Moonrise - by Sarah Crossan (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

From Carnegie Award-winning author Sarah Crossan comes a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores life, sibling bonds, and forgiveness as a teen tries to reconnect with his brother on death row for a crime he may not have committed.

Seventeen-year-old Joe hasn't seen his brother in ten years. Ed didn't walk out on the family, not exactly. It's something more brutal.

Ed's locked up -- on death row.

Now his execution date has been set, and the clock is ticking. Joe is determined to spend those last weeks with his brother, no matter what other people think ... and no matter whether Ed committed the crime. But did he? And does it matter, in the end?

This poignant, timely, heartbreaking novel asks big questions: What value do you place on life? What can you forgive? And just how do you say goodbye?

Acclaim for Sarah Crossan
2016 Carnegie Award winner, One
Shortlisted for the 2016 FCBG Book Award, Apple and Rain
Shortlisted for the 2015 Carnegie Award, Apple and Rain
Shortlisted for the 2013 Carnegie Award, The Weight of Water

Review Quotes

"Almost impossible to put down. . . . Each character is fully realized, with even walk-on characters brought vividly to life with a few deft words. . . . A must-purchase for collections." --starred review, School Library Journal

"Beautifully told and incredibly powerful. . . . Deeply moving and thoughtful, Moonrise is a challenging, potent reminder that there is great injustice in the justice system and questions whether the death penalty is ever a fitting punishment." --starred review, Foreword Reviews

"Brutally emotional . . . Crossan's eloquent usage of language in this deeply affecting novel puts readers right at the heart of a very sensitive and timely story." --Kirkus Reviews

"Crossan masterfully portrays Joe's intense feelings of confusion, anger, and abandonment through conversational, fluid free verse, with thoughtful rhythm and line breaks." --Publishers Weekly

"The novel-in-verse format . . . manages to capture many complex emotions while saying very little, leaving the core of the story to captivate and immerse readers. The ending will utterly devastate readers; it could also trigger some really great conversations between teens and adults regarding social issues." --VOYA

"Touching and heartrending . . . A timely catalyst destined to spark discussions about rights, fairness, and a justice system that succeeds for some but devastates others." --Booklist

"By telling Ed's story and focusing attention on the kindness and grief of people who have likewise lost relatives to execution as well as the toll it takes on the warden and his daughter, Crossan complicates the sites of empathy and ethics around this issue, making this rarely told story a useful discussion starter." --BCCB

"This contemporary star-crossed love affair is convincing and moving-and also a heartbreakingly timely portrayal of discrimination and bullying." --Horn Book Magazine on WE COME APART

"This is honest, unapologetic realism from a diverse perspective not often seen in fiction for teens. Not to be overlooked." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review on ONE

"Crossan's novel achieves a striking balance between sentimentality and sisterly devotion." --Publishers Weekly, starred review on ONE

"Crossan's ear is flawless in capturing the cries of a young girl's heart." --BCCB on APPLE AND RAIN

"Readers . . . will cheer for Apple and Rain." --Publishers Weekly on APPLE AND RAIN

"[The] story is involving, and Apple and Rain are engaging, sympathetic characters. This one is for readers who dote on happy endings." --Booklist on APPLE AND RAIN

"This is a wrenching but hopeful story of displacement, loneliness, and survival. . . . Crossan's verse packs a punch as she examines the power that difference -- but also determination -- can wield." --Publishers Weekly, starred review on THE WEIGHT OF WATER

"Graceful, effortless verse. . . . A sweet, well-paced tale [with] a silver lining." --School Library Journal, starred review on THE WEIGHT OF WATER

"A powerful coming-of-age novel about family and discovering how to be true to yourself that is well worth reading." --Booklist on THE WEIGHT OF WATER

"Narrating in image-rich free verse that packs an emotional punch, Kasienka describes what life is like for a new arrival while also exploring universal themes. . . . Memorable." --Kirkus Reviews on THE WEIGHT OF WATER

About the Author

Sarah Crossan is the author of young adult novels One, winner of the Carnegie Medal, Apple and Rain and The Weight of Water, both short-listed, Moonrise, Being Toffee, Breathe, and Resist, as well as Here is the Beehive, a novel for adults. She grew up in Ireland and England, taught English in the United States and continues to promote creative writing in schools, and now lives in Hertfordshire. She is the current Laureate na nÓg (Children's Laureate) of Ireland.
Twitter: @SarahCrossan
Instagram: @SarahCrossanWriter