Over the Moon

by Elissa Haden Guest

Over protests from her family, sixteen-year-old Kate makes a difficult journey to see her beloved older sister, who ran away without explanation four years before.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

201 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Elissa Haden Guest is the author of Baby Builders, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata and the award-winning Iris and Walter series illustrated by Christine Davenier. She holds an MFA in Children’s Literature from Hollins University and teaches classes in writing for children and young adults at College of Marin Community Education and Stanford Continuing Studies. She and her husband have two swell children and a hilarious little grandson. They live in San Francisco where they root for the Golden State Warriors.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If a book be judged by its blurbs, then Over the Moon is a true diamond in the rough. Robert Cormier, Madeleine L'Engle, and Isabelle Holland are an impressive trio to have formally praise your book, and their endorsements piqued my curiosity for Over the Moon. Sixteen-year-old Kate Baker's family has had its share of loss, but hasn't fallen apart. She and her older brother Jay have lived with their aunt Georgia ever since their parents died years ago in a car accident. Their older sister, Mattie, also lived with them, bur four years ago she ran away with her boyfriend, Dean Hartwell. Sixteen at the time, Mattie was twelve years Dean's junior, and Georgia had no intention of allowing the relationship. Mattie and Dean left abruptly, and to this day no one has heard from them. The family is fractured, but Georgia does her best to provide a good life for Kate and Jay. Now sixteen, though, Kate wonders what awaits her beyond Georgia's umbrella of protection.

Kate is pleasantly surprised to receive a birthday message from Will Jones, Mattie's boyfriend before Dean zoomed into her life on his motorcycle. Kate and Jay remained close with Will following the breakup, and now they decide to visit him for a few days. New York City is a lot different from their own Massachusetts hometown, but Kate has always felt that she loved Will, and wonders if he might reciprocate her feelings now that she's older. That hope soon dies: Will obviously still carries a torch for Mattie and sees Kate as her sweet little sister. Saddened as she is, the weekend trip whets Kate's appetite for adventure. When a birthday package from Mattie arrives, the first correspondence of any kind in four years, Kate's urge to visit her becomes irresistible. The return address on the package is in Nova Scotia, Canada, a long haul from Massachusetts, and Georgia is dead set against Kate going. School begins a few weeks from now; why can't Mattie come here after years of pretending her family doesn't exist? Georgia forbids Kate from taking the trip, but she's already made up her mind to go. Kate calls Mattie on the phone to make sure she's welcome, and hearing her older sister's voice for the first time since Kate was twelve feels like a miracle. She packs her things and slips out while Georgia is at work. It's surreal to think she'll be face to face with Mattie in a couple of days.

Kate feels badly about ditching Jay and Georgia, but neither of them understands her devotion to her sister. They've written Mattie off as terminally selfish, and refuse to make any move toward reconciliation unless she does first. Kate's journey to Nova Scotia hits a major snag when a pickpocket steals her wallet at the bus station. She's stranded far from home without the funds to make it to Mattie's place, but that's when Kate crosses paths with Max Wilder, a good-looking guy a few years older than Kate. He and his sister Lindsey are doing some traveling of their own, and offer to drive Kate to the next bus station on her route. If all goes smoothly Kate might still reach her destination, but after a few days in Max's gentle, earnest company, it's clear he means more to her than a long-distance ride in his ebullient green Volvo. Thoughtful, intelligent, and with a quick sense of humor, Max is the first boy Kate has had feelings for other than Will, and when they finally part ways it is with the utmost reluctance. Once this adventure is over, will she ever see Max again?

A tickly nervousness builds as Kate crosses into Canada. She certainly has changed since age twelve, but what about Mattie? Will she and her sister have any connection left at all? Why did Mattie desert her four years ago, leaving Kate with only fading memories of a moody, enigmatic elder sibling? Traveling to Nova Scotia has been a wild escapade already, but the excitement culminates when she and Mattie first see each other. Mattie's life these four years has zigged and zagged in ways Kate wouldn't have guessed, and the girls have a lot of work to do on their withered relationship. Still, Kate went to great lengths to come here because she loves Mattie, in spite of Jay and Georgia's warnings that her sister cares for no one but herself. Are they right about that, Kate wonders, or were their severe words fueled by deep hurt, and perhaps Mattie would consider returning home after all? The week ahead may answer those questions.

Elissa Haden Guest is known for authoring the Iris and Walter easy reader series, but her two YA novels from the 1980s show another side. The characters think and behave with nearly flawless realism, and plot twists are rare; Over the Moon brings to mind the work of Newbery award authors Cynthia Voigt and Norma Fox Mazer. I'd rate this book at least two and a half stars and likely go for the full three; it's hard to articulate the profound hope it imparts to one wandering the world lost and alone, alienated from any loved ones. Comfort and renewal may be closer than you believe, though claiming it requires courage. Over the Moon is better than the author's YA debut, The Handsome Man, and could have entered the arena of all-time great youth literature were the themes and story more potent. Nonetheless, the book poignantly mimics the rhythms of real life and poses challenging questions. Can you go home after you've declared independence and blazed your own trail? Is it failure or an act of bravery to admit your plans didn't work out as you felt certain they would? Does tragedy damage our hearts beyond restoration, or is it a necessary element for us to grow into wise, compassionate people? Elissa Haden Guest respects the reader's ability to draw their own conclusions. It's unfortunate she only published two YA novels; Ms. Guest is an insightful writer whose work puts me in touch with myself on a subconscious level. I'm grateful for the time I've spent in her books.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the Moon is about a girl whose parents died when she was little, and whose older sister Mattie left home (with a much older man) at sixteen, four years before. Now Kate herself is sixteen. Her aunt lets Kate and her older brother go to NYC for the weekend to visit her sister's former boyfriend, whom Kate's always been in love with. But her aunt does not want Kate to travel to Canada to visit her sister (who has finally contacted them after three years).

Let me say that this book is set in 1978. The parents marry in 1957 and have Mattie a year later. Mattie is now twenty. The world was a different place in 1978, clearly. Much of the book details Kate's attempt to reach Canada, in spite of her aunt's lack of permission. Kate runs into all sorts of trouble, but doesn't bat an eye hitching a ride on a roadtrip that's going to be over night. The boy is surprised she doesn't have a sleeping bag with her after they drive down a deserted dirt road to sleep... Like, there's no talk of getting a motel room, no mention of Kate being wary. It's just a matter of course that they'd pull over for the night.

I really enjoy all the relationships in this story, Kate's anger at her sister for leaving them while still wanting to see her. And the road trip adventure is surprising and fun. Also Kate's insight about her sister's life... It's a good read.

[Rebecca Marcks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this as a child and I enjoyed it just as much as I did then.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was in 6th or 7th grade...it was on sale through one of those Scholastic book orders. I've reread this book more than any other book I own and have sections of it memorized. It sits on my nightstand--even now--and when I don't have anything else to read, I just pick it up and open to any page and reread a little bit before I fall asleep. It's not a spectacular book, and certainly not a literary achievement, but there's something about the characters and the writing style that comforts me and makes it a familiar pleasure every time I pick it up.

I just reread another bit of it last night--for the gazillionth time--and in the spirit of making my nerdy "stats" increase I'm finally adding it to my book shelf. Although in terms of pages, this is a totally inaccurate count...I don't suppose one can enter a book multiple times?

[Kate Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in high school and felt connected to Kate. Found it recently after the memory arose and am just as in love with it as I was then. The story is smooth and exciting. I wish there were more!

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a random purchase for me, drawn to the lovely mass-market cover without recognizing either title or author, and it's full of pretty writing and the sort of insightful musings on life, love and familial relationships that the general public might be surprised to find are hiding out in books like this. While not an above-average read for me personally, I can see why so many here have rated it highly, and am glad to have it.

P.S. I want to run Mr. Motorcycle/Dean off the road for being TWENTY-EIGHT!! when he started messing with 16-year-old Mattie.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books in my teens so I was a bit worried that when I re-read it, it wouldn't be as good as I remember it. No need to worry, it's beautifully and simply written and was an excellent comfort read.

[Brielle Guymon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am in love with this book, every time i reread it i fall more in love with it! it is real and beautiful. it teaches of the complexity of love and relationships in such a perfect, real, way.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading this book!

[Kiwi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. I picked it up for free at the library when they were getting rid of some children's/young adult books and ended up loving it. I adore the writing style and the simplicity of the story-telling. The point of view is spectacular. I ended up loving most of the characters. Hopefully I'll get to say more later as I dog-eared a number of the pages with material I liked. Definitely one of my favourites now.

[Christina Lowry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was about sixteen. I fell in love with the characters and the symbols of home and family. The descriptions of character and place greatly influenced my teenage self and I find I am still drawn to the same imagery in the novel that first captured my imagination. It's wonderful to re-read a novel as an adult and be reminded of those feelings of possibility and freedom, and realise that many of the dreams I had for myself at that age have since been fulfilled.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps I am rating this high because of nostalgia-factors, but I loved this book when I was in junior high school. It was always a bit amazing to me that a girl could just run away from home like that, and of course nowadays it is just unheard of, but the logistics of the trip are secondary to Kate's quest to find her sister, who has reached out to her after years of silence. A very sweet romance is thrown in there as well.

[Redfox5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay but didn't take the direction I wanted it to go. I really liked Kate's journey towards Mattie. All the unexpected things that happened to her and meeting Max. It just fell short when she finally gets to Mattie. They don't really talk about anything. You would think they have alot to say to each other. We don't ever find out what happen with Dean, why she left etc. The ending was sad though, in a nice way.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites as a teenager. I parted with it and always regretted it. But found it for ten cents at a book sale and was so excited. I sat down and read it in an hour. Still a great read even though I'm older now. It was still a cute and innocent story about first love and family with the ties that bind us.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite books. I read this at least a dozen times when I was a preteen-early teen, and have read it since then with enjoyment still.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun YA novel. Introspective. Good characters.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story - wonderful ending!

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this when I was about 12 years old, borrowed it from the local library , had it on loan several times.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this book for 25 years. Still great!!