I've read every K. O'Neill book for a reason! They never miss. "The Moth Keeper" is an excellent take on expectations (personal, familial, and societal), otherness, and burn out. The art, like always, was absolutely stunning. I love how they can craft a complex world where all of the characters are distinct, while also keeping it to a single story. I'd love to read more in this world, but it felt like a complete narrative. I would absolutely recommend.

Beautiful illustrations with a lovely message. I really enjoyed the story and art, and will definitely be purchasing for my library.

Is the darkness something to be afraid of? Is it a life giving force? Is it a life stealing force? That is the question within these pages? Anya is the newest moth keeper. It is her job nightly take the moths to a place they can glow and become strong pollinators to the tree that keeps her society alive, and then put them to sleep again for the night. It’s lonely. She lives in a society that lives by night but has always to feel the sun on her face. She does get that chance but then argues within herself what is right? What is wrong? And is it OK to be afraid of the dark. This was an interesting book. It leaves one with a lot to think about. The illustrations are beautiful and fit the story quite well. Story is easy to read and will be loved by many.

I liked it, but my students have had trouble getting into it. I asked why and they just said they didn't like it that much. Maybe it's a book adults like more than children?

I loved this book! I always love anything K O'Neill does. While I do prefer their original work, The Tea Dragon Society, more, this was an excellent follow up. I loved the art; it's my favourite style. And I love the main character and the premise. I think I wish that a few elements were fleshed out a tiny bit more, but I did indeed love it.

The message had way more depth than I anticipated from a cute little graphic novel. It grapples with themes of loneliness, depression, and belonging in a really beautiful way

I loved the art work in this book! The color palette used was great, and I thought that the artwork was both beautiful and engaging, especially for child readers. In the tradition of her earlier works, O'Neill creates space for LGBTQ representation in her story, which I really appreciated in a book for a child audience. The explorations of trauma were handled well, along with the overall theme of friendship and hope.

"The Moth Keeper" enchants with its captivating blend of fantasy and introspection, offering a richly imagined world reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's beloved creations. Anya's journey as a Moth Keeper unfolds with both wonder and uncertainty, as she grapples with the weight of her responsibilities and the longing for connection beyond the moonlit desert. K. O'Neill's lush illustrations and intricate storytelling weave a tale of coming-of-age, friendship, and the enduring power of community, making this a must-read for fans of enchanting adventures. While the loneliness of Anya's nights is palpable, the novel ultimately celebrates the resilience found in nature's symbiotic relationships, leaving readers spellbound by its magic and hopeful message.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

I loved O'Neill's Tea Dragon series and so I had to read this one! I had issues downloading it but I read my library's copy. It was beautifully illustrated and enjoyed the story. Responsibilities can be overwhelming especially if you are doing it alone and having a community help you though the hard times is important because everyone needs a support system. It is a great heart felt story.

Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving.

The nights are cold in the desert and the lunar moths live far from the village. Anya finds herself isolated and lonely. Despite Anya's dedication, she wonders what it would be like to live in the sun. Her thoughts turn into an obsession, and when Anya takes a chance to stay up during the day to feel the sun's warmth, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.

Beautiful story and illustrations, as always. I love K. O'Neill's work, there is always so much to absorb.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

K. O'Neill wows again with impeccable art and beautiful storytelling. This graphic novel should be in all middle-grade and high school libraries.

Cozy adventure with an important message. This story is heartfelt and portrays its message without high stakes.

This has the same wonderfully cozy vibes as the author's other works, which are some of my favorite graphic novels. Would be a wonderful kids graphic novel book group choice. Love the casual and loving LGBTQ+ representation in this author's works.

"The Moth Keeper" is gorgeous, wonderful, and precious, just like all K. O'Neill books. The art is stunning, and the story is sweet and enchanting. All of the characters are delightful, and I would be happy to see more books about them, though I am pretty sure this will just be a standalone. It's perfect.

I enjoyed this one but would have liked a little bit more detail on the world and the exact benefits of the moths. The general vibe and the characterization were what I expected from O'Neill. The illustrations were beautiful.

✰ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ✰
- first and foremost: we must address the work of art that is every page. So gorgeous and atmospheric, I adore all the worlds O’Neill is able to bring to life. The premise and lore of the lands is so creative and makes for stunning artwork.
- themes of solitude, searching for where you belong, importance of community strike me as most prominent 💛 I connected the message that comes from these topics (and i think are important for anyone to read!)
- the representation in these books seamlessly flow in the story. We are introduced to not only LGBTQIA+ relationships, but disability rep too!! I love it here especially because the disability doesn’t “other” Estell, rather normalized her and we love that.
- i do wish that it was a bit longer as i would have loved to learn more about the side characters. maybe because there was so much lore (that i loveddd), that it felt a bit more disconnected to the characters than with previous books.
- speaking of, there’s a striking resemblance between the dynamic between characters as it was in The Tea Dragon Society. Not bad by any means as it’s one of my favorite series, but I do wish the dynamics were slightly altered in a way.
- the moon-spirit has my entire heart 🙇‍♀️ in awe of her presence

ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once again, Kay O'Neil creates characters that tug at your heartstrings! This was beautiful, and the art style is so precious. I do wish there had been some more world building and understanding of the magic system, but the character struggles and sense of loneliness and burnout were so relatable, despite being fantastical.

This had cute illustrations and a cute but somewhat depressing story. The beautiful graphics were the highlight of this story, but I enjoyed the unique setting and story as well. I think it is ideal for a younger graphic, but people of all ages can enjoy this story.

Top 5 Reasons to Read The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill

1. Celebration of Storytelling
We all come from somewhere, and it is special when we are able to share where we have been with who we know now. Characters in this graphic novel are constantly.sharing stories and celebrating this artform.

2. Imaginative Setting
This community came about because the ecosystem needed help, and it thrives despite being different than expected.

3. Reminder to Balance
It seems so efficient to work as hard as possible at all times, but if you don't help yourself, you won't be able to help others for long.

4. Community (past, present, future)
Learn from who has been before, take pleasure in who is here now, and do your best to set up those who will come after.

5. Gorgeous Art
This is such an important aspect of any graphic novel, and Kay O'Neill never disappoints in this department. Their art is absolutely gorgeous