MOON RUNNER
by Carolyn Marsden
Candlewick Press
ISBN-10: 0763633046
ISBN-13: 9780763633042
Ages 8-12
112 pages

Mina is a self-claimed "girlie girl." She is content painting bright colors on her long fingernails, sketching in her moon journal, and reading mystery stories. She doesn't see the point of sports and absolutely detests gym class. Another thing Mina hates is an unfamiliar situation. She gets nervous when having to face new places, new faces and the unknown, and is much more comfortable with familiar sites and sounds.

When she starts her new school, Mina fears she won't make any friends. But she does --- almost right away --- and joins a club called the Fellow Friends, complete with a secret handshake and a Friendship Ball. Mina then becomes really nervous when invited to a sleepover. She reluctantly agrees to attend and ends up having a wonderful time. Despite these two happy outcomes, Mina is still uneasy with the unfamiliar.

So Mina is utterly surprised to find herself one day in gym class (she despises gym), trying out for a new track team (she despises new things and despises sports), running in a race (she despises running), and absolutely loving every pounding step! Mina discovers that she loves to run and is really good at it! So good in fact that one of her Fellow Friends becomes very jealous.

Now Mina is torn. She loves her running, but she also loves her friend. Will Mina have to give up one to keep the other? As she struggles to figure this out, she realizes not only the importance of being true to her friends, but also how incredibly important it is to be true to herself. Furthermore, she learns that, similar to the different phases of the moon, she isn't restricted to being just one type of person. She can enjoy both nail polish and running.

Carolyn Marsden tells Mina's story simply and honestly. Readers will feel comfortable relating to the characters' problems and emotions. Marsden does an awesome job bringing her book alive through the senses, from the fragrant orange blossoms and mouth-tingling sweet candy, to the beautiful moon descriptions and hot desert sun. Readers will settle right in with Mina, cheering her on and learning a little something about themselves along the way.

   --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author

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