The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

At the beginning of seventh grade, Luna knows who she is: an observant, quiet girl who loves writing and making zines with her best friend, Scott. But when one of their zines takes off, somehow Luna is swept up into the popular group and learns just how much of herself she’s going to have to compromise to stay there. Will she give up her writing? Her best friend? What about her own beliefs about who she is and what she stands for?

In a contemporary novel that feels like today’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Newbery Honor winner and bestselling author Chanel Miller explores what it means to lose and then find yourself again in the middle of middle school.

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“Middle school identity crisis? Luna’s got the full constellation.”

Pre-Reading Thoughts

I grew up loving Judy Blume, so a modern MG pitched with that same emotional honesty had me instantly curious. Bring on the existential angst, the questionable friend choices, and the notebook scribbles.

Post-Reading

As I thought…
This is instantly, painfully familiar to anyone who’s survived the strange ecosystem known as school. The cliques, the silent negotiations, the way a single choice can tilt your whole social orbit - it’s all here, sharp as a number-two pencil.

It surprised me by…
How mean it could be. Not in a gratuitous way, but in that uncomfortable, deeply accurate way that reminds you middle school could be downright cruel. Those “fix it” books were just cruelty disguised as caring, and watching children fall for it was really upsetting.

Music Pairing

🎵 Featured Song: “Drivers License” — soft, earnest, and full of adolescent ache
🎶 Vibe Album: Folklore by Taylor Swift — warm, wistful, quietly turbulent
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Mitski’s gentler tracks, for the feelings you don’t want to say out loud

Vibe Check

• Colour Palette: Fading reds and washed-out yellows

• Soundtrack: Soft pop with sad, reflective intervals

• Season: Autumn - crisp beginnings with the threat of sudden freezes

• Mood: Regretful but determined

• Scent: Pencil shavings mixed with that vaguely floral teen perfume that clings to lockers forever

Tarot Pull

Two of Swords — Cosy Witch Tarot
A blindfolded girl stands beneath a double signpost, each arm tugging her in a different direction. The card’s mantra - “Wake up. What is it that you truly want?” - lands right at the heart of Luna’s journey. It reflects that tense, precarious moment when she’s pulled between her best friend, the thrill of fitting in, and the version of herself she’s afraid of losing.

For Fans Of

📚 Real Friends / Best Friends - Shannon Hale & LeUyen Pham
📺 Lizzie McGuire