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Review: Life on the Moon

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By Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2026. Science fiction. 306 pgs. 

The first rule is there is no life on the moon. The second rule is don't ask questions. 12-year-old Leo is still mourning his parents' divorce when he leaves Earth to live as part of the first Lunar Colony. He's thrilled to be part of the top-secret mission, right up until he touches down the moon. Right away his dad and his dad's friend Sally are whisked away on a project and then go missing. When he starts to question other adults, he's taught the rules of life on the moon. Normally a rule follower, Leo decides to borrow a rover and sneak out to look for his dad. Before long, Leo discovers that there is life on the moon when he encounters first a giant mouth on three legs called a Hortle and then a race of beings called Valrootens. When Leo interferes to save a Valrooten from being eaten by the Hortle, his adventure on the moon really begins. As Leo learns more about the reality of life on the moon, he begins to question why he can't ask questions.

With a heavy dose of deadpan humor, this book is a wholly unique lunar adventure and a thoughtful exploration of home, family, colonialism, and power. The humor is essential in keeping the story lighthearted. Though it starts off seeming like other middle grade novels about life in space (sarcastic machines, goofy aliens), this story provides an opportunity for readers to think about what they cannot change. The philosophical questions balance out nicely with a fast-paced plot. Readers who like books like The Phantom Tollbooth or Alice in Wonderland will likely enjoy this strange little book.
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