Colie expects the worst when she's sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast -- first for being fat and then for being "easy" -- Colie has no friends at home and doesn't expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along.
This has been on my t0-be-read shelf for a while now, but I was expecting to read it during summer while sipping an iced beverage by the pool. Instead I ended up reading it in between homework and during a snowstorm. Not everything happens as you expect it to, and that was the main point this book tried to drive home.
I'm not usually into romance books, where the entire plot is about the main character's first love and how complicated their life is, etc. But surprisingly this book had the main character's (Colie) self-esteem as the main obstacle in the story - not just her neediness to be loved. That is why I believe this book got such good reviews among a wide range of readers.
That being said, don't go expecting this book to be super deep or thought-provoking. It's still a quick summer book that happens to have a more intriguing plot than most of the others. Keeping the Moon is different because Colie spends her whole life thinking she is worthless and that she will never be accepted among her peers, let alone loved by anyone who isn't family. I found this very easy to relate to because every girl goes through a middle school period where she feels like an outsider, especially if like Colie, you happen to relocate often.
After the entire book Colie finally discovers that she IS worth something and now has a group of friends (and potential boyfriend) forever...obviously. This book is not written to have crazy plot twists or long action/adventure sequences, it's one girl's story of self-discovery.
Because of this, there were some things that irked me along the way of finishing this book. First the name Colie didn't do it for me, her full name is Nicole and the nickname just felt forced. Shortening your name is supposed to be endearing, not awkward. Secondly this book was ridiculously predictable. Everything from the old photo of 'fat' Isabel to Morgan's non-relationship to Norman having a huge crush on Colie from day 1. It was all classic Sarah Dessen...but I can't harp on that too much. If she can write the same story over and over and still make money, props to her. She's doing something right! The last problem I had with this book was the title. I'm finished and I still don't get it. The sky was keeping the moon and little kids think it will never come back but it does. OK, I wish that was explained in more detail, maybe I would have understood the ending in more depth (or not, who knows?).
But still this book was solid. I liked the fact that it was quick and easy. No big words or fantasy worlds that I had to keep up with. I could read and it was enjoyable. I also really liked Isabel. I was waiting for the cousin-thing to be exposed and for Colie's big AH-HA! moment but it didn't really come. There was one sentence of epiphany and that was all I got. Either way Isabel is still my favorite character.
Overall I give this book 4 stars. It was predictable but an easy escape from real life for a couple days. And in the end that's the real reason I read books.
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