The Moon Within

Gr 4-8—Salazar's debut coming-of-age story told in verse explores the themes of first love, first periods, and gender identity. Eleven-year-old Celi Rivera is mortified by the looming fact that her first period is coming. Her mother, however, is eager to throw her a "moon ceremony" upon its arrival to reclaim and honor their ancestral Mexica traditions and to empower her as she enters young womanhood. Meanwhile, Celi's best friend Magda is also going through a change, asking Celi to use he/his pronouns and call him Marco as he embraces his transition into a xochihuah, "people who danced between/or to other energies/than what they were assigned at birth." But when Celi's new crush Iván repeatedly makes fun of Marco for his appearance, Celi makes a few rash decisions. Celi's and Marco's parents come through with wisdom, shedding light and acceptance on each tween's journey. Celi's mom speaks frankly about sex and health, using poetic imagery to describe "women's most magical parts" and sexual pleasure. This novel contains rich descriptions of Mexica rituals and provides a unique perspective on gender fluidity and the bonds of unbreakable friendship. VERDICT An excellent addition for upper middle grade and middle school readers, especially for maturing tweens in the midst of puberty.—Jane Miller, Nashville Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Writing in clear, lyrical first-person verse, debut author Salazar gives voice to 11-year-old dance enthusiast, Oakland-based Celi Rivera, as she grapples with her changing body and a first crush, as well as familial and cultural expectations about growing into womanhood. Celi describes her heritage as "Black-Puerto Rican-Mexican-ness," and she is particularly dreading the start of her period, because her mother insists that she celebrate with a "moon ceremony," an ancestral Mexica tradition. For Celi, "I'd rather crawl into a cave/ than have a stupid moon ceremony!" Celi confides in and values her gender-fluid best friend, Marco. But when her skateboarding crush, Ivan, is insensitive toward Marco, Celi has to decide where her loyalty lies. Short, vignettelike passages explore Celi's growing sense of agency over her body and beliefs, and the discovery of her personal rhythm in dance and in life. With sensitivity, Salazar purports that menstruation is a source of feminine strength, inexorably and beautifully connected to the moon cycle. The broader message is one of acceptance, celebration, and resistance: a period is just a period, Salazar suggests, but it's also so much more. Ages 8-12. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency. (Feb.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Praise for The Moon Within

A Spring 2019 Kids Indie Next List selection

* "A worthy successor to Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret set in present-day Oakland.... Salazar's verse novel is sensitive and fresh.... An authentically middle school voice and diverse Latinx cast make this book a standout." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "An excellent addition for upper middle grade and middle school readers, especially for maturing tweens in the midst of puberty." — School Library Journal, starred review

* "Writing in clear, lyrical first-person verse.... With sensitivity, Salazar purports that menstruation is a source of feminine strength, inexorably and beautifully connected to the moon cycle. The broader message is one of acceptance, celebration, and resistance: a period is just a period, Salazar suggests, but it's also so much more." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "An important coming-of-age tale of a girl learning about her changing body and all of the questions and revelations that come along with it.... Salazar's use of verse in this story adds a layer of raw emotion and honesty that makes the reading experience all the more poignant. The Moon Within is both unique and universal, relatable to women and girls everywhere and singular in its context within Latinx culture. Salazar handles this story with beauty and grace, giving young girls a picture of what it means to stand in your own power and reclaim your own story. " — Bookpage, starred review

"This story is told in beautiful poems.... A lovely, relatable story....The words really use up the space on the pages in creative ways, and the author reveals cultural aspects of Latinx (especially Xicana) and Caribbean peoples in rich detail." — Booklist

"Salazar's language is frank and rich, using occasional Spanish or Mexica/Nahuatl words.... Realistic and rich in poetic imagery, this middle-grade novel focuses on a multicultural community in which supportive adults help young people figure out their identities." — Shelf Awareness

"Lyrical.... The characters leap to life and eloquently evoke the passion and pain of a girl's coming-of-age. Absolutely beautiful, reverent, and intensely personal, the book would make a valued gift for pre-teen readers, especially a young Latina." — School Library Connection

"This is a fascinating tale that blends ancestral traditions from two cultures, while portraying modern dilemmas. Salazar's poetry is as lovely and graceful as the dance scenes." — Margarita Engle, National Young People's Poet Laureate and Newbery Honor-winning author of The Surrender Tree

"With conga-pulsed lyrics, Aida Salazar pulls us into the coming of age of eleven year Celi. She initiates readers into the conversation of Bomba, the girl-woman circle, divine twin energies and the many moon-tide powers of a Latina pre-teen. This is a book whose form and content, vision and depth, I find revolutionary and culturally ecstatic. In these times, here is the liberation verse our youth and all have been waiting for - Brava-Bravo!" — Juan Felipe Herrera, U.S. Poet Laureate and author of Jabberwalking

"Aida Salazar has reached deep into our indigenous past to explore in beautiful, poignant poetry what it means to become a woman at the intersection of community and self. Rooted in ancestral lore yet vibrantly modern, The Moon Within is a touching, powerful, and important novel in verse." — David Bowles, Pura Belpré Honor-winning author of The Smoking Mirror

"In a vivid, magical debut, Aida Salazar's lyrical poetry deftly pulls you into Celi's vibrant world as she reluctantly dances towards womanhood, adjusting to the drumbeats of first love and true friendship while exploring her ancestral roots as she finds her role within family and community." - Naheed H. Senzai, award-winning author of Shooting Kabul and Escape From Aleppo

"Lovely and amazing...a heartbreaker, in every wonderful way. Salazar's vivid and accessible verse brings us the coming-of-age story we've been longing for. Poignant, funny, and deeply moving, The Moon Within is a story told with an abundance of love and respect-a gift straight from the center of Salazar's heart to readers everywhere." — Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, author of Eighth-Grade Superzero and co-author of Naomis Too