelled upon for years until I read her book.
I also found it a tad disturbing that so many people in one small community would be so ill-equipped to handle emotional stress or trauma. I also found it disturbing that children that are 9 and 10 years old would do the things some of them do in this story. It deals with many dark behaviors that children and adolescents sometimes practice, like cutting or suicidal behavior, or underage drinking and sexual promiscuity, but I did feel these things were not addressed with the gravity they deserved, but were treated like they are just a part of everyday life for most people, and they are not. (At least, they never were for me.) As a child, I never did 1/10th of the things these characters do, and it almost seems over the top for me, almost cliché. I also can’t imagine these children having so little supervision that they can get into all kinds of troubles, acting and doing things adults or deranged, disturbed people do, while still only being children. I would have found it off-putting if I didn’t know this was a memoir.
I also sort of felt bad for the MC at times, and I don’t think she examines much of what was happening with her psychologically. Maybe she can’t, as a child, and can only accept what’s happening to her. Much of the book that was spent on characters or events that had no connection with the latter part of the story could have been spent exploring this aspect of Abigail, like why she is depressed, what did she and her therapist discuss, did she reach any epiphanies about her psyche, and more. This would have made the story more about Abigail rather than being about her best-friend Lilly or her love interest Ryan.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
This story almost got an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, but I gave it 4 out of 5 instead, because of the powerful, gripping last 30 percent of the story. Because of a sudden, shocking twist that I totally didn’t see coming, the plot suddenly sped up and became more cohesive, it became more urgent and reactive as opposed to anecdotal and reflective. The former is what makes a great story move with lightning speed. I would recommend this story to anyone, but with a suggestion to skip some of the middle pages if it begins to drag. Definitely worth reading, if only for the latter half.
September 20, 2016
This book will awake repressed memories of growing up in a small blue collar town. It is a first novel and wonderful. I could not put it down. Writing style that of John Green. I put it up there with the powerful Fault In Our Stars or Paper Town
December 3, 2016
The people did so much, thought so much so young -- or maybe I'm just old. Evoked feelings similar to "The Fault in our Stars" and "The Breakfast Club" for me.
February 17, 2017
Phenomenal writer. Amazing book! I couldn't put it down. Such a great, but sad story. I love it! I can't wait to see what she writes next!
May 18, 2017
In the span of five years, Abigail grows from a child into a teenager. With friends, new and old, Abigail learns about life and heartbreak.
Let me start of by saying, the teacher in me wanted to wash these children's mouths out with soap. The four letter words coming out of their mouths was terrible! Some of the behavior of Abigail and her friends, I would have expected from teenagers and not nine and ten year olds.
The story itself, once you start ignoring the adult language, is interesting. I liked seeing how Abigail was affected by her friends, and how she came to realize a bad friend was draining her. Seeing Ryan's downward spiral broke my heart. The realistic and heartbreaking course of the story held me in its grip the entire time.
I would recommend this for readers who enjoy a contemporary, realistic view of growing up and aren't as sensitive to strong language.
I received a free copy through More Than A Review where I rate a book by it's contents.
Let me start of by saying, the teacher in me wanted to wash these children's mouths out with soap. The four letter words coming out of their mouths was terrible! Some of the behavior of Abigail and her friends, I would have expected from teenagers and not nine and ten year olds.
The story itself, once you start ignoring the adult language, is interesting. I liked seeing how Abigail was affected by her friends, and how she came to realize a bad friend was draining her. Seeing Ryan's downward spiral broke my heart. The realistic and heartbreaking course of the story held me in its grip the entire time.
I would recommend this for readers who enjoy a contemporary, realistic view of growing up and aren't as sensitive to strong language.
I received a free copy through More Than A Review where I rate a book by it's contents.
May 15, 2017
Moon River is a brief step back in time looking through the eyes of a young woman growing up in West Virginia. It's not a just a book but an intricate, intimate recounting of tricky, delicate, joyful and sorrowful growing up years in a familiar (middle school, high school), unfamiliar (rural West Virginia) place. With the sincerity and detail with which the story was told, it becomes experiential. It is as though the reader is there right with her, on bumpy bus rides, wandering through sweltering summer days, lost in first love. To read Moon River is to learn about an old friend, and what shaped them into the person you came to know.
May 19, 2017
This book was full of imagery and emotion. I would find myself remember summers of my own growing up in a small town in the South. The hot stickiness of the humidity, and the heat of the sun. The four-wheeler rides, exploring and just being young again. There were times I found myself laughing out loud, and others when I was wiping tears from my eyes. I rooted for the characters to overcome their own demons, and have a "happy ending." I read the book in less than 24 hours, because I could not put it down. Amazingly well done.
November 1, 2017
A coming of age story filled with some darker traits throughout in regards to what these children go through. From bullying, to sexual references at such a young age (main character is 9 to start with and story follows her for 5 years), depression, suicidal thoughts and selfishness from a few draining so-called friends.
It’s really a downward spiral right from the start with everything Abigail and Ryan go through. Ryan was Abigail’s first real crush. It only took one look and she was infatuated with him. In her mind he became the other half of her but it would take a year or so for him to really notice her. The first time they speak is at a very emotionally damaging event for her. She goes to a sleep over at Kimmie’s but it’s one of her friend’s that takes thing in a strange direction. Creating a right of passage so to speak for her to be included in the group. This was the first part that made it a bit uncomfortable to read and you can see how badly Abigail was affected by it. What almost finished in a horrible night takes a slight happier turn when Ryan, Kimmie’s cousin, turns up, even if it was embarrassing in how he caught her. When Kimmie says he asked about her after she left it only helped fuel her crush more.
Ryan’s birthday party is another key moment in joining them together, along with Kimmie and Scott, Abigail’s cousin, as it’s after this that they have a summer to remember. Involves kids just being kids with hanging out on bike rides or in the pool. Things soon change when school starts though. Its like the minute it did Ryan went back into himself and shut her out. You can already see the cracks start to appear with him and also slowly see how fragile Abigail is as well.
Things take a mark darker turn with the introduction of Lilly. (Sorry but bitch is thy name no matter her age). She starts out wanting to be Abigail’s friend, saying they are the same, connected like no other. When she starts dating someone it gives Abigail ideas about Ryan. Talking all night on MSN is one thing but she wants to feel connected to him when the world can see. She gets what she wishes but he has already started to slip further down the rabbit hole with his behavior and it’s not long before its trouble in paradise. Lilly and Ryan go darker into themselves and its not until the end when you find out Abigail was almost dragged down too. Lilly was an abuser, even at a young age, with how she treated Abigail. Walking all over her, bringing her down and alienating others. She might have been the catalyst but these kids already had a few problems that they were dealing with. Ryan didn’t need someone to follow him down into the darkness that seemed to pull at him from a young age. He needed someone to pull him into the light.
You feel for them all and hope for a different outcome but get the feeling very soon on that this isn’t a happily ever after read. Deals with a lot of issues that don’t get mentioned in books much. It was an interesting, but at times, hard emotional read that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I feel because I really disliked a certain character, along with the very strong language from the start which was a bit surprising given their ages, it made it harder to enjoy the book more but it was well written and definitely worth a look.
3.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
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It’s really a downward spiral right from the start with everything Abigail and Ryan go through. Ryan was Abigail’s first real crush. It only took one look and she was infatuated with him. In her mind he became the other half of her but it would take a year or so for him to really notice her. The first time they speak is at a very emotionally damaging event for her. She goes to a sleep over at Kimmie’s but it’s one of her friend’s that takes thing in a strange direction. Creating a right of passage so to speak for her to be included in the group. This was the first part that made it a bit uncomfortable to read and you can see how badly Abigail was affected by it. What almost finished in a horrible night takes a slight happier turn when Ryan, Kimmie’s cousin, turns up, even if it was embarrassing in how he caught her. When Kimmie says he asked about her after she left it only helped fuel her crush more.
Ryan’s birthday party is another key moment in joining them together, along with Kimmie and Scott, Abigail’s cousin, as it’s after this that they have a summer to remember. Involves kids just being kids with hanging out on bike rides or in the pool. Things soon change when school starts though. Its like the minute it did Ryan went back into himself and shut her out. You can already see the cracks start to appear with him and also slowly see how fragile Abigail is as well.
Things take a mark darker turn with the introduction of Lilly. (Sorry but bitch is thy name no matter her age). She starts out wanting to be Abigail’s friend, saying they are the same, connected like no other. When she starts dating someone it gives Abigail ideas about Ryan. Talking all night on MSN is one thing but she wants to feel connected to him when the world can see. She gets what she wishes but he has already started to slip further down the rabbit hole with his behavior and it’s not long before its trouble in paradise. Lilly and Ryan go darker into themselves and its not until the end when you find out Abigail was almost dragged down too. Lilly was an abuser, even at a young age, with how she treated Abigail. Walking all over her, bringing her down and alienating others. She might have been the catalyst but these kids already had a few problems that they were dealing with. Ryan didn’t need someone to follow him down into the darkness that seemed to pull at him from a young age. He needed someone to pull him into the light.
You feel for them all and hope for a different outcome but get the feeling very soon on that this isn’t a happily ever after read. Deals with a lot of issues that don’t get mentioned in books much. It was an interesting, but at times, hard emotional read that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I feel because I really disliked a certain character, along with the very strong language from the start which was a bit surprising given their ages, it made it harder to enjoy the book more but it was well written and definitely worth a look.
3.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
January 13, 2019
Such a great read. There were so many casual mentions of 90s and early 00s fads- movies and games and artists that brought back a lot of childhood memories. This was very nostalgic for me. It was also sad and haunting. It took me a day or so to get in to it, because it’s written from the perspective of a child and I didn’t realize that the whole book would be from this perspective, but once I got past my own mental block on that, it was so enjoyable. I loved this book so much.
May 26, 2017
This book is very special to me. This book has great history about West Virginia and it's people. It's themes of true love and true friendship are obvious. I think this book has a lot of meaning behind it. The dialog of the characters is realistic and funny!! I could read this book over and over again and still enjoy it.
March 4, 2017
Amber Tran's debut “Moon River” is a heart-breaking story of growing up too fast, of loving too soon and too much, of losing everything, of starting over, of finding oneself.
Read full review in the 2017 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2017 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
December 31, 2016
Let me start by saying that this is clearly the work of an early-career writer. This novel is a clear roman a clef based on a series of formative adolescent experiences. And in filling its role as an early-career roman a clef, the novel seems to place too high a priority on getting the story down as opposed to crafting a novel. One example of this syndrome is the introduction of too many unnecessary side characters (because all of the "real" people who were there had to be accounted for) as opposed to the more novelistic move of using just one or two more rounded characters to fill all of the requisite roles required by the plot of an autobiographical novel. However, all of that said about these young-writer foibles, Tran has nonetheless managed to craft a readable and even powerful (especially as it approaches climax) novel that has stuck with me after closing the back cover. Furthermore, despite being an early-career writer, I found the book to be dominated by a rather distinctive voice more characteristic of a more experienced writer. In sum, this is a first novel and a roman a clef, so it comes with all the baggage that can be expected of such. However, it is also a novel that heralds a promising future for a writer who is perhaps inching closer to mid-career form than her early-career status would ordinarily allow. And for that reason, I will be keeping an eye on where Amber D. Tran is heading next--should be good.
April 17, 2017
Moon River by Amber D. Tran, 235 pages, September 17th, 2016, Little Creek Books Imprint of Jan-Carol Publishing Inc., Genre: Coming-of-Age/Contemporary Fiction. Warning: May Contain Spoilers.
Moon River is a coming-of-age story written in a distinctive first person narrative memoir style, making the characters and events feel real and immediate. The story spans four years in an Appalachian teen girl’s life from 1999 through 2004, followed by an epilogue. The writing style is personal and nostalgic, reminding of sights, smells, trends, and music of yesteryear. Coming from an Appalachian family myself, this tale brought back childhood memories for me that will always give this book a special place in my heart.
Abigail, the narrator, experiences many of the same situations and emotions we’ve had as teens. These years are a “fire walk”, a struggle to figure out where we stand, who we are, how we relate to those around us, and develop lasting, meaningful relationships with others. Adults often roll our eyes as our children overreact to the stressors in their lives, forgetting we were in their shoes once and it wasn’t easy. Amber D. Tran takes us back to a time when the mean girl forced us to commit some humiliating act for group approval, when we knew who our best friend was because she proudly took the punishment alongside us, when we sneaked into the creepy house at the foot of the hill, when music sang the lyrics of our souls, and when we just knew in our heart of hearts that we were destined to be with that cute boy on the bus forever. These are days of birthday pool parties and summer four-wheeler rides, of picking blackberries, illegally downloading music from Napster, late nights on MSN Messenger, and Final Fantasy VII.
Adolescence isn’t all parties and fun. There are darker moments as well. Teens deal either directly with or try to help a friend who is dealing with heavy issues such as abusive parents, drug addiction, feelings of betrayal, isolation, guilt, and depression. American children, who lack the wisdom of experience, are thrust into dealing with mature situations and emotions whether they are ready or not. This coming-of-age story draws forth a chaotic cascade of emotions as we join Abigail in her journey from innocence to maturity.
Moon River was an enjoyable read from start to finish. Powerful, emotionally evocative, and wistful, this story felt as though it poured forth from the author onto the page and into me; it needed to be, and it needed me to not read, but to listen. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reminiscent coming-of-age stories.
Moon River is a coming-of-age story written in a distinctive first person narrative memoir style, making the characters and events feel real and immediate. The story spans four years in an Appalachian teen girl’s life from 1999 through 2004, followed by an epilogue. The writing style is personal and nostalgic, reminding of sights, smells, trends, and music of yesteryear. Coming from an Appalachian family myself, this tale brought back childhood memories for me that will always give this book a special place in my heart.
Abigail, the narrator, experiences many of the same situations and emotions we’ve had as teens. These years are a “fire walk”, a struggle to figure out where we stand, who we are, how we relate to those around us, and develop lasting, meaningful relationships with others. Adults often roll our eyes as our children overreact to the stressors in their lives, forgetting we were in their shoes once and it wasn’t easy. Amber D. Tran takes us back to a time when the mean girl forced us to commit some humiliating act for group approval, when we knew who our best friend was because she proudly took the punishment alongside us, when we sneaked into the creepy house at the foot of the hill, when music sang the lyrics of our souls, and when we just knew in our heart of hearts that we were destined to be with that cute boy on the bus forever. These are days of birthday pool parties and summer four-wheeler rides, of picking blackberries, illegally downloading music from Napster, late nights on MSN Messenger, and Final Fantasy VII.
Adolescence isn’t all parties and fun. There are darker moments as well. Teens deal either directly with or try to help a friend who is dealing with heavy issues such as abusive parents, drug addiction, feelings of betrayal, isolation, guilt, and depression. American children, who lack the wisdom of experience, are thrust into dealing with mature situations and emotions whether they are ready or not. This coming-of-age story draws forth a chaotic cascade of emotions as we join Abigail in her journey from innocence to maturity.
Moon River was an enjoyable read from start to finish. Powerful, emotionally evocative, and wistful, this story felt as though it poured forth from the author onto the page and into me; it needed to be, and it needed me to not read, but to listen. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reminiscent coming-of-age stories.
April 18, 2017
Moon River Kindle Edition by Amber D. Tran is a beautiful and honest novel written in a narrative memoir way in the first person and with lots of autobiographical information and experiences.
The language of the book is kids lingo, it is well researched as it deals with teenagers and the author managed to capture the necessary ambiance that surrounds a teenage life and its surroundings.
This story is about falling in love, having fun, testing friendships, dealing with death both physical and emotional.
The three main characters that the story is built and based are Abigail, Ryan, and Lilly and the dynamic between those three and the other kids that play a supporting role and sometimes satellite functions create a beautiful story where you can see adolescent in its full glory.
The book is so good because it allows each and every one of us to connect with some aspect of the story. The excitement of meeting someone new, the hopes and dreams of maybe this is true love or not, the disappointment that comes with betrayal, the loss of a person that you cared about. All these are aspects that I connected with the story because when I was a teenager, I went through similar situations, and it was a productive return tour down memory lane for me.
TI reminded me how I gradually lost my innocence and landed in adulthood and maturity sometimes it was a soft landing sometimes I would crash and burned.
The different perspective of how teenagers view love, death, betrayal, happiness and friendship is presented in this book. Something that I really appreciated because it reminded me how I was when I was a kid and how drastically different the same situation and emotions are perceived by me now at the age of 42.
It’s an easy read, the flow of the book is capturing both with its adolescent simplicity, and the plot of the story is magnetic.
I had a good time reading it. I highly recommend it.
The language of the book is kids lingo, it is well researched as it deals with teenagers and the author managed to capture the necessary ambiance that surrounds a teenage life and its surroundings.
This story is about falling in love, having fun, testing friendships, dealing with death both physical and emotional.
The three main characters that the story is built and based are Abigail, Ryan, and Lilly and the dynamic between those three and the other kids that play a supporting role and sometimes satellite functions create a beautiful story where you can see adolescent in its full glory.
The book is so good because it allows each and every one of us to connect with some aspect of the story. The excitement of meeting someone new, the hopes and dreams of maybe this is true love or not, the disappointment that comes with betrayal, the loss of a person that you cared about. All these are aspects that I connected with the story because when I was a teenager, I went through similar situations, and it was a productive return tour down memory lane for me.
TI reminded me how I gradually lost my innocence and landed in adulthood and maturity sometimes it was a soft landing sometimes I would crash and burned.
The different perspective of how teenagers view love, death, betrayal, happiness and friendship is presented in this book. Something that I really appreciated because it reminded me how I was when I was a kid and how drastically different the same situation and emotions are perceived by me now at the age of 42.
It’s an easy read, the flow of the book is capturing both with its adolescent simplicity, and the plot of the story is magnetic.
I had a good time reading it. I highly recommend it.
April 20, 2017
Moon River is the kind of book that resonates with you long after you've read it.
Particularly relating to the main character Abigail, I was brought right back to some of my own childhood joys and traumas while reading. The book plants you not only in the time period in which it takes place (a perfect nostalgia trip), but also in the mindset of a young child experiencing the sometimes bitter world through her own eyes.
Definitely a must-read on my list. I cannot wait to read what Amber produces next.
Particularly relating to the main character Abigail, I was brought right back to some of my own childhood joys and traumas while reading. The book plants you not only in the time period in which it takes place (a perfect nostalgia trip), but also in the mindset of a young child experiencing the sometimes bitter world through her own eyes.
Definitely a must-read on my list. I cannot wait to read what Amber produces next.
April 24, 2017
Moon River takes place in Stream Ridge, West Virginia. Everyone knows everyone and it’s thirty miles to the nearest store. About as backwoods and redneck as you can get without embracing the stereotype.
Abigail is our narrator here, a third grader who has a crush on Ryan Mills. And she doesn’t let you forget it. She takes the reader on the journey of her life all the way until high school. Don’t worry, Ryan Mills goes with us.
For millennials, this novel will be nostalgia in your hands. Abigail grows up during that pivotal time where technological advances exploded. We share her first time with MSN messenger. The emo-goth phase with the Tripp pants that Hot Topic sells. The more the story went on, the more I found myself comparing her friends to mine when I was that age.
All the characters are easy to identify with on one level or another. They’re kids, of course, doing the stupid things that kids do. Teasing, backstabbing, tears, and boyfriend stealing everywhere. There’s so much going on in Abigail’s life that it would be easy to get lost. That didn’t happen. Moon River is well-organized and well-paced. Keeping track isn’t an issue.
The author’s writing style is solid. Abigail’s tone in the beginning is simple and childlike. It reflects her personality well. Her use of description helps the reader keep track of everything, not only her. Glimpsing the lives of other characters allows a better understanding of Abigail's story. This is where a lot of first person novels go wrong—and one that Moon River gets right. As she gets older, there is a subtle, but noticeable shift in her narration.
The lack of overused tropes in Moon River was refreshing. There were one or two, as expected from every novel. What sets Abigail’s story apart is the approach. The story unfolds in a way that doesn’t feel cliché. It also had a rather unpredictable ending. It helped serve as the final note in Abigail’s character development. The moment where the readers realize that she’s no longer a child. The moment Abigail realizes that she’s no longer a child. As the reader, the level of empathy felt along the journey will be strong. Once you get to the end, you’re left with a strong, proud feeling. Determined, even, if there are challenges in your life that need dealing with.
Moon River took me back. The story itself mimicked things that I’ve experienced. That many people have experienced. Definitely worth the read.
Abigail is our narrator here, a third grader who has a crush on Ryan Mills. And she doesn’t let you forget it. She takes the reader on the journey of her life all the way until high school. Don’t worry, Ryan Mills goes with us.
For millennials, this novel will be nostalgia in your hands. Abigail grows up during that pivotal time where technological advances exploded. We share her first time with MSN messenger. The emo-goth phase with the Tripp pants that Hot Topic sells. The more the story went on, the more I found myself comparing her friends to mine when I was that age.
All the characters are easy to identify with on one level or another. They’re kids, of course, doing the stupid things that kids do. Teasing, backstabbing, tears, and boyfriend stealing everywhere. There’s so much going on in Abigail’s life that it would be easy to get lost. That didn’t happen. Moon River is well-organized and well-paced. Keeping track isn’t an issue.
The author’s writing style is solid. Abigail’s tone in the beginning is simple and childlike. It reflects her personality well. Her use of description helps the reader keep track of everything, not only her. Glimpsing the lives of other characters allows a better understanding of Abigail's story. This is where a lot of first person novels go wrong—and one that Moon River gets right. As she gets older, there is a subtle, but noticeable shift in her narration.
The lack of overused tropes in Moon River was refreshing. There were one or two, as expected from every novel. What sets Abigail’s story apart is the approach. The story unfolds in a way that doesn’t feel cliché. It also had a rather unpredictable ending. It helped serve as the final note in Abigail’s character development. The moment where the readers realize that she’s no longer a child. The moment Abigail realizes that she’s no longer a child. As the reader, the level of empathy felt along the journey will be strong. Once you get to the end, you’re left with a strong, proud feeling. Determined, even, if there are challenges in your life that need dealing with.
Moon River took me back. The story itself mimicked things that I’ve experienced. That many people have experienced. Definitely worth the read.
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