Moonglass

Moonglass is one of those novels. It isn't long and it isn't flashy, there hasn't even been much buzz about it, yet. But its very much like it cover. It's beautiful in its subtlety. As I started reading I thought, "Oh no another dead mother story," and laughed because I'd read that same line in another novel I read recently and had been deeply touched by. But this is anything but another dead mother story.If you look at the cover on the book, you can see the moon glowing above the clouds, illuminating the water. The same clouds are shrouding the night sky, hiding the stars, yet the beach sparkles with little gems almost like stars, moonglass all around the couple holding hands on the beach. It's very symbolic.The novel is much like the cover-things are covered up, murky and this has made for a strained relationship between Anna and her father who is a park ranger/head lifeguard. It's not really spelled out, but it's not just a summer job. He uproots her and takes a new job at a new beach miles away from the place she grew up, from the place where her mother walked into the ocean and never walked back out while Anna, seven sat and waited for her. Enter the clouds. Anna never asks about her mother feeling her father's unwillingness to discuss her with Anna. But then why does he take a job on the beach where her parents met if he wants to avoid talking about her? It's confusing for Anna and the surf begins to churn inside her.Anna herself is good at avoiding things, evading questions about where her mother is, so that her friends think her mother travels a lot. Avoiding how she really is when she feels something growing inside of her. Avoiding what she's running from, the answers, the truth. And avoiding who she really is. When she flirts with a life guard, she lets him talk trash about her father just for the anonymity - not being the boss' daughter, not being off limits, that girl. But Anna is running from something, her mother's death and the misplaced guilt and shame it brings with it. She joins the cross country team and gives the fastest girl on the team a reason to run faster. But this isn't something Anna can outrun. Tension builds, the clouds fill in.Throughout the book as Anna learns more about her mother, makes friends, falls for the lifeguard, and continues to run, the pace of the book begins to build. It starts slow and gentle like a wave on a calm day at the beach. But as the turmoil-the questions, the emotions, the fears-build inside Anna, a storm brews waiting to explode both inside and out. The tension builds and before long that beach is being pounded with wave after wave. And as Anna seeks an end to her turmoil, the wave just might take her away forever, just like her mother.But this is not a story about a dead mother and daughter. And Anna's savior is not only the most unlikely of heroes, but he's also the moon- illuminating- bringing understanding when it's least expected. And with the first light of illumination, Anna is able to stop running and ask the questions and get the answers she's been running from since she was seven. What's left behind? When the storm ends the beach is littered with moonglass, the sparkling seaglass of the night and gentle reminders of the past. And a perfect night for walking on the beach.The novel is told from Anna's point of view. The descriptions are so great I can feel myself going back to summer days at the beach when my friends and I used to lay out on the beach and watch the lifeguards. I think there must be a pre-requisite that all lifeguards have to be cute if not drop dead gorgeous. And then there's that whole laid back beach atmosphere that pervades everything they do. Jessi Kirby teases us with snippets like "It was the kind of perfect golden summer afternoon when you could tell people just didn't want to leave..." p.29 and "The girl absently scooped up handfuls of sand and let it sift through her fingers..." p.29 and it makes me nostalgic for the warm sandy beaches and long hot summer days. The descriptions are like everything else understated and eloquent each word spare, but perfectly placed. Another author might have been more prolific, making it a longer novel, but Jessi Kirby knew the perfect word count and number of pages. Nothing is wasted in Moonglass. I can't believe this is a debut novel, it reads like a seasoned novelist wrote it. It's going on my shelf of favorites, something I'll read again and again along with my other friends. I'm looking forward to her next novel already. And it's a stand alone, more kudos to be heaped on this debut author for daring to be different!!Heather in Sandwich

Books about summer love is always bittersweet. Usually it's because of the time limit - summer has to end at some point, unfortunately. But Moonglass was bittersweet in an entirely different way.I can't imagine what it's like to lose a parent, but I'm always interested to read about it. The dynamic between the still-alive parent and the main character really fascinates me, especially when it's well written, like Moonglass. I really ached for Anna and her confusion about her mother's death, and her resentment towards her father for never talking about it. Even though this has never happened to me, Moonglass was written in such a way that I was really able to empathize with her.As for Anna herself, I liked her, and her determination to see Tyler, regardless of what her dad told her. (Oh, and by the way - what is up with books-taking-place-on-the-beach-with-a-protag-named-Anna? We've got this book, Sixteenth Summer, and Twenty Boy Summer, that I can think of off the top of my head, hah!)Mostly though - I liked Anna's dad. He was a bit hypocritical at some points (but what parent isn't?) and I loved how protective he was over Anna, as well as the stories he had from his own past. I would totally read a book about him and Anna's mother.I thought the story was beautiful. It's definitely a summer romance, but a bit darker. There's a lot about suicide and depression, as well as the light and cheery flirtation with a lifeguard that you'd expect from a book like this. But despite the polar opposite themes, I think everything balanced very well.Overall - I loved Moonglass. I had a lot of fun reading it, while at the same time there were definitely moments that made me really sad. I definitely can't believe this is a debut - it's so well written and the characters were all very fleshed out, regardless of their importance to the story.

I don't think Moonglass is a bad book, I'm sure lots of people will love it, but I didn't particularly care for it. I never connected with the book.CharactersThere wasn't a single point in this book when I felt connected to the characters. I never related to the main characters or the secondary characters. I know what Kirby was trying to do with Anna, but the entire time I was reading the book I felt like the author was constantly nudging Anna along, forcing her to do things, instead of letting the character morph into her own personality and act of her own free will. This was a pattern that the author followed with the rest of the characters.PlotKirby wanted Anna to realize what happened to her mother, and repair the relationship with Anna's father. She did a really nice job of sticking to her plot.EndingThe ending of the book, Kirby tied up all the loose ends, and answered all the questions. When the book ended, I got the sense that the answers Anna found left her an even more damaged character than she'd been when she moved to the beach. I wish the author would have spent a bit more time discussing why Anna's father felt the need to move back to beach where so many things had happened.WritingIf you like the way Sarah Dessen writes, you'll love Kirby's style. She does an amazing job using words to pain intense images, and has lovely lyrical sentences.

Rating: 4.5 starsI love a Jessi Kirby book, and this was a really beautiful story of grief and the chasms it can create between you and the ones you love. It also took on the guilt that some struggle with when the death is not by natural means. I liked that Kirby had two other characters who shared this struggle with Anna and I appreciated her journey.

I enjoyed this book, it didn't go far from what I was expecting and I enjoyed some of the twists and turns. It is a young adult book and is well written. I would recommend this book to teens and those who enjoy a good coming of age story. Like the advert, it does what it says on the tin.

I'd rather watch paint dry than read this again.

Anna's story begins on a rainy and windy day, indeed fitting her mood. She and her father just packed up everything they own and are on their way to their new home. Moving to a new town is never easy. New school, friends and crush.And Anna's finding a friend pretty quickly after moving to Crystal Cove, or better said she's found. Anna's trying to keep her distance but no one can resist cheerful and devoted Ashley. They both join the school's cross-country team and the sportive meetings and bubbly personality of Ashley add a lot of positive energy to the story.Tyler is a local lifeguard who offers Anna a new chance for love and trust. Their relationship has its sweet and daring moments. It was a welcome change to see there were no major conflicts troubling Anna and Tyler's relationship because they deserved some quiet and peaceful time to find to each other. I just wish we had more time to follow the development of their love story.MOONGLASS is not only sunny beach days. It's also a story about regret and a terrible family tragedy. Short falsh backs to the past show how much Anna's remembering of one unfortunate night many years ago. You can see that the death of Anna's mother still affects her very much. The beach will always be a reminder of her lost mother and at the same time a source for Anna to draw new energy and recover.This all beach-themed read takes you to the beautiful place of Crystal Cove with wide long beaches and shimmering blue water. Jessi Kirby's writing magically makes it your temporary second home. How I wish I lived there. Scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, surfing, a bonfire and BBQs are only a selection of the fun beach activities we are invited to partake in.The first book I read by Jessi Kirby was IN HONOR, followed by GOLDEN and MOONGLASS. One thing they have in common are their unsatisfying endings, making us leave our characters too early and too abrupt after major-life changing events. To sum up, I can say that I did enjoy all of Jessi Kirby's novels so far and with nearly over 230 pages MOONGLASS serves as a quick beach read, one I would always recommend.4/5 **** MOONGLASS – A contemplative and uniquely soulful beach read.A right portion of soothing, lulling beach moments and kisses stolen in the moonlight are Jessi Kirby's formula to heal a broken heart. Like sea glass her debut has many facets and colors to shine with, so take your time to find them all!

Good