  | How Moon Fuentez fell in love with the universe Author: Vasquez Gilliland, Raquel | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
When seventeen-year-old Star Fuentez reaches social media stardom, her polar-opposite twin, Moon, becomes "merch girl" on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and the grumpy but attractive Santiago Philips.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 4.50 Points: 14.0 Quiz: 515498 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (06/15/21)
School Library Journal (07/23/21)
Booklist (+) (08/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 07/23/2021 Gr 9 Up—At the age of 17, twin sisters Moon and Star Fuentez's lives are still controlled by their mother. Star is a "purity culture" social media influencer whose flawless natural beauty is the focus of her ambitious mother, while Moon, a "size 16," is required to be their porter and photographer. Only Moon's secret acceptance to Tulane University's art program in the fall gives her hope. The novel opens as the family learns that Star has been offered a spot on a high-profile, cross-country charity tour organized by social media app founder Andro Philips. Moon is again required to serve as her sister's photographer, but this time she will also profit by working the merchandise table. Things deteriorate when she meets the others on the trip, especially her merch-selling partner, Santiago, Andro's sexy younger brother. Their rough start, though, melts into a simmering romance during long hours on the bus and the shared love of gourmet food and more. Recounted in a highly descriptive manner with a healthy dose of magical realism, Gilliland-Vasquez's second book weaves together themes of healing from fat- and disability-shaming, homophobia, and domestic and religious abuse. VERDICT This slow-paced novel reads like a popular telenovela and is good choice for teen collections.—Ruth Quiroa, National Louis Univ., Lisle, IL - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 08/01/2021 *Starred Review* Moon Fuentez lives in the shadow of her popular, social-media influencer twin sister, Star. At a size 16, Moon is constantly comparing herself to model-thin Star, longing for a day when she, too, can be in her own kind of spotlight. Two weeks after high school graduation, Star lands an opportunity to go on a life-changing, cross-country trip led by Andro Phillips, a good-looking, social-media app founder, and Moon is roped into going with her to work the merch table, taking comfort in the knowledge that she’ll earn enough money to attend Tulane’s art program. Behind the merch table, she meets Santiago, the snarky (and attractive) younger brother to Andro, who seems to have taken an interest in tormenting Moon. Little does she expect that he will change her universe, helping her to finally realize her own worth. Filled with lyrical prose, Gilliland’s take on the road-trip novel offers a fabulous journey of self-discovery that also celebrates its characters’ Latinx heritage (Moon and Star are Mexican American and the Phillips brothers are Colombian and white). Themes of sexuality, grief, trauma, abuse, and disability are sensitively incorporated into the story, which remains entertaining and will impart beautiful, lingering lessons to its readers. Amazingly realistic, this book is the coming-of-age story that teens need, wrapped in a gorgeously poetic package. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
