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Once, in a Town Called Moth
The fish out of water story of a young Mennonite girl from Bolivia trying to find her way in a big city, for fans of Stephanie Oakes's The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly .
Ana is not your typical teenager. She grew up in a tiny Mennonite colony in Bolivia, from which her mother fled when Ana was a young girl. Now Ana and her father have also fled, and Ana doesn't know why. She only knows that something was amiss in their tight-knit community. Arriving in Toronto, Ana has to fend for herself in this alien environment, completely isolated in a big city with no help and no idea where to even begin. But begin she she makes a friend, then two. She goes to school and tries to understand the myriad unspoken codes and rules. She is befriended by a teacher. She goes to the library, the mall, parties. And all the while, she searches for the mother who left so long ago, and tries to understand her father -- also a stranger in a strange land, with secrets of his own.
This is a beautifully told story that will resonate with readers who have struggled with being new and unsure in a strange place, even if that place is in a classroom full of people they know. Ana's story is unique but universal; strange but familiar; extraordinary but a fish out of water tale that speaks to us all.
Ana is not your typical teenager. She grew up in a tiny Mennonite colony in Bolivia, from which her mother fled when Ana was a young girl. Now Ana and her father have also fled, and Ana doesn't know why. She only knows that something was amiss in their tight-knit community. Arriving in Toronto, Ana has to fend for herself in this alien environment, completely isolated in a big city with no help and no idea where to even begin. But begin she she makes a friend, then two. She goes to school and tries to understand the myriad unspoken codes and rules. She is befriended by a teacher. She goes to the library, the mall, parties. And all the while, she searches for the mother who left so long ago, and tries to understand her father -- also a stranger in a strange land, with secrets of his own.
This is a beautifully told story that will resonate with readers who have struggled with being new and unsure in a strange place, even if that place is in a classroom full of people they know. Ana's story is unique but universal; strange but familiar; extraordinary but a fish out of water tale that speaks to us all.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2016
7 people are currently reading
944 people want to read
About the author
Trilby Kent
8 books31 followersTrilby grew up in cities in Canada, the United States and England. After studying History at Oxford University and Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics, training as a maps specialist at a London auction house and pursuing journalistic work from Belgium to the Philippines, she began writing fiction for adults and young adults. This led to an AHRC studentship to complete a PhD in Creative Writing, which produced her second adult novel. Her second book for children, STONES FOR MY FATHER, won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award and the Africana Book Award in 2012 and has since been included on CBC Writes’ 100 YA Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian. Her third novel for young readers, ONCE, IN A TOWN CALLED MOTH will be published in September 2016.
Trilby now lives in Toronto, where she continues to write fiction, review books for the Globe and Mail and Quill and Quire, teach creative writing at the University of Toronto and Humber College, and freelance as a writer and editor.
Trilby now lives in Toronto, where she continues to write fiction, review books for the Globe and Mail and Quill and Quire, teach creative writing at the University of Toronto and Humber College, and freelance as a writer and editor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 14, 2019
Anneli was raised in a tiny Mennonite colony in Bolivia. Her mother ran away when Anneli was 5 and she hasn't seen her since. 10 years later, Anneli's father wakes her and says they are also leaving. They end up in Canada where her father reveals that he is searching for her mother whom he believes is somewhere in Toronto.
This all sounded very exciting when I was wandering aimlessly around the library looking for "something different" the other day.
The story is kind of addictive and I admit I devoured it in a morning, but there were a lot of holes in the story.
It skips around a bit, but without ever really revealing anything of importance from the past.
Even with the "big reveal" of all the secrets there are still sooooooo many things missing.
It's a quick and fun read with lots of enjoyable characters, just not something I would read twice.
This all sounded very exciting when I was wandering aimlessly around the library looking for "something different" the other day.
The story is kind of addictive and I admit I devoured it in a morning, but there were a lot of holes in the story.
It skips around a bit, but without ever really revealing anything of importance from the past.
Even with the "big reveal" of all the secrets there are still sooooooo many things missing.
It's a quick and fun read with lots of enjoyable characters, just not something I would read twice.
August 28, 2016
This review and more can be found at A Reader's Diary!
Anneli and her father flee to Canada from a tiny community in Bolivia. Anneli becomes Ana and starts her new life, one without her mother. Lena went awol 10 years before, leaving Ana and Miloh to fend for themselves, leaving Miloh with a crime he needed to outrun.
Leaving Colony Felicidad was hard for Ana. Canada made her feel like an outcast. Toronto was not as pretty as everyone made it out to be. She didn't have a phone, computer, car, or friends. She couldn't even leave the house for the first few months. Life was hard in Toronto. Once enrolling in school, she realizes how much more there is to life outside of their small Mennonite community back home. She has opportunities here. She has friends. She has a mother to find.
Lena ran when the going got tough for Miloh. She couldn't bear having to live in the community she no longer associated herself with. She needed a fresh start, even if that meant leaving her child behind. When Ani and Lena finally rekindle, it's tough for both of them to accept each others new lives.
There's so much Ana doesn't know about her mother. Yet she finds things that she didn't know about her father as well. BUT I'm not sure Trilby Kent actually knew how to tie their story together. Towards the end, we find out what Miloh did. We find out why he and Ana needed to run. But what we don't ever find out is why Lena ran from them. We also never find out why Miloh was looking for Lena... This was by far one of the most annoying parts of this book.
B U T keep in mind, I was sent an advanced reader's copy of Once in a Town Called Moth. I'm hoping that in the finalized version we have a few more answers than we have right now.
Big shout out to Penguin Random House and Tundra Books for sending me this arc!
Mark your calendars, Once in a Town Called Moth hits shelves September 6th!
Anneli and her father flee to Canada from a tiny community in Bolivia. Anneli becomes Ana and starts her new life, one without her mother. Lena went awol 10 years before, leaving Ana and Miloh to fend for themselves, leaving Miloh with a crime he needed to outrun.
Leaving Colony Felicidad was hard for Ana. Canada made her feel like an outcast. Toronto was not as pretty as everyone made it out to be. She didn't have a phone, computer, car, or friends. She couldn't even leave the house for the first few months. Life was hard in Toronto. Once enrolling in school, she realizes how much more there is to life outside of their small Mennonite community back home. She has opportunities here. She has friends. She has a mother to find.
Lena ran when the going got tough for Miloh. She couldn't bear having to live in the community she no longer associated herself with. She needed a fresh start, even if that meant leaving her child behind. When Ani and Lena finally rekindle, it's tough for both of them to accept each others new lives.
There's so much Ana doesn't know about her mother. Yet she finds things that she didn't know about her father as well. BUT I'm not sure Trilby Kent actually knew how to tie their story together. Towards the end, we find out what Miloh did. We find out why he and Ana needed to run. But what we don't ever find out is why Lena ran from them. We also never find out why Miloh was looking for Lena... This was by far one of the most annoying parts of this book.
B U T keep in mind, I was sent an advanced reader's copy of Once in a Town Called Moth. I'm hoping that in the finalized version we have a few more answers than we have right now.
Big shout out to Penguin Random House and Tundra Books for sending me this arc!
Mark your calendars, Once in a Town Called Moth hits shelves September 6th!
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November 20, 20162.5 stars
I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway but that in no way influences my review. This book originally piqued my interest and I read about 70 pages in one sitting before I started getting bored. Ana was an okay character but personally I liked Suvi the best. To be honest, this book was really neither here nor there for me. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either. Definitely an interesting perspective, though. The author clearly did her research and wrote about something that no one else has done before. Overall though I think the whole plot and characters should've been fleshed out more.
I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway but that in no way influences my review. This book originally piqued my interest and I read about 70 pages in one sitting before I started getting bored. Ana was an okay character but personally I liked Suvi the best. To be honest, this book was really neither here nor there for me. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either. Definitely an interesting perspective, though. The author clearly did her research and wrote about something that no one else has done before. Overall though I think the whole plot and characters should've been fleshed out more.
February 3, 2017
I couldn't get into this at all. Just ok.
September 14, 2016
Okay, where to start with this book. First off, I read this during DiverseAThon not intending to use it for the readathon but it fit in quite nicely. I worry that I connected with this story just because I grew up in a heavily Mennonite populated area and just didn't know the extent of their culture until now. It was eye-opening to see how far the communities stem and the different issues they each face. That being said, this was clearly a very well researched book not only about the Mennonite community, but their geography and history as well.
Ana was such an interesting character to follow in this story, though I think it would have been equally intriguing to read it from any number of the characters in it. I think the writing style executed her mindset really well. While it may seem scattered and chaotic with all the breaks that come up in the middle of dialogue or observations, it fits her naive or broken view of what she was told her culture was and how she sees life outside of the community. I think it did a great job of getting inside her head.
This book brings up the concept of identity in such a great way. As this is a coming of age story, we see Ana's eyes being opened not only to the joys and horrors of a "free country" but also of living in a contained community. There is hypocrisy and bigotry in both but also companionship and love.
All in all, this is a book that should be read and appreciated, it tackles so many serious and worldly issues in a very accessible contemporary YA form. High recommend.
*I received this book from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you!*
Ana was such an interesting character to follow in this story, though I think it would have been equally intriguing to read it from any number of the characters in it. I think the writing style executed her mindset really well. While it may seem scattered and chaotic with all the breaks that come up in the middle of dialogue or observations, it fits her naive or broken view of what she was told her culture was and how she sees life outside of the community. I think it did a great job of getting inside her head.
This book brings up the concept of identity in such a great way. As this is a coming of age story, we see Ana's eyes being opened not only to the joys and horrors of a "free country" but also of living in a contained community. There is hypocrisy and bigotry in both but also companionship and love.
All in all, this is a book that should be read and appreciated, it tackles so many serious and worldly issues in a very accessible contemporary YA form. High recommend.
*I received this book from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you!*
September 6, 2016
This is obviously a well researched book on the Mennonite communities in Canada and Bolivia, and that part of the book is quite interesting, and Ana's memories of the colony, told in the first person, are interesting. The part when she is in Toronto, after her father makes her leave with him, as a teenager is told in the third person, and is good as well, as we see her getting used to living in a city, but I felt as though she assimilated to quickly, got up to speed quite fast, and it is a bit jarring to be in third person while all this is happening.
It is a quiet story. Things happen, but mostly in her head, I think. Well written, but the ending felt a bit abrupt.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
It is a quiet story. Things happen, but mostly in her head, I think. Well written, but the ending felt a bit abrupt.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
April 28, 2018
Ana grew up in Bolivia and moves to canada with her father living everything behind and changing her name.her mother left a long time ago when she was a young girl,living her in the care of her father.they are running away from something,something but what?what is being hidden from her?and how does she fare in canada while trying to understand everything that goes on from the moment the gun was found in the lake.was an okay read,a bit hard to get through,but it worked
August 6, 2016
Short, but well written. Overall, it was a compelling read and I enjoyed the characters and the plot. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a few things missing to make this book spectacular. It needed a little bit more umph; something to grab the reader’s attention and keep them invested.
*received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
*received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2019
A story of a 14 year old girl, Anneli, from a Mennonite community in Bolivia who travels with her father to Toronto in search of her mother who left the family when Anneli was 5.
A subtle, thoughtful story of a sheltered girl learning about modern teenage life in Canada and searching for the truth about her family.
The secrets and reasons behind her father and mother’s decisions were not really fleshed out, and there seemed generally a lack of detail. I enjoyed the teenage/friend interactions and Ani’s personal growth.
A subtle, thoughtful story of a sheltered girl learning about modern teenage life in Canada and searching for the truth about her family.
The secrets and reasons behind her father and mother’s decisions were not really fleshed out, and there seemed generally a lack of detail. I enjoyed the teenage/friend interactions and Ani’s personal growth.
September 12, 2016
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Once in a Town Called Moth grabbed my attention right away with a Mennonite colony in Bolivia, which is one of the main reasons I was super excited to read it. Thing is, there isn't a ton of the Mennonite stuff involved. It's told through flashbacks, which are still quite interesting, although removed from the situation they become less intense. But I still enjoyed that aspect of the book, plus I loved that the Mennonite setting was in Bolivia, because that is not something I get to read about every day! Let's break this book down, shall we?
The Characters: Ana was an okay character, and while I felt for her, I never really connected to her. She was also quite young, which could be one of the reasons that I didn't connect, but I think it was more that she was quite closed off in general. She made some awesome friends though, so that was fun. Her parents were the hottest messes ever though, and I could not empathize with them very much. Like, you need to put your kids first, people. They had a lot of drama and secrets but they needed to get their act together and realize that "oh hey, remember the impressionable child we created, then forced to grow up in backwoods Bolivia and now threw into downtown Toronto?"
The Plot: I did like how it went back and forth between the present and flashbacks to Bolivia. And while I suppose the Mennonite colony isn't technically a cult, there were most certainly some shady activities going on. Like, almost all of the activities would throw up red flags for any one of us reading book reviews on the internet, basically. That part was definitely fascinating. I also liked watching Ana acclimate to life in a city, though sometimes she did so almost too seamlessly to be believable.
The plotline involving Ana's parents felt a bit rushed at the end, but I didn't care a ton about it to begin with, so I guess I wasn't as annoyed with that. There was also (and I am marking this as a spoiler even though it's hinted at in the synopsis)
Bottom Line: It was a decent read and I was curious to know what happened, but not connecting much to Ana made things a little harder to connect to. Definitely huge points for the research into the Mennonite stuff though, it was really well done!
*Copy provided by publisher for review
Once in a Town Called Moth grabbed my attention right away with a Mennonite colony in Bolivia, which is one of the main reasons I was super excited to read it. Thing is, there isn't a ton of the Mennonite stuff involved. It's told through flashbacks, which are still quite interesting, although removed from the situation they become less intense. But I still enjoyed that aspect of the book, plus I loved that the Mennonite setting was in Bolivia, because that is not something I get to read about every day! Let's break this book down, shall we?
The Characters: Ana was an okay character, and while I felt for her, I never really connected to her. She was also quite young, which could be one of the reasons that I didn't connect, but I think it was more that she was quite closed off in general. She made some awesome friends though, so that was fun. Her parents were the hottest messes ever though, and I could not empathize with them very much. Like, you need to put your kids first, people. They had a lot of drama and secrets but they needed to get their act together and realize that "oh hey, remember the impressionable child we created, then forced to grow up in backwoods Bolivia and now threw into downtown Toronto?"
The Plot: I did like how it went back and forth between the present and flashbacks to Bolivia. And while I suppose the Mennonite colony isn't technically a cult, there were most certainly some shady activities going on. Like, almost all of the activities would throw up red flags for any one of us reading book reviews on the internet, basically. That part was definitely fascinating. I also liked watching Ana acclimate to life in a city, though sometimes she did so almost too seamlessly to be believable.
The plotline involving Ana's parents felt a bit rushed at the end, but I didn't care a ton about it to begin with, so I guess I wasn't as annoyed with that. There was also (and I am marking this as a spoiler even though it's hinted at in the synopsis)
Bottom Line: It was a decent read and I was curious to know what happened, but not connecting much to Ana made things a little harder to connect to. Definitely huge points for the research into the Mennonite stuff though, it was really well done!
*Copy provided by publisher for review
December 8, 2016
This is a little story about Anneli who has lived in a Mennonite colony in Bolivia all her fourteen years until her father suddenly packs them up and returns to Canada. They change their names and take up residence in Toronto, where her father believes her mother, who ran away from the colony ten years earlier might be living. Why they have fled Bolivia is the central theme of the story.
Personally I found it disappointing the lack of information or research that Trilby Kent did in showing us the life Anneli would have lived in Bolivia as a Mennonite. There was very little given about the Mennonite culture or community which was a big drawer to the book.
The book sometimes feels confusing and chaotic as Anneli's thoughts and observations are as she tries to make sense of her new culture with the mindset of her old culture where God was the centre of her life and every decision made. As she assimilates into life in Canada her faith melts away, which raises the question did she really have a faith of her own or was it simply a cultural statement for her. This question is never even raised, much less explored.
The story is told from current day Toronto with flashbacks from the colony she lived in in Bolivia. We are privy to Anneli's hunt for her missing mother and trying to make sense of her father's choices and behaviour when he continually avoids telling her anything. We see the struggle to make a relationship with the mother and we see the father unable to cope with life in a busy city.
I was hoping for more than it delivered.
Personally I found it disappointing the lack of information or research that Trilby Kent did in showing us the life Anneli would have lived in Bolivia as a Mennonite. There was very little given about the Mennonite culture or community which was a big drawer to the book.
The book sometimes feels confusing and chaotic as Anneli's thoughts and observations are as she tries to make sense of her new culture with the mindset of her old culture where God was the centre of her life and every decision made. As she assimilates into life in Canada her faith melts away, which raises the question did she really have a faith of her own or was it simply a cultural statement for her. This question is never even raised, much less explored.
The story is told from current day Toronto with flashbacks from the colony she lived in in Bolivia. We are privy to Anneli's hunt for her missing mother and trying to make sense of her father's choices and behaviour when he continually avoids telling her anything. We see the struggle to make a relationship with the mother and we see the father unable to cope with life in a busy city.
I was hoping for more than it delivered.
May 14, 2019
I won a copy of Once, in a Town Called Moth from a Goodreads Giveaway.
This was a quick read and like most YA books focuses on the main character, a 14 year old girl named Ana who has escaped a structured and religious community in Bolivia with her father to Canada to look for her mother who deserted them ten years ago.
Ana also has to adapt to a new culture, the angst of forging a new life for herself and realize the world is bigger and better than the small, sheltered community she left.
I liked Ana because despite the unusual upbringing she had, she was resilient and mature, wise and rebellious, just what a real teenager is supposed to be.
Not much happens in the book, no car chases or cursing and the drama is discussed as after the fact.
Once, in a Town Called Moth is a typical journey of self discovery, of adapting (or not), making friends and facing bullies and realizing your parents are not who you thought they were and that's not a bad thing.
Growing up is hard but with it comes the realization you are not who you once were, but a stronger, better person is what life is really about.
What I enjoyed about this book was the Mennonite culture which I knew very little about and the typical lack of a love interest for Ana, which I am so tired of reading about in nearly all YA books.
The book was about Ana and how we are always trying to learn, grow up and be better people, even adults.
This was a quick read and like most YA books focuses on the main character, a 14 year old girl named Ana who has escaped a structured and religious community in Bolivia with her father to Canada to look for her mother who deserted them ten years ago.
Ana also has to adapt to a new culture, the angst of forging a new life for herself and realize the world is bigger and better than the small, sheltered community she left.
I liked Ana because despite the unusual upbringing she had, she was resilient and mature, wise and rebellious, just what a real teenager is supposed to be.
Not much happens in the book, no car chases or cursing and the drama is discussed as after the fact.
Once, in a Town Called Moth is a typical journey of self discovery, of adapting (or not), making friends and facing bullies and realizing your parents are not who you thought they were and that's not a bad thing.
Growing up is hard but with it comes the realization you are not who you once were, but a stronger, better person is what life is really about.
What I enjoyed about this book was the Mennonite culture which I knew very little about and the typical lack of a love interest for Ana, which I am so tired of reading about in nearly all YA books.
The book was about Ana and how we are always trying to learn, grow up and be better people, even adults.
August 14, 2016
My Rating: 3.5 stars
When I first started reading this I instantly connected it to The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros because of the main character's personality and her observations of the people around her. Also there was a part about shoes and identity which were major motifs in The House On Mango Street. It was a little difficult to pay attention to some minor parts of the story while reading, but it was beautifully written. Basically this book follows a Bolivian/ Canadian 14 year old, named Ana or Anneli who has recently moved to Toronto, Canada with her father. Her mother had disappeared 10 years ago and Ana hasn't heard from her or heard anything about her since. Her dad always tries to dodge her questions no matter how many times she asks. In Toronto, Ana meets Suvi who becomes her best friend along with a boy named Meesha. Suvi tells Ana that she should try going to school and Ana does only to find that one of her teachers seems to let things slide and that she's still in a place full of strangers besides her friends. While trying to solve the case of her mother's disappearance and her dad's continuous dodging, Ana will learn how to overcome being the different one and will learn how to adapt to a totally new place.
When I first started reading this I instantly connected it to The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros because of the main character's personality and her observations of the people around her. Also there was a part about shoes and identity which were major motifs in The House On Mango Street. It was a little difficult to pay attention to some minor parts of the story while reading, but it was beautifully written. Basically this book follows a Bolivian/ Canadian 14 year old, named Ana or Anneli who has recently moved to Toronto, Canada with her father. Her mother had disappeared 10 years ago and Ana hasn't heard from her or heard anything about her since. Her dad always tries to dodge her questions no matter how many times she asks. In Toronto, Ana meets Suvi who becomes her best friend along with a boy named Meesha. Suvi tells Ana that she should try going to school and Ana does only to find that one of her teachers seems to let things slide and that she's still in a place full of strangers besides her friends. While trying to solve the case of her mother's disappearance and her dad's continuous dodging, Ana will learn how to overcome being the different one and will learn how to adapt to a totally new place.
October 18, 2016
Once in a Town Called Moth is the kind of book you give a teenager if you want to introduce them to Canadian literature.
The premise is interesting enough: a young teenage girl and her father leave their small Mennonite community in Bolivia and settle in Toronto. Why they left is a major thread of the story.
The main character, Ana, is fourteen and just starting high school. After growing up in a reserved and small community, the city - and high school - is a bizarre world she's never before encountered. Ana is a lovely narrator, expressing how she is caught between worlds and emotions with aplomb.
The narrative switches between the present in Toronto and Ana's recollections of Colony Felicidad in Bolivia, which works in more than one way by revealing more of her past as well as containing pieces to the emotional puzzle Ana hopes to solve about her missing mother.
At just over 200 pages, Once in a Town Called Moth is a very quick read with only a small cast of characters and no romance. It's about Ana's struggle with family and identity, which makes it stand apart from a good number of other YA books. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it as a relatively quick intro to the Canlit genre.
The premise is interesting enough: a young teenage girl and her father leave their small Mennonite community in Bolivia and settle in Toronto. Why they left is a major thread of the story.
The main character, Ana, is fourteen and just starting high school. After growing up in a reserved and small community, the city - and high school - is a bizarre world she's never before encountered. Ana is a lovely narrator, expressing how she is caught between worlds and emotions with aplomb.
The narrative switches between the present in Toronto and Ana's recollections of Colony Felicidad in Bolivia, which works in more than one way by revealing more of her past as well as containing pieces to the emotional puzzle Ana hopes to solve about her missing mother.
At just over 200 pages, Once in a Town Called Moth is a very quick read with only a small cast of characters and no romance. It's about Ana's struggle with family and identity, which makes it stand apart from a good number of other YA books. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it as a relatively quick intro to the Canlit genre.
June 10, 2016
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
Ana is suddenly uprooted from her home in Bolivia with her father to help him find her mother in the bustling city of Toronto. Her mother ran away from home ten years ago, and it's hard not to wonder if she even wanted to be found. Ana has lived her whole life in a small, cult-like community of Mennonites in the farmland of Bolivia, and is thrust into city life without much grace.
This is ultimately the story of a girl trying not only to find out the differences between "real world" existence and her old life, but to find her mother and discover the real reason she left them.
Not always quite believable, but still compelling, Ana's journey into the real world is imminent and harrowing. She shows a sense of self-confidence and social understanding that doesn't fit quite right in relation to her upbringing, and we are meant to chalk it up to her strength of character.
Overall I enjoyed this book, even if it didn't "wow" me in the way other books have, it was certainly a taste of something different.
Ana is suddenly uprooted from her home in Bolivia with her father to help him find her mother in the bustling city of Toronto. Her mother ran away from home ten years ago, and it's hard not to wonder if she even wanted to be found. Ana has lived her whole life in a small, cult-like community of Mennonites in the farmland of Bolivia, and is thrust into city life without much grace.
This is ultimately the story of a girl trying not only to find out the differences between "real world" existence and her old life, but to find her mother and discover the real reason she left them.
Not always quite believable, but still compelling, Ana's journey into the real world is imminent and harrowing. She shows a sense of self-confidence and social understanding that doesn't fit quite right in relation to her upbringing, and we are meant to chalk it up to her strength of character.
Overall I enjoyed this book, even if it didn't "wow" me in the way other books have, it was certainly a taste of something different.
November 2, 2016
This book was okay. I wouldn't read it again and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they were looking for teen stories featuring former mennonites.
The plot moves very slowly, the climax is somewhat anticlimatic, and the ending was only slightly satisfying. The premise was promising, but the delivery left me disappointed.
The plot moves very slowly, the climax is somewhat anticlimatic, and the ending was only slightly satisfying. The premise was promising, but the delivery left me disappointed.
August 7, 2016
The book started off good – was looking forward to a good story but dwindled down to super boring for me. Just the typical bad decisions by good people screwing up all their lives and pretty much ending where they all began!
December 2, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Ana captured my heart. Love it.
July 24, 2022
felt like nothing really happened? a bit boring
August 11, 2017
Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me a copy of this book for participating in a book club discussion. A review was not requested, however I am providing one as a complimentary copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This was such a strange, wonderful little book.
It follows Anneli, or Ana now, and her father after they abruptly move to Canada from their small Mennonite community in Bolivia. I don't have much experience with stories on religious sects, but I did enjoy this one. There was a great mix of their 'new' life in Toronto as well as the 'flashbacks' to their lives in Bolivia.
Some perspectives are written in third person, and others are in Ana's perspective, so things jumped around a bit. The Toronto chapter's were third person and the flashbacks to Bolivia were in Ana's perspective, as her own little memories.
I found myself fascinated with the flashbacks, learning of a culture so different from my own. I know a little bit about Mennonites, living in Alberta there are some Hutterite colonies nearby, but I don't know much. There was, of course, the mystery of why they came to Canada, especially so quickly, and where Ana's mother was. She had left the colony ten years before, but no one knew why or where she went, other than probably somewhere in Canada.
I will say that, at first, I wasn't sure I would like this book. The only other book I had read that was similar was The May Queen Murders and that book was about a cult, so it wasn't quite the same as the religious sect that Ana and her family lived in. But anyways, I was expecting something similar, and I wasn't sure how much of the book would focus on the religion aspects. I was pleasantly surprised that there were only smaller snippets of her old live on the colony.
Even though this book deals with something that not many people experience, leaving a religious group and travelling to a different country, the messages of starting over, and finding your way are ones in which everyone can use. No matter who you are, where you live, what you do, your life with have change, like it or not. Like Ana, you will have to start over in uncharted territory and learn to adapt.
I enjoyed Ana's voice and the writing style portrayed. The story was enchanting in a way that kept me reading. From what I know of Mennonite colonies and more structured religions, I think the interactions between Ana and her father were well done, especially towards the end when she finds herself and stands up to him. He is loving, but not overly-affectionate, very much portraying standard male/female roles, especially without Ana's mother around. She is responsible for cooking, shopping, cleaning, etc. while he goes out and works. I didn't love Ana's father, but he did the best he could, and always thought of her first.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and think it is a really great read if you are looking for a coming of age story that is a little bit different.
This was such a strange, wonderful little book.
It follows Anneli, or Ana now, and her father after they abruptly move to Canada from their small Mennonite community in Bolivia. I don't have much experience with stories on religious sects, but I did enjoy this one. There was a great mix of their 'new' life in Toronto as well as the 'flashbacks' to their lives in Bolivia.
Some perspectives are written in third person, and others are in Ana's perspective, so things jumped around a bit. The Toronto chapter's were third person and the flashbacks to Bolivia were in Ana's perspective, as her own little memories.
I found myself fascinated with the flashbacks, learning of a culture so different from my own. I know a little bit about Mennonites, living in Alberta there are some Hutterite colonies nearby, but I don't know much. There was, of course, the mystery of why they came to Canada, especially so quickly, and where Ana's mother was. She had left the colony ten years before, but no one knew why or where she went, other than probably somewhere in Canada.
I will say that, at first, I wasn't sure I would like this book. The only other book I had read that was similar was The May Queen Murders and that book was about a cult, so it wasn't quite the same as the religious sect that Ana and her family lived in. But anyways, I was expecting something similar, and I wasn't sure how much of the book would focus on the religion aspects. I was pleasantly surprised that there were only smaller snippets of her old live on the colony.
Even though this book deals with something that not many people experience, leaving a religious group and travelling to a different country, the messages of starting over, and finding your way are ones in which everyone can use. No matter who you are, where you live, what you do, your life with have change, like it or not. Like Ana, you will have to start over in uncharted territory and learn to adapt.
I enjoyed Ana's voice and the writing style portrayed. The story was enchanting in a way that kept me reading. From what I know of Mennonite colonies and more structured religions, I think the interactions between Ana and her father were well done, especially towards the end when she finds herself and stands up to him. He is loving, but not overly-affectionate, very much portraying standard male/female roles, especially without Ana's mother around. She is responsible for cooking, shopping, cleaning, etc. while he goes out and works. I didn't love Ana's father, but he did the best he could, and always thought of her first.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, and think it is a really great read if you are looking for a coming of age story that is a little bit different.
September 6, 2016
3.5/5
- I received a free copy of this book via the Goodreads giveaway
"Once, in a Town Called Moth" is a coming of age story of a fourteen year old girl, Ana, who was raised in a Bolivian Mennonite colony and who has recently been relocated to Toronto. Along with her father, Ana has moved to Toronto to find her mother, Lena, who fled their colony 10 years prior.
Upon relocating to Toronto, Ana is enrolled in a local high school. For me, this was the best part of the book, as the author manages to perfectly capture high school attitudes/experiences. As well, the author does a good job showing how Ana's upbringing and sudden move to Toronto presents its own unique challenges in high school.
Furthermore, as a Toronto native, the author does a wonderful job of accurately capturing everything associated with Toronto. The various cultures/ethnicities and the passing of seasons was vivid and mirrors today's Toronto exactly.
Overall, while I did enjoy this book and it's balance between Ana's new life in Toronto/ upbringing in Bolivia, I found the whole thing to be a bit too simplified. Despite targeting a younger demographic, the reveal of Ana's father's secret is surprisingly dark. Focusing further on this revelation would have added another exciting later to this book.
As always, I enjoy any book set in Toronto, and the author does a great job creating a sense of place. I would definitely recommend this for any reader looking for an interesting YA read.
- I received a free copy of this book via the Goodreads giveaway
"Once, in a Town Called Moth" is a coming of age story of a fourteen year old girl, Ana, who was raised in a Bolivian Mennonite colony and who has recently been relocated to Toronto. Along with her father, Ana has moved to Toronto to find her mother, Lena, who fled their colony 10 years prior.
Upon relocating to Toronto, Ana is enrolled in a local high school. For me, this was the best part of the book, as the author manages to perfectly capture high school attitudes/experiences. As well, the author does a good job showing how Ana's upbringing and sudden move to Toronto presents its own unique challenges in high school.
Furthermore, as a Toronto native, the author does a wonderful job of accurately capturing everything associated with Toronto. The various cultures/ethnicities and the passing of seasons was vivid and mirrors today's Toronto exactly.
Overall, while I did enjoy this book and it's balance between Ana's new life in Toronto/ upbringing in Bolivia, I found the whole thing to be a bit too simplified. Despite targeting a younger demographic, the reveal of Ana's father's secret is surprisingly dark. Focusing further on this revelation would have added another exciting later to this book.
As always, I enjoy any book set in Toronto, and the author does a great job creating a sense of place. I would definitely recommend this for any reader looking for an interesting YA read.
June 2, 2017
(3.5 stars)
I recieved an ARC of this book from a giveaway.
For the first half of Once, in a Town Called Moth, I was utterly bored and waiting for the plot to kick in, but now I can appreciate how it was just (very) slow-building. I can easily say that I really liked the second half, and I liked how things connected.
I really liked the main characters and how insanely real and relatable they were. Although I was confused with the names of some side/minor characters, it didn't really distract me from enjoying the book.
I feel like the size of the book was just perfect to tell the story- you see a lot of books dragged on today to be 300 pages. I really like how the cover is simple, yet meaningful. Before reading, I was wondering how a fishtail braid up close could be of any significance to the story.
Besides for the kind of boring writing, my other big complaint is the pacing/format. The dividers (I don't know the official name for them) were kind of useless at most points, but effective at some. Showing how time passed was a big issue for me- travelling on a train, for one; the narrator is telling us she's going to a relatives' farm, and then she's suddenly there, no showing of time passing.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had its faults, but I would recommend it to anyone who wants an easy and enjoyable read with an interesting story.
I recieved an ARC of this book from a giveaway.
For the first half of Once, in a Town Called Moth, I was utterly bored and waiting for the plot to kick in, but now I can appreciate how it was just (very) slow-building. I can easily say that I really liked the second half, and I liked how things connected.
I really liked the main characters and how insanely real and relatable they were. Although I was confused with the names of some side/minor characters, it didn't really distract me from enjoying the book.
I feel like the size of the book was just perfect to tell the story- you see a lot of books dragged on today to be 300 pages. I really like how the cover is simple, yet meaningful. Before reading, I was wondering how a fishtail braid up close could be of any significance to the story.
Besides for the kind of boring writing, my other big complaint is the pacing/format. The dividers (I don't know the official name for them) were kind of useless at most points, but effective at some. Showing how time passed was a big issue for me- travelling on a train, for one; the narrator is telling us she's going to a relatives' farm, and then she's suddenly there, no showing of time passing.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had its faults, but I would recommend it to anyone who wants an easy and enjoyable read with an interesting story.
July 28, 2016
I received an ARC of Trilby Kent's novel "Once, in a Town Called Moth", compliments of Penguin Random House Canada and appreciated the opportunity.
This fictional novel shares the story of Ana, who was raised in a small Mennonite community in Boliva. At age 14, her father abruptly moves her to Toronto, Canada in search of her mother who had fled the colony when Ana was a young girl. She endures culture shock and soon recognizes that the life she had in Bolivia differs vastly from that of her new peers. Ana starts to integrate with the help of her friends Suvi and Mischa. As her father continues his search for her mother, Ana hides her own actions at attempting to find the answers as to why she left them behind.
This coming of age story held various themes including immigration, bullying, poverty, stigma, cultural disparity and religion. I gained a new understanding of the Mennonite colonization in Bolivia, having already been familiar with Mennonite communities within Canada. This is a well-written, intelligent portrayal of a young girl, who is caught between two worlds with a confused sense of identity. It is geared for ages 12+ and would be enjoyed by tweens, YA and adult audiences alike. It is a quick read, I finished in one sitting. 4/5 star rating and will be checking out this author's early writings.
This fictional novel shares the story of Ana, who was raised in a small Mennonite community in Boliva. At age 14, her father abruptly moves her to Toronto, Canada in search of her mother who had fled the colony when Ana was a young girl. She endures culture shock and soon recognizes that the life she had in Bolivia differs vastly from that of her new peers. Ana starts to integrate with the help of her friends Suvi and Mischa. As her father continues his search for her mother, Ana hides her own actions at attempting to find the answers as to why she left them behind.
This coming of age story held various themes including immigration, bullying, poverty, stigma, cultural disparity and religion. I gained a new understanding of the Mennonite colonization in Bolivia, having already been familiar with Mennonite communities within Canada. This is a well-written, intelligent portrayal of a young girl, who is caught between two worlds with a confused sense of identity. It is geared for ages 12+ and would be enjoyed by tweens, YA and adult audiences alike. It is a quick read, I finished in one sitting. 4/5 star rating and will be checking out this author's early writings.
October 5, 2017
This is definitely a character-driven story, and it is quite well done at that. The story is told from Ana's perspective, in third perspective when she is in Toronto and in first perspective when she is describing her past in the Mennonite colony. I really liked that the author made that differentiation, as I've never seen an author do that before and it added a unique touch to the story. I really liked Ana's character and the author did a really great job in expressing the emotions she was going through; as a reader, I found it very easy to connect with and understand Ana. I didn't know much about the Mennonite community before this novel, but it is clear that the author did due diligence in researching and presenting the information about this community in a non-judgemental way. This novel is definitely more of a slow-burner and it's really just about how Ana adjusts to Toronto after leaving Colony Felicidad so if you are expecting something more fast-paced or with action, then this is not the novel for you. However, it is a well-written YA novel that is all about growing up, fitting in, and finding your identity. I'm giving this a 3/5 stars.
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For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
November 2, 2016
I can't put my finger on why I found this story so compelling. It's quiet, and even though big things happen the tone remains quiet, as though you are watching from afar. But the far away perspective doesn't make it boring - it's all crystal clear, and sometimes flits quickly from one scene to the next as though you are watching snippets of film, or catching quick soundbites of dialogue. Occasionally when something extraordinary is happening in life I have that weird out-of-body feeling, as though my life is a movie and I'm watching it all happen, crystal-clear but distant at the same time - that's how this felt. I really liked it, mostly because I liked all the characters, and even though the words were spare, it all came to life completely. My only doubt was if Ana could really be so quick to catch up to the modern world after living so remotely for her whole life. She seems really nimble about understanding technology and other people and cultures. That might be believable or it might be a stretch, but all in all this was a really interesting book about being displaced and uncovering past family mysteries.
May 14, 2019
I received a free copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads giveaways.
Once, in a Town Called Moth by Trilby Kent was a good coming of age book. I do not believe I was the target audience for this book, but perhaps it is more suitable for the teenage crowd. The main character, Ana and her father, leave their Bolivian community to search for Ana's mother in Canada. Not only does this poor girl have to deal with a new language, a new country, but she needs to learn about the the odd ways of high school life. Thank goodness Ana's neighbor, Suvi and Suvi's friend, Mischa, take her under their wings. The book is well written and I found myself routing for Ana and hoping she can survive the cruelness of teenagers and hoping Ana and her mother's relationship could be rekindled. Reading this book reminded me that I am grateful to not have to go back through high school life again.
Once, in a Town Called Moth by Trilby Kent was a good coming of age book. I do not believe I was the target audience for this book, but perhaps it is more suitable for the teenage crowd. The main character, Ana and her father, leave their Bolivian community to search for Ana's mother in Canada. Not only does this poor girl have to deal with a new language, a new country, but she needs to learn about the the odd ways of high school life. Thank goodness Ana's neighbor, Suvi and Suvi's friend, Mischa, take her under their wings. The book is well written and I found myself routing for Ana and hoping she can survive the cruelness of teenagers and hoping Ana and her mother's relationship could be rekindled. Reading this book reminded me that I am grateful to not have to go back through high school life again.
June 10, 2017
Meh. It was readable.
As someone from near Aylmer, (a town mentioned briefly in the book) I was a bit annoyed that no one seemed to fact-check that you can't take any public transport to or from town.
I thought it was an interesting perspective, but I wish some of the more troubling details had been better explored. Ana comments on the fact that in her home community, she would be expected to be a good housewife, and not complete school or get a different job, but she never seems to see that as a negative about the Colony. This is on top of the fact that when she moves to Toronto, her father expects her to wear extremely modest clothing at all times, and make dinner for him. I thought there might've been some conflict there, as when Ana she is completely into regular Canadian culture and she buys Ana some of the clothing her father won't let her wear.
I found the book interesting enough, but rather slow-paced and dull.
As someone from near Aylmer, (a town mentioned briefly in the book) I was a bit annoyed that no one seemed to fact-check that you can't take any public transport to or from town.
I thought it was an interesting perspective, but I wish some of the more troubling details had been better explored. Ana comments on the fact that in her home community, she would be expected to be a good housewife, and not complete school or get a different job, but she never seems to see that as a negative about the Colony. This is on top of the fact that when she moves to Toronto, her father expects her to wear extremely modest clothing at all times, and make dinner for him. I thought there might've been some conflict there, as when Ana she is completely into regular Canadian culture and she buys Ana some of the clothing her father won't let her wear.
I found the book interesting enough, but rather slow-paced and dull.
December 24, 2016
My Globe and Mail review:
Ana grew up in a small Mennonite colony in Bolivia, raised by her father after her mother left under mysterious circumstances. But now, Ana’s father is moving them to Canada, supposedly to find her mother. While these mysteries bubble beneath the surface, the beauty of this book rests in its contemplative, immersive portrayal of the newcomer experience. Trilby Kent writes in delicate whispers, keeping us entrenched in the strangeness of a new place. Ana experiences all sorts of emotions in her new Toronto home – numbness, awe, longing, sadness, joy – and even Kent’s description of her reaction to the taunts of her jerk classmates is quietly wise: “Most of their references meant nothing to her, and that somehow made it worse.” It’s not often that a book is this good and this needed.
Ana grew up in a small Mennonite colony in Bolivia, raised by her father after her mother left under mysterious circumstances. But now, Ana’s father is moving them to Canada, supposedly to find her mother. While these mysteries bubble beneath the surface, the beauty of this book rests in its contemplative, immersive portrayal of the newcomer experience. Trilby Kent writes in delicate whispers, keeping us entrenched in the strangeness of a new place. Ana experiences all sorts of emotions in her new Toronto home – numbness, awe, longing, sadness, joy – and even Kent’s description of her reaction to the taunts of her jerk classmates is quietly wise: “Most of their references meant nothing to her, and that somehow made it worse.” It’s not often that a book is this good and this needed.
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February 29, 2016I liked this novel for ages 12 and up (to be published in September). It is part immigrant experience (Bolivia to Toronto), part coming-of-age and part mystery. Ana's mother abandoned her husband and young daughter in their Mennonite community in Bolivia when Ana was five. Almost ten years later, father and daughter are at the Santa Cruz airport headed to Canada and Ana has no idea what is going on. A kind neighbor girl befriends Ana and introduces her to school and western culture. Until now, Ana has lived an extremely sheltered life on a Bolivian farm. Ana and her father are both searching for her mother in their own ways and for their own reasons. Endings aren't always neat and tidy and neither is life.
September 4, 2016
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This is a different take on the coming-of-age story. Ana, a teenage girl who has grown up in a Mennonite community in Bolivia, moves to Toronto with her father, not really understanding why. Her mother had left her and her father years ago when she was five. Now she has to adjust to modern life in the big city, with the help of her new friends Suvi and Mischa. The story switches back and forth between the past (in Bolivia) and present (in Toronto), and we see Ana's growth from sheltered and naive to eyes-opened. It is an interesting journey, one that many readers will relate to.
This is a different take on the coming-of-age story. Ana, a teenage girl who has grown up in a Mennonite community in Bolivia, moves to Toronto with her father, not really understanding why. Her mother had left her and her father years ago when she was five. Now she has to adjust to modern life in the big city, with the help of her new friends Suvi and Mischa. The story switches back and forth between the past (in Bolivia) and present (in Toronto), and we see Ana's growth from sheltered and naive to eyes-opened. It is an interesting journey, one that many readers will relate to.
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