When the Moon Was Ours

By: Anna-Marie McLemore

Narrated by: Raviv Ullman, Bailey Carr

Longlisted for the 2016 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Anna-Marie McLemore's debut novel, The Weight of Feathers, was greeted with rave reviews, a YALSA Morris Award nomination, and spots on multiple "best YA novels" lists. Now McLemore delivers a second stunning and utterly romantic novel, again tinged with magic.

To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel's wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town.

But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel's skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they're willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.

Atmospheric, dynamic, and packed with gorgeous prose, When the Moon Was Ours is another winner from this talented author.

©2016 Anna-Marie McLemore (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Controversial

This story was crafted very beautifully with mixtures of both Spanish and Iranian cultures and their stories and myths sprinked throughout the book. The author uses many sensory descriptions like color, scent, and taste to help the reader connect to the characters in a more personal way. The way the book is written is beautiful, however it does explore the controversial topic of gender and transgender issues. For those who are heavily leaning towards one side or the other, this book may introduce ideas and feelings about transgenderism that push against the traditional ideologies of gender and gender roles. The voice actors do a great job, and keep the reader engaged even to the very end of the book.

Like candy, sweet but hollow

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, pretty, poetic, nice imagery, but lack of plot devices driving the story forward.

What about Raviv Ullman and Bailey Carr ’s performance did you like?

Performance was good, but could not override the lack of plot

Beautiful, magical story

This was my first read by Anna-Marie McLemore and I cannot wait to get my hands on all of her books!

One of the narrators was much better than the other but this did not ruin the story in any way. I will listen to the audiobook again when it's time for a reread.

Acceptance ...

Acceptance of whoever we are is necessary to be fully oneself in the world.
This tale tells about it in honest fiction.
I loved this book.

A definite must-read

I could not stop listening to this once I started. I finished it in less than 24 hours. A beautiful story with breathtaking narration and great representation. Will listen over and over again.