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This book is in excellent condition, with extra clean pages and only minor signs of use. The cover shows light wear, the sides of the book have some faint stains, and the dust jacket shows mild signs of use. Overall, this book is in great condition with no other issues. This book is in excellent condition, with extra clean pages and only minor signs of use. The cover shows light wear, the sides of the book have some faint stains, and the dust jacket shows mild signs of use. Overall, this book is in great condition with no other issues. See less
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Middletown Hardcover – April 6, 2021

by Sarah Moon (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 26 ratings
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Queer coming-of-age middle-grade novel about trust, forgiveness and self-discovery.

"Original, funny, rueful, and most of all, real, Middletown is an engrossing tale told by a deeply likeable tough cookie." – Emma Donoghue, award-winning author of Room

Thirteen-year-old Eli likes baggy clothes, baseball caps, and one girl in particular. Her seventeen-year-old sister Anna is more traditionally feminine; she loves boys and staying out late. They are sisters, and they are also the only family each can count on. Their dad has long been out of the picture, and their mom lives at the mercy of her next drink. When their mom lands herself in enforced rehab, Anna and Eli are left to fend for themselves. With no legal guardian to keep them out of foster care, they take matters into their own hands: Anna masquerades as Aunt Lisa, and together she and Eli hoard whatever money they can find. But their plans begin to unravel as quickly as they were made, and they are always way too close to getting caught.

Eli and Anna have each gotten used to telling lies as a means of survival, but as they navigate a world without their mother, they must learn how to accept help, and let other people in.

Sarah Moon has crafted a thoughtful portrait of the Queer middle-grade experience.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    288 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    7 - 12
  5. Dimensions
    6.05 x 1.2 x 8.6 inches
  6. Publisher
    Levine Querido
  7. Publication date
    April 6, 2021
  8. ISBN-10
    1646140427
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1646140428
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

middletown, sarah moon, lgbt,

Sarah Moon, Kirkus Reviews, "Sweet, Sad, Funny, Heartbreaking, and Hopeful."

Sarah Moon, Middletown, Sugarcoats Nothing but offers Hope for the future., School Library Journal

Sarah Moon, Middletown, Walks the line between Humor and heartbreak."Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-Eli, who is white and doesn't mind being mistaken for a boy, has a life of positives and negatives. Positives include her older sister, Anna, and best friends Javi, who is Puerto Rican and gay, and Meena, who is Indian American and "the prettiest girl in eighth grade." Negative is Eli's crush on Meena, because Eli thinks Meena likes boys. The biggest negative, however, is Eli's mother's alcoholism, which often results in police visits and unpaid bills. When a judge orders their mother into rehab, Anna comes to court as "Aunt Lisa," the girls' temporary guardian. Their situation worsens, though, with unpaid rent and Anna disappearing for days with her boyfriend. When social services comes calling, the girls flee-but where can they go? Moon builds a compelling picture of an impoverished family struggling with hereditary alcoholism. Coping with their mother's disease and its consequences has turned both girls into expert liars who struggle to trust anyone, and make poor decisions as a result-though both also find help and hope at Alateen. The world is well-built and the characters are distinct and believable, though Eli's penchant for snooping should have been introduced earlier. Also, the encounter with Anna's birth father feels like a wasted opportunity and adds little to the story. VERDICT This realistic portrayal of a family in crisis sugarcoats nothing, but offers conditional hope for the future.-Rebecca Moore, The Overlake Sch., Redmond, WAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

[STAR] “This journey is a rewarding one.” -Publishers Weekly (starred),


“Moon’s heartfelt story walks the line between humor and heartbreak, never shying away from the difficult ramifications of addiction. Tough subjects are addressed here...but the familial love and bonds of friendship always take things to a hopeful place.”-Booklist,


“Raw and realistic. Ultimately, the book feels both personal and beneficial for its intended audience.”-School Library Connection,


“This realistic portrayal of a family in crisis sugarcoats nothing, but offers conditional hope for the future. A compelling picture of an impoverished family struggling with hereditary alcoholism.” -School Library Journal,


“Sweet, sad, funny, heartbreaking, and hopeful, [Middletown] features authentic characters navigating life’s complexities, big and small. A moving and memorable glimpse into one endearing middle schooler’s life.” -Kirkus Reviews,


“The book’s tone is sharp and insightful but never judgmental, and the characters’ voices are distinctive and realistic. Moon offers up powerful and positive life lessons wrapped in an engaging, tender, and satisfying story.”-Horn Book,


“Original, funny, rueful, and most of all, real, Middletown is an engrossing tale told by a deeply likeable tough cookie.” -Emma Donoghue,

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Levine Querido (April 6, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1646140427
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1646140428
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 18 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.05 x 1.2 x 8.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 26 ratings

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Sarah Moon

Sarah Moon

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
26 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Talia Gonzalez
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, compelling story
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
What a beautiful story of sisterhood and personal growth. You will fall in love with Eli and Anna . . . a must purchase for any school library! I teach 8th grade and have recommended to multiple students. They've all loved it.
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Margie W.
4.0 out of 5 stars Relatable for teens
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2021
Verified Purchase
This was a realistic view of the issues many teens with alcoholic parents may face. The focus was on two sisters and the way they helped each other cope with life while their mother was in rehab and their fathers were not available to help. The author didn’t let the alcoholic take over the story. Each of the girls had their own romantic interests and story lines.
Thousands of children live with this hidden reality and rarely get to read about others in the same situation. It can be so comforting to know they’re not alone—this novel is clearly based on truth.
I’ll read this author’s work again!
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Mel
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2021
Verified Purchase
Just let a friend borrow it. What a great read!!
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LindseyQ
5.0 out of 5 stars Super sweet sister duo steals the show in this middle grade book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2021
The Book:
The feel: face-paced and compelling, realistic fiction, character-driven, amusing, angst-filled, sweet, LGBTQIA diverse, strong females, ya read

CW: alcoholism

This book definitely dealt with some difficult topics, but it was so sweet and the characters and Eli and Anna as well as the supporting cast made this book a “page turner” (audiobook listener here) from start to finish. While listening, I never felt like even some of the more intense subjects were too much to deal with, and I think even the most sensitive of readers could enjoy this book. Eli and Anna both go through amazing transformations while changing but still staying the same, as we all do. This is definitely one of my favs for the year, and I would definitely read more by this author. If Sarah Moon writes more about Eli and Anna, I will definitely read it.

The Narrator: Clear, wry, youthful
Her voice was a bit to get used to at first, but by the end, I was loving every minute. She did an excellent job making ach voice distinct—Eli’s and Anna’s especially! The wry humor definitely shone through with the narrator. I sometimes got a “Big Mouth” feel with the content since it had some amusing humor alongside some more serious topics.

5/5 stars from me!
~ ARC book copy by NetGalley in exchange for fair review~
One person found this helpful
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Layla Touchet
5.0 out of 5 stars Weird
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
Having a parent who is an alcoholic is never easy and this story showed it and n a real, raw, and beautiful way. Finding ways to trust others and survive stood out to me, and this is a story that will hit you in your heart.
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