Review: The Moon Without Stars

By Chanel Miller

New York: Penguin, 2026. Fiction. 256 pgs.

After unexpectedly inheriting a collection of books, seventh grader Luna Noon starts to lend out books to help her classmates with their middle school problems. Books to help kids after the loss of a pet, books to boost self-image, and books to quiet fears. When she doesn't have the right book to help a specific classmate, Luna, aided by her best friend Scott, creates her very own "literary prescription" - a zine with advice to help her classmate. Unexpectedly, the zine becomes a huge success, and is the key to propel Luna into middle school popularity. Soon, she ditches Scott and becomes a part of the mean-girl crowd. Her helpful zines become "fix-its" with harsh, biting critiques of her peers and it is clear Luna has lost sight of herself in her quest to belong.

This sensitive and emotional novel is best suited for upper middle grade readers. Luna and her peers have a lot of questions about growing up and entering adolescence, and this book processes the emotions around them in a realistic and direct way. From periods to peer pressure, this book shows the inner fears of middle schoolers and the cost for trying to fit in. Luna is an incredibly relatable and sympathetic character who is dealing with a distant father and a bipolar mother on top of navigating sleepovers, make-up, and menstruation. Her sensitive thoughts and feelings make this book extra special. Already one of the buzziest books of the year, Chanel Miller writes another winner.

Comments

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