Review: The Moon Within by Aida Salazar

The Moon Within
by Aida Salazar [j Salazar]

This novel in verse follows an 11 year old girl, Celi, of mixed heritage as she approaches her first period, experiences her first sexual attraction to a boy, and finds that her tomboyish best friend thinks of himself as a boy, at least sometimes. This is a book written with English/Spanish/Nahuatl code-switching without italics, and it’s such a joy to read in that style. Obviously, this is a book meant to show young people that it’s okay—great even—to begin cycles, which is why I find it interesting that her mother’s enthusiasm for making this okay for her daughter is itself a major point of stress for Celi. The other major conflict is Celi’s interest in firsts with a boy she’s been crushing on vs. being there for her best friend.

There is a wonderful amount of good stuff happening here. The dance and drum arts. The cultural blending, which includes spiritual and healing traditions. The moon metaphors. Loving family that still get on each other’s nerves. The visual poetry of the format. The amazing vocabulary made so inviting. No matter what, this could easily be the most important book many young people read.

I am holding back from 100% endorsement at this point for two reasons: (1) I’m uncomfortable with the lack of respect given to Celi’s own wishes even if it happens to work out for her & (2) I’m a cisgender reader of this cisgender writer who is trying to do the right thing for kids she calls “gender expansive.” The level of justifying cultural detail in here might be overdone compared to sticking to basic respect and friendship. Or it might be vital. I would leave that judgment to transgender or gender fluid reviewers.

Strong recommendation for checking this out. It’s a quick read that may be just what a young person in your life on the cusp of puberty needs to understand themselves or their friends.

[ official The Moon Within page on the official Aida Salazar web site ]

Recommended by Garren H.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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