The Moon Within

This one’s a novel in verse written from the perspective of a girl going through puberty in real time.

Celi Rivera is thinking about the way her body’s changing; she’s considering a crush on a boy; and she’s feeling a little apprehension about the “moon ceremony” her mother’s promised when she gets her first period.

I love this one for so many reasons—but mostly because it celebrates becoming a young woman and standing up for herself.

There is nothing more confusing, exciting, or scary than a young girl’s first period.

As an adolescent I couldn’t wait for my first period to arrive and “make me a woman.” But Celi Rivera is not looking forward to it because getting her first period means participating in a moon ceremony (a Mexica ritual done after a girl’s first period arrives).

While Celi’s mother is insistent and excited about it, Celi struggles to find the words to tell her mother that she doesn’t want a moon ceremony or at least that having one should be her choice.

Told in verse… show more.

I love how this book presents a girl’s first period as a beautiful and positive experience, while realistically showing her fear and nervousness as she anticipates this event. The main character is so relatable: she’s unsure about her first crush, she has a snarky rival, and she struggles to be supportive when her best friend needs her the most. This book in verse is musical, magical, and hard to put down.