A 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor Book
In Sally Gardner’s stunning novel, set in a ruthless regime, an unlikely teenager risks all to expose the truth about a heralded moon landing.
What if the football hadn’t gone over the wall. On the other side of the wall there is a dark secret. And the devil. And the Moon Man. And the Motherland doesn’t want anyone to know. But Standish Treadwell — who has different-colored eyes, who can’t read, can’t write, Standish Treadwell isn’t bright — sees things differently than the rest of the "train-track thinkers." So when Standish and his only friend and neighbor, Hector, make their way to the other side of the wall, they see what the Motherland has been hiding. And it’s big...One hundred very short chapters, told in an utterly original first-person voice, propel readers through a narrative that is by turns gripping and darkly humorous, bleak and chilling, tender and transporting.
My Blabberings:
I love, love, loved this book! It was a strange but beautiful little tale that stays with you long after you finish the last page. I'm going to have to buy a copy so I can lend it out to as many friends as I can!
Maggot Moon defies category conventions. Due to the book's short length and the age of the protagonist, I think this is marketed as a YA/MG book, but there's some very adult events that transpire. It is also a mixture of historical fiction and science fiction as it is set in an alternate Big Brother-esque past.
I admire that the author created a main character, Standish Treadwell, that is not conventionally smart or handsome. Despite these handicaps he is one of the most loveable protagonists I've come across in my reading.
Bottom line: the writing is beautiful, the characters captivating, and the story memorable. Highly recommended - go read this book!
5/5 stars
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