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Two Moons in August: A Novel
Kieran, a new boy visiting her small town for the summer, helps Sidonie and her family come together again following the death of Sidonie's mother
199 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1990
3 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Martha Brooks
28 books51 followersMartha Brooks is an award-winning novelist, playwright and jazz singer whose books have been published in Spain, Italy, Japan, Denmark, England, Germany and Australia, as well as in Canada and the United States. She is a three-time winner of the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year, as well as the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Mr. Christie’s Book Award, the Governor General’s Award, and the Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work. Letters to Brian is her first book for adult readers. She lives in Winnipeg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 22, 2009
What the book lacked in plot and length was made up for by the descriptions and wonderful atmosphere.
Maybe it's because of this lack of length that I don't feel as connected to these characters as I think I should or maybe it's just Brooks' writing style. Never really giving you a play by play of what's going on but instead leaving you to interpret what's just happened. There are no becauses to explain it to you and somehow it took me even more into the book as I re-read line and line again to analyze it.
For instance there's a scene where Kieran wipes cookie crumbs off of Sidonie's lips after which she promptly bites her tongue, and runs to the sink to wash the blood out while Kieran tells her that one day she's going to kill herself.
Maybe I'm just very dumb and it can be easily assumed what just took place but somehow not being told it, made me like it all the more for the difference.
I'd re-read it.
B
Maybe it's because of this lack of length that I don't feel as connected to these characters as I think I should or maybe it's just Brooks' writing style. Never really giving you a play by play of what's going on but instead leaving you to interpret what's just happened. There are no becauses to explain it to you and somehow it took me even more into the book as I re-read line and line again to analyze it.
For instance there's a scene where Kieran wipes cookie crumbs off of Sidonie's lips after which she promptly bites her tongue, and runs to the sink to wash the blood out while Kieran tells her that one day she's going to kill herself.
Maybe I'm just very dumb and it can be easily assumed what just took place but somehow not being told it, made me like it all the more for the difference.
I'd re-read it.
B
July 21, 2010
I recently re-read this book after many years and it's just as beautifully written and established as I remember it. The story focuses on 16 year old Sidonie as she deals with her mother's death a year after it happens. When Kieran, the nephew of a local doctor, moves into town, she not only finds herself dealing with life together with him, but also falls in love with him.
What made it appeal to me was the way the characters are crafted in such a realistic way, and each of them - particularly Sidonie and Kieran, have their own problems to face within their families. I loved the atmosphere and the style of writing Brooks employs. Even if the story itself isn't a long read (the edition I have has 190 some pages), it captures and holds your attention for the entire time.
Overall score: 4/5
What made it appeal to me was the way the characters are crafted in such a realistic way, and each of them - particularly Sidonie and Kieran, have their own problems to face within their families. I loved the atmosphere and the style of writing Brooks employs. Even if the story itself isn't a long read (the edition I have has 190 some pages), it captures and holds your attention for the entire time.
Overall score: 4/5
July 7, 2009
I love love love this book. This is one of those books that you have partially memorized because you read it several times a year. A young girl struggles to deal with her mother's death, a family torn apart by it, and young love, all at once. Sounds a little complicated, but it all ties together really well. Powerful and moving story.
January 10, 2022
Once upon a time in grade 9, I read a piece of obscure Canadian fiction featuring a character named Kieran. The name was so unique to me that I told myself if one day I had a son, I would name him that. So, uh, I did exactly that 15 years later, but without any recollection of the book title or its plot. Fast forward another eight years and I decided I should re-read the novella that was the namesake of MY Kieran. Well, it took some sleuthing to track down, but as always, my piecemeal Google search delivered. And alas, I am sad to report that book-Kieran has virtually no redeeming qualities and I'm surprised such a character was so impressionable to me. Otherwise, the book really nails the hormones and sullen YA "woe is me" vibes -- very Catcher in the Rye-esque. I mean, I'm sure it was a lot easier to relate to back in 1999.
June 27, 2022
nice book that i read in a day. her moms death got annoying because it was constantly mentioned. but it was a nice story
July 30, 2009
one of my favorite books from my adolescence. i must have read and reread this a dozen times. great descriptions, interesting plot. enough tear-jerking to make you want to call your mom.
July 22, 2008
the sort of ya love story i'll always enjoy, no matter how old i am.
August 22, 2021
I think before this latest reread I would've given this book 4 stars. Sure, it doesn't have much of a plot, and sure, the writing is uneven. But the writing is incredibly evocative and the dialogue is razor sharp, especially between the two sisters. I loved the little window into the late 1950s - clothes, food, daily routines, all of it.
I'm not sure what changed about my perception, but I suddenly realized how awful the romantic interest is in this book. Moody, swinging from cocky and gaslighty one minute (after shedding water all over the book Sidonie is reading: "I didn't do that") to honest and vulnerable the next. We are meant to understand he's been traumatized by his father's alcoholism and the domestic violence he has witnessed between his parents - and been a victim of himself - but it doesn't mean he should get a free pass. There's no self awareness when he snaps at Sidonie due to his own bad mood, and she just comes adoringly back for more. It literally takes for him to become repentant and apologetic, and the culmination of all his fears for him to be able to say he's scared rather than just be withdrawn and short-tempered. As a teen and apparently even a fully grown adult woman, I felt more sympathy for him. Suddenly, with this reading, I just want Sidonie to run as far away from him as she can get.
In contrast, we have Roberta and her beau Phil, who may not have the best communication right out of the gate but at least act in a caring manner towards each other. They're also addressing the not at all subtle racism in rural Canada, something you don't often find in a book set in the midcentury. Sidonie watches them and interacts with Phil and still lets her own beau treat her badly. Ok, ok, granted, they're still in HS - and yet.
Kudos for addressing grief and depression and making it absolutely normal, not something anyone is rushing out of, even as it raises its head a year later.
I'd still give it 3.5 stars, just point out how badly Kieran treats his supposed love interest.
I'm not sure what changed about my perception, but I suddenly realized how awful the romantic interest is in this book. Moody, swinging from cocky and gaslighty one minute (after shedding water all over the book Sidonie is reading: "I didn't do that") to honest and vulnerable the next. We are meant to understand he's been traumatized by his father's alcoholism and the domestic violence he has witnessed between his parents - and been a victim of himself - but it doesn't mean he should get a free pass. There's no self awareness when he snaps at Sidonie due to his own bad mood, and she just comes adoringly back for more. It literally takes for him to become repentant and apologetic, and the culmination of all his fears for him to be able to say he's scared rather than just be withdrawn and short-tempered. As a teen and apparently even a fully grown adult woman, I felt more sympathy for him. Suddenly, with this reading, I just want Sidonie to run as far away from him as she can get.
In contrast, we have Roberta and her beau Phil, who may not have the best communication right out of the gate but at least act in a caring manner towards each other. They're also addressing the not at all subtle racism in rural Canada, something you don't often find in a book set in the midcentury. Sidonie watches them and interacts with Phil and still lets her own beau treat her badly. Ok, ok, granted, they're still in HS - and yet.
Kudos for addressing grief and depression and making it absolutely normal, not something anyone is rushing out of, even as it raises its head a year later.
I'd still give it 3.5 stars, just point out how badly Kieran treats his supposed love interest.
July 1, 2025
When I was a little girl, maybe 10 or 11, I attended the Young Author's Conference in Montreal on the McGill campus. I hadn't heard of this book or Martha Brooks, but I saw the cover, and as any child would do, judged the book by it (I loved it) and bought the original hardcover. I went home and read this novel, floored by what Brooks had written. At that age, almost every YA book I had read prior was pedantic or silly. Books about how to flirt with boys or books about solving neighbourhood mysteries or books about ghosts. But in Two Moons In August, for the first time I read something that didn't assume young readers were stupid. It was honest and raw and showed me that within myself there were layers that I didn't know existed. It's a beautiful novel of loss and mourning, but also healing ad hope. Maybe 15 years after that Young Author's Conference, I found Brooks' email and told her how her novel affected me and propelled me to become an author myself. She wrote back and was so gracious and kind and generous. This is a Canadian novel that every parent should give to their pre-teens and teens to read. It's gorgeous and such an important story for young people to take in.
October 1, 2023
I’m being generous with 3-stars here because the idea of the book, the depressive summer/coming of age to new hope storyline, and certain vignettes of lazy-August by a lake were lovely. It did tend to be a tad boring in spots and included so much conflict between the sisters that it grew tedious. There were a few gems as far as quotations though, and that pushed this into the 2.5-3 star category for me.
August 29, 2017
I love this book. The writing is beautiful. I re-read this every year.
March 13, 2023
So so good! Deals with teenage grief pretty well while also handling how difficult finding someone to grow close with can be. 10/10 reccomend its like a nice lil pallete cleanser :)
June 23, 2014
“Two Moons In August” is about a Manitoban whose Mom died. Familial aggravation doesn’t enthral me but I embraced this as-is. Dissatisfaction is relatable and I value writers whose settings are home-grown. Sidonie, 16, was named from her Mom’s Québécoise background. Her French-speaking Aunts add a great deal of flavour later.
The medical community mirrors Martha’s rearing. Sidonie’s Dad and neighbour are doctors. Her son, Keane arrives from Toronto. Her sister, Roberta returns from university. Special touches make this family memorable. With their Dad absent, Roberta believes herself responsible. Sidonie scoffs at this, letting her rule the roost - which amounts to housework - so long as she isn’t bossed into those endeavours. She lounges at the lake and the joke is that she’s a superior cook. The standout is Roberta’s Asian beau, whom she sees daily but scarcely pursues. Phil keeps their piano alive with jazz. The 1950s play out on the page extremely well. I smiled when Sidonie blasts her sister with outmoded phrases: “dry up”, like my Mom uses!
It’s frustrating Sidonie laments being left alone in the house but wilts conversation her Dad attempts. Keane’s behaviour was outrageous and spoiled the best part of the story, for me. He was worried about his Mom but Sidonie asked him to hold off bending her ear. Her Mother’s estranged sisters were visiting for the first time, in high merriment. Instead of letting them settle in, Keane storms off. That aside, this is a worthwhile story that really breathes. It happens Martha is meaningful to me. She led a workshop when I was only 17! It took guts to present myself as a writer; the first move ever made about my dream. She was warm, encouraging, and I have kept her council: “Don’t tell a story. Show a story!”
The medical community mirrors Martha’s rearing. Sidonie’s Dad and neighbour are doctors. Her son, Keane arrives from Toronto. Her sister, Roberta returns from university. Special touches make this family memorable. With their Dad absent, Roberta believes herself responsible. Sidonie scoffs at this, letting her rule the roost - which amounts to housework - so long as she isn’t bossed into those endeavours. She lounges at the lake and the joke is that she’s a superior cook. The standout is Roberta’s Asian beau, whom she sees daily but scarcely pursues. Phil keeps their piano alive with jazz. The 1950s play out on the page extremely well. I smiled when Sidonie blasts her sister with outmoded phrases: “dry up”, like my Mom uses!
It’s frustrating Sidonie laments being left alone in the house but wilts conversation her Dad attempts. Keane’s behaviour was outrageous and spoiled the best part of the story, for me. He was worried about his Mom but Sidonie asked him to hold off bending her ear. Her Mother’s estranged sisters were visiting for the first time, in high merriment. Instead of letting them settle in, Keane storms off. That aside, this is a worthwhile story that really breathes. It happens Martha is meaningful to me. She led a workshop when I was only 17! It took guts to present myself as a writer; the first move ever made about my dream. She was warm, encouraging, and I have kept her council: “Don’t tell a story. Show a story!”
April 7, 2019
Given the title and summary, I thought there'd be more to it regarding the moon(s), but it was nothing more than a brief mention. I suppose that does make for a nice title. Regardless, I found this to be an insightful and intelligently written Young Adult book before that was a full-on, separate genre.
Though it sports a copyright date of 1991 (U.S. edition published in '92), the story is set during the summer of 1959. Brooks really hits home (as far as I can tell) with making the story feel of the correct era. This had a distinct feeling of the late 1950s or early 1960s, based on my limited awareness from other books and movies—but nonetheless, I think she was successful here. And this was done without being pelted with pop culture references—which so many fictional works often use as a tool for steering the reader to the correct time.
The family dynamics explored here were very well done, with heart and understanding, and I thought this was a surprisingly engaging story. There was a tenderness and earnestness to our main character that still remained fresh and true to life. All-in-all a nice surprise for me.
••••••••
And, now it's time for a breakdown. I only picked up this novel because I am, apparently in vain, trying to find a book I read during my middle school years. I have tried, through various outlets online, to find this book, but it seems outside of my grasp. Regardless, I had a feeling the word 'moons' was in the title, but I'm not willing to stake much on that feeling. Needless to say, I gave this one a try. It wasn't my searched-for book, but I'm glad I read it anyway.
Though it sports a copyright date of 1991 (U.S. edition published in '92), the story is set during the summer of 1959. Brooks really hits home (as far as I can tell) with making the story feel of the correct era. This had a distinct feeling of the late 1950s or early 1960s, based on my limited awareness from other books and movies—but nonetheless, I think she was successful here. And this was done without being pelted with pop culture references—which so many fictional works often use as a tool for steering the reader to the correct time.
The family dynamics explored here were very well done, with heart and understanding, and I thought this was a surprisingly engaging story. There was a tenderness and earnestness to our main character that still remained fresh and true to life. All-in-all a nice surprise for me.
••••••••
And, now it's time for a breakdown. I only picked up this novel because I am, apparently in vain, trying to find a book I read during my middle school years. I have tried, through various outlets online, to find this book, but it seems outside of my grasp. Regardless, I had a feeling the word 'moons' was in the title, but I'm not willing to stake much on that feeling. Needless to say, I gave this one a try. It wasn't my searched-for book, but I'm glad I read it anyway.
May 18, 2020
This was one of my favorite books when I was 16 or so; I reread it over and over and intend to read it again soon. I adore the setting (canada, 1950s, in a lakeside town that houses a TB sanatorium) and was half in love with the main character's crush- Kieran, the angry but oh so DUH-REAMY across-the-street neighbor. Rar! Beautifully written.
reread march 2011: this book just gets better with age. as an aside, i was recently digging around in some high school stuff and found a fan fiction poem that i wrote about sidonie and kieran. yep- i was one cool teenager.
reread May 2020: I still love this book. So many of the familiar details jumped out at me- references to Art Blakey (look up his drum solos on youtube!), the 1950s clothes, summer nights at a lake. Funny how I notice different things when I read at different times- now some of Kieran's behavior seemed overly dramatic and poorly timed- but so much of life as a teenager is overly dramatic and poorly timed.
reread march 2011: this book just gets better with age. as an aside, i was recently digging around in some high school stuff and found a fan fiction poem that i wrote about sidonie and kieran. yep- i was one cool teenager.
reread May 2020: I still love this book. So many of the familiar details jumped out at me- references to Art Blakey (look up his drum solos on youtube!), the 1950s clothes, summer nights at a lake. Funny how I notice different things when I read at different times- now some of Kieran's behavior seemed overly dramatic and poorly timed- but so much of life as a teenager is overly dramatic and poorly timed.
August 20, 2012
This book is a coming of age novel (not "that" kind of coming of age novel) about an almost 16 year old Sidonie. The story is quite short - in a good way. The author keeps the plot moving. I like the way it was written. I like the growth of the characters.
But I spent the entire novel trying to figure out what was going on: the characters have the strangest reactions to each other, I couldn't understand why they were acting that way! No one listens to anyone. Each character will talk and the other person will respond about their own problems. Which is of course is to show how self-involved they are and it eventually resolved itself with the character growth.
I am aware that this is probably my poorestly written review. I am okay with that.
But I spent the entire novel trying to figure out what was going on: the characters have the strangest reactions to each other, I couldn't understand why they were acting that way! No one listens to anyone. Each character will talk and the other person will respond about their own problems. Which is of course is to show how self-involved they are and it eventually resolved itself with the character growth.
I am aware that this is probably my poorestly written review. I am okay with that.
July 6, 2009
Two Moons in August is a novel set in a small Canadian lakeside town during 1959. The novel is about a 16 year old girl named Sidonie, trying to cope with her mother’s sudden death which in result has left her family torn appart. A father that works too much, her 19 year old sister Roberta who believes she has to take over their mother’s role without any help, and Sidonie to spend lonely nights.
When their neighbors' son arrives, a teenage boy named Kieran, Sidonie finds her life in a never ending spiral of events, as they try to help each other through the rough patches of life.
When their neighbors' son arrives, a teenage boy named Kieran, Sidonie finds her life in a never ending spiral of events, as they try to help each other through the rough patches of life.
July 26, 2014
Martha Brooks completely transports you to summer in this novel. The setting is summer time and all the elements of a fantastic summer holiday, but the overtone is unfortunatley sad. There is so much happiness and sadness mixed together, it's truly amazing.
The characters are multilayered. I always identified with the main characer because she is trying to navigate the changes of growing older with no real parental influence.
Love this book, it's short and sweet and I and re-read it often.
The characters are multilayered. I always identified with the main characer because she is trying to navigate the changes of growing older with no real parental influence.
Love this book, it's short and sweet and I and re-read it often.
August 3, 2022
I actually read this years ago and not recently - like HS "years ago" - but for some reason the name Kieran came to me and I tried to remember why I liked the name and then remembered he was a character in a book with a girl named Sidonie that took place during summer. A quick google of "kieran sidonie YA novel" and this was the first result. I loved this book when I read it all those years ago and I think it was a "re-read" for me on more than one occasion. I'm curious now if I have it tucked away in the attic.
As an aside I think I still enjoy the names Sidonie and Kieran.
As an aside I think I still enjoy the names Sidonie and Kieran.
September 10, 2008
Just altogether i loved this book. It was amazing. And i couldn't stop reading it. I don't know how i could ever describe it to someone. They would have to read it for themselves.
June 10, 2010
Loved the relationship. Great summer read.
August 2, 2010
Read when I was a teenager. I remember liking it, but not much else.
August 24, 2012
Loves it
April 4, 2013
All time favourite, loved when I was a teenager and still do.
April 7, 2013
Coming of age love story. Dealing with loss and figuring out how to be a family when family has been torn apart.
July 29, 2013
My favorite book in middle school. Still a good read coming back to it.
Read
September 7, 2017Recorded in AR journal.
January 13, 2018
I have read a couple of Martha Brooks books and they were both great. The covers, however, are not great. I wish the publisher had chosen covers which would be more attractive to young people.
April 9, 2010
What a romantic, inspiring book. I read it with interest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews