Laugh with the Moon

Gr 4–8—Thirteen-year-old Clare Silver is still wrapped up in her own personal tragedy when her father, a medical doctor, whisks her along on his journey to Africa as part of a two-month visit to work in a local clinic. While he relishes the smell of jasmine after a soaking rain, sleeping under a mosquito net, and reuniting with old friends, the only thing Clare sees in Malawi is isolation and loneliness. With no cell-phone reception and a new home that doesn't even keep out the rain, let alone local wildlife, Clare can't even text her friends to tell them how she feels like a prisoner in this strange land. Her first day at the Mzanga Full Primary School opens her eyes to daily life in this small country, and her new friend, Memory, helps her bridge the cultural gap. In this new world that first seemed devoid of all necessities like computers, cell phones, and department stores, Clare begins to learn the value of friendship and the wonderment of finding your place in the world. This is a heartfelt story of love and loss told through the eyes of an American girl who learns about true friendship and heartbreak at a school where students have few supplies but an abundance of understanding. When tragedy strikes again, it's Clare's African friends who help her find comfort and strength when sometimes all one can hope for is to laugh with the moon. This lyrical story will be consumed in one long sitting, but the characters will stay with readers for a very long time.—Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH