Title: LunaAuthor: Julie Anne Peters
Publish Date: February 2006
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256pp
ISBN: 0316011274
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 12 and up
Amazon: $7.99
Annotation: Regan's brother Liam can't stand pretending he is a boy when he knows deep down his true self is a girl, Luna.
Summary: Luna is a story about a boy, Liam, who lives a double life. He is a straight A student by day and a make-up wearing girl, Luna by night. Regan, Liam’s sister, is the only person who knows his secret. Regan supports her brother but it is getting hard because she is struggling with her own teen problems. She doesn’t have any friends anymore, doesn’t date and well, her relationship with Luna seems to be one-sided. Things change for Regan when she meets Chris in Chemistry class and she realizes how much of life she has been missing out on by focusing all of her attention on Luna. The story mirrors two transformations, one being Liam to Luna and the second being Regan into a confident young woman.
Evaluation: I found Luna to be a poignant story dealing with true to life issues in transgender adolescents. The endearing struggle and perspective in both Regan and Luna’s relationship as siblings is emotional, funny, and eye opening. I feel this is an important coming of age story for all teens to read. It not only opens the doors to discussions about gender roles and the expectation society places on them but it promotes compassion to all human beings no matter what their identity is.
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
- The hardships of keeping family secrets.
- Gender doesn’t define who you are as a human being.
- Gender doesn’t define who you are as a human being.
- The importance of focusing on yourself.
Reason this book was chosen: As an LGBTQ supporter I feel it is important to have literature for young adults with storylines that they can relate too. With that said, I was drawn to this novel because of the transgender character. Luna is a beautiful story of not only transgender adolescent but about a relationship between siblings.
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Awards:
James Tiptree, Jr. Award Long List, 2006
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adult Readers, 2006
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2005
