Overview

TEleven-year-old Dellie is carrying more than a backpack full of books - she's carrying guilt. After a family tragedy she believes she caused, Dellie's world has grown smaller, filled with fear, grief, and unanswered questions. But when Corey, a troubled young boy, moves into her Brooklyn apartment building, Dellie's carefully guarded life begins to shift. As she watches Corey navigate his own challenges, Dellie is faced with the hardest questions of all: Can you help someone else when you're still healing yourself? And how do you forgive - especially when the person you need to forgive is you? The Trouble with Half a Moon is a poignant middle grade novel that explores grief, resilience, and the power of empathy. With a strong, relatable voice and a vivid urban setting, this story offers rich opportunities for classroom discussion around social-emotional learning, responsibility, and the complexity of family dynamics.

Full Product Details

9781736774700

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Reviews

Kirkus Reviews: Kirkus describes the novel as a ""fast-paced tale of bereavement, forgiveness and healing,"" noting that ""rich secondary characters add depth and dimension."" School Library Journal: The School Library Journal highlights that the debut novel ""authentically captures the diverse community and the characters' grief, anger, and heartbreak,"" making it suitable for readers in grades 5-8. Booklist: Booklist praises the book for its realistic portrayal of a diverse neighborhood community and the characters' emotional journeys, stating that ""the characters' grief, anger, and heartbreaking coming-to-terms are realistic."" The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB): The BCCB notes that ""Vigilante has a nice way with subplots and solid daily life details that bring the book particular warmth... the story is told with considerable appeal and accessibility.""

Author Information

Danette Vigilante grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and continues to call NYC home, where she lives with her family and her energetic pup, Juniper.Danette is the author of THE WAVES BENEATH THE SAND, TIA LUGO SPEAKS NO EVIL, which has earned several accolades, including a Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal, a Bronze Medal at The Independent Publisher Book Awards for multicultural fiction (JUV/YA), and an Honorable Mention at the International Latino Book Awards. Her other works include THE TROUBLE WITH HALF A MOON, a Sunshine State Young Readers Award nominee, and SAVING BABY DOE, named to the New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list.A passionate advocate for literacy, Danette fosters a love of books in her community by maintaining a Little Free Library on her front lawn. Books and laughter are her favorite things, and she remains committed to inspiring young readers everywhere.

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