Review: Laugh With the Moon by Shana Burg

Laugh With the Moon by Shana Burg.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385734714

Review: Clare wished she were anywhere else in the world than an African village, with no friends, no pizza, no phone reception, or any of the comforts of her home, smack dab in the middle of nowhere. In Laugh with the Moon by Shana Burg, Clare's dad is a doctor, and when he packs up to travel away from everything Clare has ever known, she has to come along.

In Laugh with the Moon, we learn that Clare has been through multiple hardships in her life, as her mother has recently passed away. Going to an African village isn't exactly the vacation of choice. When Clare arrives at the little African village where she will be staying, Clare's dad introduces her to an orphan girl named Memory. Memory knows what it's like to lose loved ones, though Clare is not ready to talk about her mother. She doesn't fit in at her new school, but that's where she meets new friends. When Clare's friends decide to show her the beautiful beach, they set out. However, the trip is not as they had expected, and when Clare finds her heart broken once again, she turn to Memory who is also hurting. Read this story to find out what happens next as the two girls deal with the hurt that life has thrust upon them. Laugh With The Moon is a vividly detailed book that shows emotions and characteristics that make the reader feel like they are in the story. When the characters cry, the readers' hearts will swell with emotion. When the characters laugh, the readers will smile. The characters seem realistic, and when the readers finish the book, they will feel like they actually know the characters. The plot was never boring or tiring, and nothing went on for too long. Although, I would have liked more suspense, the story was overall exciting. As I read the story, I was never confused; I felt like the background of each of the characters was explained. In conclusion, Laugh With The Moon is a well developed, clever, and colorfully written book, that is appropriate for people that like heartwarming stories about love, loss, and the power of friendship.

Review written by Krista (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Laugh With the Moon for this review.

Have you read Laugh With the Moon? How would you rate it?