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Me: Moth
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2021)A debut YA novel-in-verse that is both a coming-of-age and a ghost story.
Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted.
Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones.
Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable.
Here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.
Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted.
Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones.
Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable.
Here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 17, 2021
474 people are currently reading
22447 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,089 reviews
November 25, 2021
TW//
I only got into books written in verse last year and each one has been super impactful in my life. This one was no exception.
Me (Moth) follows a young girl named Moth who tragically lost her family in a car crash. As she struggles with grief and feeling guilty for her family's death, she sparks a connection with a boy at her school.
Normally when I read books in verse, dialogue is very minimal, so I was very confused and thrown for a loop when I found out how much dialogue was in this book. I’m glad that I stuck with it though as I eventually was able to get into the swing of the writing style and I was lost in the captivating universe that Amber McBride created. Moth and Sani will be characters that I’ll never forget. They’re unique connection formed one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read and they each went on their own journeys of self-discovery that were so interesting to read about.
The award for the biggest plot twist I’ve ever read is for sure going to this book. I felt my heart stop when I got to it. It will be unexpected for anyone who reads this book, but the twist feels so perfect for the story. It almost makes me want to read the whole story again with the fresh perspective that the twist gave me.
This story is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s an important story that I hope others read and appreciate as much as I did.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book through a YallWest giveaway and accessed it through NetGalley but that in no way impacts my review.
I only got into books written in verse last year and each one has been super impactful in my life. This one was no exception.
Me (Moth) follows a young girl named Moth who tragically lost her family in a car crash. As she struggles with grief and feeling guilty for her family's death, she sparks a connection with a boy at her school.
Normally when I read books in verse, dialogue is very minimal, so I was very confused and thrown for a loop when I found out how much dialogue was in this book. I’m glad that I stuck with it though as I eventually was able to get into the swing of the writing style and I was lost in the captivating universe that Amber McBride created. Moth and Sani will be characters that I’ll never forget. They’re unique connection formed one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read and they each went on their own journeys of self-discovery that were so interesting to read about.
The award for the biggest plot twist I’ve ever read is for sure going to this book. I felt my heart stop when I got to it. It will be unexpected for anyone who reads this book, but the twist feels so perfect for the story. It almost makes me want to read the whole story again with the fresh perspective that the twist gave me.
This story is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s an important story that I hope others read and appreciate as much as I did.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book through a YallWest giveaway and accessed it through NetGalley but that in no way impacts my review.
October 9, 2020
I was lucky enough to read a copy of this book and let me tell you, you're not ready. Amber's writing is surreal and magical and she will break your heart in the best possible way. Point being: you're gonna cry
June 7, 2023
This was beautiful, and dare I say poignant?
This was a revelation in narrative poetry storytelling.
The images were vivid, and the narrative voices were strong.
The reveal was spectacularly done.
Bravo, Amber McBride. I stand up in ovation for this great literary work.
5 Stars.
This was a revelation in narrative poetry storytelling.
The images were vivid, and the narrative voices were strong.
The reveal was spectacularly done.
Bravo, Amber McBride. I stand up in ovation for this great literary work.
5 Stars.
July 4, 2022
This book was sad and it wanted you to know it. It shoved its sadness in your face from the very first second, then rammed its poignancy down your throat till you choked on it. It was far too profound to the extent that the weight of what could’ve been some carefully crafted stanzas became meaningless and empty. The angst was too much, the profundity in excess. The repetitive nature made it a bore as it recycled through the same five themes of dancing and singing, root magic Hoodoo, leaving, that dreaded ‘Summer Song’ whatever that meant, and the car crash that killed Moth’s family, again and again until I could have predicted and probably written some of the lines myself.
I found it quite ironic that this book constantly clarified people’s names in the same style as the title yet heavily relied on hyperbolic metaphors that made it confusing and difficult to understand what was actually happening in scenes. The constant flamboyant language and convoluted metaphors came across as so forced and sucked any shred of genuine emotion out of the story. The dialogue was also so bare and due to the style of the book it was often difficult to comprehend who was talking, even moreso because the two main characters Moth and Sani had the same basic personality of angst and repressed trauma. They reflected each other too much so it came as no surprise that they couldn’t build off of each other in any way, in fact, there wasn’t any romantic connection between them that couldn’t be viewed as odd or creepy.
The main problem alongside the repetitiveness was the maintained sadness. Emotions are fleeting things, and sadness is more effective and impactful if its filtered in amongst other varied emotions and if it’s built up to and then dispersed. But this book decided to start off with an intense focus on the sadness and sustained it for far too long, to the point that the sadness became a meaningless, dull throb. If that was the point, then I suppose I should have given it a halfhearted congratulations, but even so, it made for a boring and emotionless read.
The plot was a dreary journey that reeked of the aforementioned repetitiveness and presented itself as a neatly numbered list of places so I could happily tick off each one as I prayed for the ending to come quickly. And the ending itself was disappointing; it was not the redeeming feature it had promised to be. Instead, it was a cop out of a creative decision and impressively managed to ruin what was already a terrible book with a smack of illogicality on par with endings that undo their own plot by declaring ‘it was all a dream’.
If it wasn’t for the educational aspect of learning about a few important historical places of Black history in America and Rootwork culture then there really wouldn’t be anything worth reading in here.
(Recommended by Matal Baker)
I found it quite ironic that this book constantly clarified people’s names in the same style as the title yet heavily relied on hyperbolic metaphors that made it confusing and difficult to understand what was actually happening in scenes. The constant flamboyant language and convoluted metaphors came across as so forced and sucked any shred of genuine emotion out of the story. The dialogue was also so bare and due to the style of the book it was often difficult to comprehend who was talking, even moreso because the two main characters Moth and Sani had the same basic personality of angst and repressed trauma. They reflected each other too much so it came as no surprise that they couldn’t build off of each other in any way, in fact, there wasn’t any romantic connection between them that couldn’t be viewed as odd or creepy.
The main problem alongside the repetitiveness was the maintained sadness. Emotions are fleeting things, and sadness is more effective and impactful if its filtered in amongst other varied emotions and if it’s built up to and then dispersed. But this book decided to start off with an intense focus on the sadness and sustained it for far too long, to the point that the sadness became a meaningless, dull throb. If that was the point, then I suppose I should have given it a halfhearted congratulations, but even so, it made for a boring and emotionless read.
The plot was a dreary journey that reeked of the aforementioned repetitiveness and presented itself as a neatly numbered list of places so I could happily tick off each one as I prayed for the ending to come quickly. And the ending itself was disappointing; it was not the redeeming feature it had promised to be. Instead, it was a cop out of a creative decision and impressively managed to ruin what was already a terrible book with a smack of illogicality on par with endings that undo their own plot by declaring ‘it was all a dream’.
If it wasn’t for the educational aspect of learning about a few important historical places of Black history in America and Rootwork culture then there really wouldn’t be anything worth reading in here.
(Recommended by Matal Baker)
September 29, 2021
Wow.
Beautiful writing, I learned so much about Najavo myths and creation stories as well as Hoodoo.
And that ending though!!!
The novel in verse style makes this story a breeze to keep turning the pages and may draw in reluctant readers, too.
Beautiful writing, I learned so much about Najavo myths and creation stories as well as Hoodoo.
And that ending though!!!
The novel in verse style makes this story a breeze to keep turning the pages and may draw in reluctant readers, too.
November 18, 2021
Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
...which you the readers are probably not gonna like very much.
Okay...
Listen.
Rating an OwnVoices book low has absolutely no reflection on me as a person. Anyone with their hackles up can take a deep breath. Merely glimpse at my shelves and tell me I don't read widely or think hard enough about things.
As a work of written story, this book was objectively disappointing.
As a work of crafting sentences, this book was a gilded piece of art.
McBride clearly knows how to string words together. Even when the plot went way out somewhere North of "Huh??" I stuck around for the way these sentences were carefully constructed. The probability for me coming back to McBride's work in future books is 99%. "Only 99, Caitlin?! You're insensitive!"
No. I'm leery.
The main characters showed up. Within two pages of reading them, I physically set aside my Kindle and said, "Oh no." Whenever Moth or Sani spoke, I had the distinct feeling I somehow found my way into a John Green novel. Teenagers just don't talk in abstract pseudo-philosophical compound thoughts. Would they write in their journals that way? Absolutely! Even I did, once upon a time. But I don't think I've ever once heard a teenager spew words like a second-year philosophy major who's favorite thought-master is Nietzsche.
The character writing needs work. A lot of work. Sani sauntered onto the scene with his best "wounded badboy cliche" skinsuit on, and Moth was no better in her instalove "hee hee it's so cute that this boy I don't know calls me honey" romper. And anyone with eyeballs--functioning or no--could see the reveal coming.
I just...I wanted to love this book. It has all of the elements that I gravitate towards in anything, from picture books to la-dee-dah literature. It just fell flat. I know I'm in the minority here. Part of me wonders if the five-stars read the same book as I did.
...which you the readers are probably not gonna like very much.
Okay...
Listen.
Rating an OwnVoices book low has absolutely no reflection on me as a person. Anyone with their hackles up can take a deep breath. Merely glimpse at my shelves and tell me I don't read widely or think hard enough about things.
As a work of written story, this book was objectively disappointing.
As a work of crafting sentences, this book was a gilded piece of art.
McBride clearly knows how to string words together. Even when the plot went way out somewhere North of "Huh??" I stuck around for the way these sentences were carefully constructed. The probability for me coming back to McBride's work in future books is 99%. "Only 99, Caitlin?! You're insensitive!"
No. I'm leery.
The main characters showed up. Within two pages of reading them, I physically set aside my Kindle and said, "Oh no." Whenever Moth or Sani spoke, I had the distinct feeling I somehow found my way into a John Green novel. Teenagers just don't talk in abstract pseudo-philosophical compound thoughts. Would they write in their journals that way? Absolutely! Even I did, once upon a time. But I don't think I've ever once heard a teenager spew words like a second-year philosophy major who's favorite thought-master is Nietzsche.
The character writing needs work. A lot of work. Sani sauntered onto the scene with his best "wounded badboy cliche" skinsuit on, and Moth was no better in her instalove "hee hee it's so cute that this boy I don't know calls me honey" romper. And anyone with eyeballs--functioning or no--could see the reveal coming.
I just...I wanted to love this book. It has all of the elements that I gravitate towards in anything, from picture books to la-dee-dah literature. It just fell flat. I know I'm in the minority here. Part of me wonders if the five-stars read the same book as I did.
January 12, 2022
AHHHH JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I COULDN'T FALL MORE IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK!
Listening to it on audio this time around really made this story more impactful for me. I'm obsessed.
Listening to it on audio this time around really made this story more impactful for me. I'm obsessed.
February 9, 2022
This book was a pile of garbage. Anything meaningful it was trying to say is buried under piles of flowery language. The romance was insta-love. They speak as if they are stuck in a mad-libs worksheet.
AND LET ME SAVE YOU TIME:
AND LET ME SAVE YOU TIME:
August 21, 2021
So this is my best friend’s book, which means this review is in no way objective. HOWEVER, I do believe that this story absolutely has a place among titles like The Poet X, The Crossover, and Long Way Down. A lyrical and haunting tale, Me (Moth) is one that will linger in your mind long after you’ve finished.
March 5, 2022
As a librarian, I see a LOT of emails from publishers, book sellers, JLG, ALA, blahblahblah. I put Me Moth in my library wishlist queue because of one of those emails, and I borrowed it. It has over 4 stars (which I did not know before reading it) on Goodreads. I like (wish italics we're available) many books written in verse. Out of the Dust, well the first 2/3 was amazing. Brilliant. Moving.
I started reading Me Moth. At the beginning of the book, I thought, okay, two beautiful, broken outcasts who are talented enough to go to Juilliard happen to come together after meeting AT SCHOOL, where one does work, gets grades, and receives a report card, no? But I digress. It's a little much, I thought, but I'll keep with it. As it's a book in verse, the similes were creative and descriptive until they weren't. The repetition was powerful until it wasn't. By close to the end, I was begging for it to be over. My skin crawled every time an overused simile or metaphor appeared, and I yelled at the book when the repetition was painful. Like, really, really painful. The book became trite, overdone with every cliche, and the worst cliche of all - the ending (insert an obscene amount of throw up emojis here)... GAAAAAAAH! I have not disliked a book this much in years. I haven't even written a review in years because I read so many YA books, I just rate them then crack open another. I just finished this right now, and it's bedtime, and I know I'm not going to be able to sleep because this book was so overwhelmingly and densely something. I don't even know what word I can use. Gooey maybe. But not good gooey. Despite all the candy bar similes and the spilling out caramel crap, it's a bad, bad type of gooey. What's gooey but skin-crawly? Gummy. Drippy. Yucky. This book was yucky. I really can't think of anything that is unpleasant enough.
Please help me find the right word.
Blech. I haven't read any Goodreads-user comments about this book, but I can just imagine the gooey grossness of how deep and meaningful and wonderful and artistic and creative and deep and meaningful and poignant and magical and beautiful and deep and meaningful and emotional and special and poetic and deep and meaningful this book is.
Ew.
Ew.
I started reading Me Moth. At the beginning of the book, I thought, okay, two beautiful, broken outcasts who are talented enough to go to Juilliard happen to come together after meeting AT SCHOOL, where one does work, gets grades, and receives a report card, no? But I digress. It's a little much, I thought, but I'll keep with it. As it's a book in verse, the similes were creative and descriptive until they weren't. The repetition was powerful until it wasn't. By close to the end, I was begging for it to be over. My skin crawled every time an overused simile or metaphor appeared, and I yelled at the book when the repetition was painful. Like, really, really painful. The book became trite, overdone with every cliche, and the worst cliche of all - the ending (insert an obscene amount of throw up emojis here)... GAAAAAAAH! I have not disliked a book this much in years. I haven't even written a review in years because I read so many YA books, I just rate them then crack open another. I just finished this right now, and it's bedtime, and I know I'm not going to be able to sleep because this book was so overwhelmingly and densely something. I don't even know what word I can use. Gooey maybe. But not good gooey. Despite all the candy bar similes and the spilling out caramel crap, it's a bad, bad type of gooey. What's gooey but skin-crawly? Gummy. Drippy. Yucky. This book was yucky. I really can't think of anything that is unpleasant enough.
Please help me find the right word.
Blech. I haven't read any Goodreads-user comments about this book, but I can just imagine the gooey grossness of how deep and meaningful and wonderful and artistic and creative and deep and meaningful and poignant and magical and beautiful and deep and meaningful and emotional and special and poetic and deep and meaningful this book is.
Ew.
Ew.
August 30, 2021
This book had me in tears at the end. First we meet Moth and she is in a tragic accident with her mother, father, and brother Zachary and only one person survived. As Moth lives with this guilt she is always being reminded by her grandfather/spirit who passed on and was a root worker where he could still sense and contact their ancestors and soon enough moth was able to do the same. So since her family is gone her aunt took her in but her aunt is never present and Moth just feels completely alone especially at her new school until she met Sani. Sani is a boy who takes a lot of medication and can't stand his stepfather. Also Sani is a Navajo, which he takes pride in and so since neither one of them don't have the attention of their families during the summer time that take this cross-country trip where they visit parks, Navajo country, and a plantation. As they are on this trip Moth is falling for Sani and Sani is falling for Moth but he keeps taking this medication that makes a rift between him and Moth. So Moth is trying to find out why Sani keeps taking this medication. Then as the return from their trip Sani confesses what the medication is and what it is for. He tells Moth that he sees ghost/spirits and so the only for him not to see them is to take the medication. Then as he says this I realize that Moth is a ghost and she also died in the car accident with her family. Honestly I did not see that coming, but I finished this book so quickly because this book was so good. I highly recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2023
This was both exactly what my heart needed right now, but also too much for it as well. This was so beautiful. To the point where words aren’t enough so I’ll just let the feelings it gave me linger for a while. 🖤💔
March 14, 2022
5/5 stars
Me (Moth) is one of the most memorable and unique novels to come out this year, and it felt like a bit of an honour to have been able to read it. It is a debut novel in verse, that is both a coming-of-age- and a ghost story about grief and a special friendship between two damaged teens.
Moth has lost both her parents in a car accident and feels herself being eaten away by the survivors guilt she carries over it. Sani has suffered from depression, and wants to track down his roots in hopes of gaining a better understanding of himself and his life. The two find each other on a roadtrip, chasing down the ghosts that haunt them both.
I’ve had very mixed experiences with novels in verse, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but fell in love very quickly on. Me (Moth) was absolutely brilliant in set-up as well as execution. I had none of the problems I’ve had before with books in verse: the form didn’t distract from the story, and at no point did it feel forced or clunky. Moth’s narrative voice dances and flies across the pages, like the dancer she used to be before her accident. With just the right words, in just the right places, this author embedded her story with so much depth and layers that many an experienced writer would struggle to pull off, even with double the amount of pages at their disposal. Yet Amber McBride seems to do it effortlessly.
As a bonus, I’ve had a bit of a fascination with Navajo creation mythology for a while now, and Me (Moth) completely reignited that flame and let me down a rabbit hole of researching its references. Let me say: doing so even deepened my respect for this story and the author.
Me (Moth) shattered my heard and mended it in just the right ways and within the context of the story I couldn't have asked for more. I'm highly anticipating the authors sophomore work, set for release in late 2022/early 2023.
Me (Moth) is one of the most memorable and unique novels to come out this year, and it felt like a bit of an honour to have been able to read it. It is a debut novel in verse, that is both a coming-of-age- and a ghost story about grief and a special friendship between two damaged teens.
Moth has lost both her parents in a car accident and feels herself being eaten away by the survivors guilt she carries over it. Sani has suffered from depression, and wants to track down his roots in hopes of gaining a better understanding of himself and his life. The two find each other on a roadtrip, chasing down the ghosts that haunt them both.
I’ve had very mixed experiences with novels in verse, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but fell in love very quickly on. Me (Moth) was absolutely brilliant in set-up as well as execution. I had none of the problems I’ve had before with books in verse: the form didn’t distract from the story, and at no point did it feel forced or clunky. Moth’s narrative voice dances and flies across the pages, like the dancer she used to be before her accident. With just the right words, in just the right places, this author embedded her story with so much depth and layers that many an experienced writer would struggle to pull off, even with double the amount of pages at their disposal. Yet Amber McBride seems to do it effortlessly.
As a bonus, I’ve had a bit of a fascination with Navajo creation mythology for a while now, and Me (Moth) completely reignited that flame and let me down a rabbit hole of researching its references. Let me say: doing so even deepened my respect for this story and the author.
Me (Moth) shattered my heard and mended it in just the right ways and within the context of the story I couldn't have asked for more. I'm highly anticipating the authors sophomore work, set for release in late 2022/early 2023.
December 8, 2021
It's been 2 days since I finished this book and I don't know what words to use to convey to you to pick up this incredible work of fiction. Told in verse and so impactful and beautiful. My full review to come, but this one is worth ALL THE ACCOLADES.
January 2, 2025
2024 reads: 335/250
content warnings: death of family by car accident, grief, physical abuse, mental illness, racism, bullying
following a car accident that took everyone in her family except for her, moth is living with her aunt, feeling alone and uprooted. she meets a boy named sani, who’s also searching for his roots amidst his battles with depression. they go on a road trip to find where they come from.
this has been on my tbr for quite a while, so i’m glad i finally got around to it! having also read we are all so good at smiling, i love the way amber mcbride depicts mental illness. i also appreciated the way first love was explored even with moth and sani’s individual struggles. i’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys novels in verse.
content warnings: death of family by car accident, grief, physical abuse, mental illness, racism, bullying
following a car accident that took everyone in her family except for her, moth is living with her aunt, feeling alone and uprooted. she meets a boy named sani, who’s also searching for his roots amidst his battles with depression. they go on a road trip to find where they come from.
this has been on my tbr for quite a while, so i’m glad i finally got around to it! having also read we are all so good at smiling, i love the way amber mcbride depicts mental illness. i also appreciated the way first love was explored even with moth and sani’s individual struggles. i’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys novels in verse.
December 21, 2021
I am Navajo, the tribe that Sani is from. I am horrified that indigenous stories and culture are being sold without compensation at any level. This book stereotypes our Medicine Men, sexualizes our Navajo males and marginalizes our creation story. I recommend that NPR reevaluate their Indigenous based literature. These stories are not allowed to be shared until a snowfall on Navajo lands.
February 12, 2022
I was utterly under the spell of McBride's lyrical words as I read this book. She wrapped me in every emotion and took me on an amazing road trip. My heart ached as I became more familiar with Santi and Moth's pain and burst from the love that was growing between them. I was not prepared for that shot straight through my heart towards the end there though. A rather sad story, but there was a lot of beauty in the pain.
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March 3, 2022
Ugh, this one is trying too hard. The language was so over-the-top poetic, with the word repetition and the parentheses around the names--I just could not connect to these characters or to the story. Two depressed teens, both scarred and broken, instantly fall in love and create art and go across the country sleeping in motels, having a cosmic connection through their grandparents? I could barely make myself care or keep track of who was saying what-I just can't imagine this being a hit with teens that I work with.
November 2, 2021
Stunningly written . I'll never look at a candy bar the same. These words are achingly gorgeous and I tried to drag out this story as long as I could by reading it slowly, I so didn't want it to end.
Can't wait for more from Amber McBride!
Can't wait for more from Amber McBride!
June 18, 2022
the plot was pretty murky ngl, but the writing is just so beautiful
February 21, 2022
Absolutely stunning debut novel in verse by Amber McBride. I put everything down from my TBR pile and picked this book up instead when one of my students returned this book after having it for only a day to say that she devoured it the night before and was so moved by the story and the writing that she was visibly emotional. Tears from a middle schooler were all the endorsement I needed and those tears were 100% warranted.
February 7, 2022
this book has me SOBBING?? NOTHING could’ve prepared me for the plot twist! damn.. and it was right in the middle of me taking chemistry notes too (now i have tears on my tablet) like my heart is shattering right now. I absolutely LOVED what this author has done with this eloquently written novel. This is definitely one of my all time favorite reads of the year <3
5/5⭐️
5/5⭐️
October 7, 2021
Beautiful writing!
My heart hurts!
My heart hurts!
May 6, 2022
Phenomenal! The audiobook of this free verse poetry novel was read by the author. The unexpected twist left me breathless. My mouth dropped open. Brava, Amber!!!
October 30, 2023
3.5/5 Stars
December 7, 2024
verse novels have my heart. but this one was kinda odd
May 31, 2022
3.5!
This is definitely more of a book that reads more like poetry than it does as a novel. I think you’d have to be in the right mood to read it! It’s kind of one of those books where you need to reread, just to kind of let the language sink in a little more.
Overall, it was a good book!
This is definitely more of a book that reads more like poetry than it does as a novel. I think you’d have to be in the right mood to read it! It’s kind of one of those books where you need to reread, just to kind of let the language sink in a little more.
Overall, it was a good book!
Read
December 28, 2021Moth's family died in a tragic car accident, and she's left to live with her aunt in Virginia. But it's a terrible transition. She's ignored, over and over, by people at school and by her aunt. She's the girl whose entire family died, who is Black by not Black enough, who used to be a dancer but is no more, whose grandfather did rootwork and practiced hoodoo. But when Sani, a Navajo boy, shows up at school, she's drawn to him and he to her. Together, they take a cross-country road trip in order for Sani to return to his father's home and his ancestral land and away from his abusive step father.
At first glance, it looks like a love story. At a deeper glance, it's a Love Story but that love is about truth, about the wonderful ways magic works, and about the absolutely shattering realities of culture being stripped from non-white people in America. Sani's Native heritage and Moth's Black heritage play key roles in how they come to connect with one another, and their road trip allows them to dig into big, meaty issues of land, colonialization, racism, slavery, and the ways both their histories are interwoven, even if it doesn't seem so. There is, of course, a lot here about grief and loss as well, bot in what it is to grieve and lose others but also what it means to grieve and lose one's self.
The verse is absolutely knock out here, and this ghost story is one that's far less about being scared and instead about being haunted. About being conjured and connected to things much bigger than themselves.
I won't lay out some of the comps to this book I can think of since but it reminded me quite a bit of The Truth of Right Now.
McBride has vivid writing, and while I didn't always buy the dialog between Sani and Moth as teenagers, it makes sense for what the story is and what it achieves. Definitely an incredible debut YA novel.
At first glance, it looks like a love story. At a deeper glance, it's a Love Story but that love is about truth, about the wonderful ways magic works, and about the absolutely shattering realities of culture being stripped from non-white people in America. Sani's Native heritage and Moth's Black heritage play key roles in how they come to connect with one another, and their road trip allows them to dig into big, meaty issues of land, colonialization, racism, slavery, and the ways both their histories are interwoven, even if it doesn't seem so. There is, of course, a lot here about grief and loss as well, bot in what it is to grieve and lose others but also what it means to grieve and lose one's self.
The verse is absolutely knock out here, and this ghost story is one that's far less about being scared and instead about being haunted. About being conjured and connected to things much bigger than themselves.
I won't lay out some of the comps to this book I can think of since but it reminded me quite a bit of The Truth of Right Now.
McBride has vivid writing, and while I didn't always buy the dialog between Sani and Moth as teenagers, it makes sense for what the story is and what it achieves. Definitely an incredible debut YA novel.
September 23, 2023
This is my second novel I read by Amber and I like her touch on spirituality and her writing style..
4.5 rating if anything, I didn’t know what to expect and where the story was going but I def didn’t see it ending like that.
“I have found that the whites of your bones are so lovely, they should be carved into piano keys” 🩵
Gave a hint of spirituality trauma bonding
4.5 rating if anything, I didn’t know what to expect and where the story was going but I def didn’t see it ending like that.
“I have found that the whites of your bones are so lovely, they should be carved into piano keys” 🩵
Gave a hint of spirituality trauma bonding
February 13, 2024
I’m sobbing, what a beautiful story and what beautiful words I can't—
Me (Moth) is a novel told in verse, and I picked it up in early 2024 at my local Black-owned bookstore because it spoke to me on the shelf and I just... needed it. I find it's always worth it to follow that kind of bookstore-browsing urge.
(A small plug for that store—Socialight Society in Lansing, Michigan—because I love them and if you're looking for a shop to support with online sales or whatnot... Why not them!)
Like the other few novels in verse that I've read, I devoured this story in one sitting. It was poignant. It was heartrending. It was truly hopeful and truly devastating in equal measure. It also shook me to my core in a way that very, very few novels do these days.
I don't even want to summarize the book's blurb because I think the less you know, the better the reading experience.
I encourage readers to go into this slim novel with a few expectations:
1) This novel is about grief, depression, death, and healing. Tread cautiously and know yourself.
2) This story is Emotional. I sobbed for a good 10 minutes after finishing it.
3) There is magic in these words.
I hope more readers find solace and cathartic release in this tale. I didn't expect it to get this heavy—blame me, not the novel, as I always underestimate novels in verse—but it's the kind of story that needs to get heavy in order to showcase its true form.
I won't forget Me (Moth) for some time.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
Me (Moth) is a novel told in verse, and I picked it up in early 2024 at my local Black-owned bookstore because it spoke to me on the shelf and I just... needed it. I find it's always worth it to follow that kind of bookstore-browsing urge.
(A small plug for that store—Socialight Society in Lansing, Michigan—because I love them and if you're looking for a shop to support with online sales or whatnot... Why not them!)
Like the other few novels in verse that I've read, I devoured this story in one sitting. It was poignant. It was heartrending. It was truly hopeful and truly devastating in equal measure. It also shook me to my core in a way that very, very few novels do these days.
I don't even want to summarize the book's blurb because I think the less you know, the better the reading experience.
I encourage readers to go into this slim novel with a few expectations:
1) This novel is about grief, depression, death, and healing. Tread cautiously and know yourself.
2) This story is Emotional. I sobbed for a good 10 minutes after finishing it.
3) There is magic in these words.
I hope more readers find solace and cathartic release in this tale. I didn't expect it to get this heavy—blame me, not the novel, as I always underestimate novels in verse—but it's the kind of story that needs to get heavy in order to showcase its true form.
I won't forget Me (Moth) for some time.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
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