From: 4joyces at some.place <4joyces>
Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2004 13:37:25 +0000

The new novel BLOW OUT THE MOON by Libby Koponen (which I think was mentioned here several months ago--the reason I picked it up) is definitely a story of transition, and transformation. I loved the heroine's voice, one of the truest child?ntered voices I've read in a long time. Libby (the novel is autobiographical) is an American tomboy whose family moves to England for a year. She is an adventurous sort, but encounters a wall of grey English indifference until she goes away to boarding school, where the adventure really begins.

What I loved about this novel was its theme of self?termination. Once she begins to see herself through the eyes of her boarding school classmates, Libby decides she needs to make some changes to her brash impulsive personality. The way she does it--without losing what she thinks of as her "Americanness" makes for a warm, funny, insightful story. Things do not just happen to Libby; she MAKES them happen--she goes out and seeks the world.

There are also great scenes that depict a child's viewpoint on cultural differences. A great read!

Joyce Sidman www.joycesidman.com
Received on Sat 04 Sep 2004 08:37:25 AM CDT