What the Moon Said

Gr 5–8—When Esther's Ma sees a ring around the moon, she says it is a sign of bad things to come. Sure enough, it isn't long before Pa loses his job and the family has to leave their home in Chicago for life on a Wisconsin farm. Esther and her siblings are not used to farm life, but the neighbors are kind, and Pa is sure that he can fix up the run-down farmhouse. As Esther settles into her new surroundings, she focuses on pleasing Ma. Esther hopes that if she is an obedient daughter, Ma might finally show affection toward her. But soon Esther is forced to make a terrible choice. Rosengren offers a realistic portrayal of a family's struggle to keep hope alive during the Great Depression. The theme of family, specifically the relationship between mother and daughter, is central to the story. Narrator Laural Merlington gives appropriate accents to Esther's immigrant parents and does well differentiating among a cast of predominantly female characters.