Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

I really enjoyed this one, and loved not only the story, but the telling. It was such a painful father-son journey, but helped by support and friendship.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was definitely sad, but I loved the characters and the wonderful friendships. It deals with real life issues and of course I loved the fact that they were training for a half marathon together.

I read this as a kid, and was delighted to see that it was being released once again! The new cover is lovely, and the story is just as arresting as I remembered. A beautiful book.

This is a truly heartwarming book that explores the bonds of friendship, the full spectrum of emotions, and is infused with love. Not to mention, it also celebrates the joy of running, which had me yearning for those exhilarating long-distance runs. The story strikes a perfect balance between uplifting moments and the challenges life throws our way, showcasing how love and support can see us through. I highly recommend it!

*I received a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I didn't realise it was written in alternating P.O.V, and I tend to not like books that do that, I tend to stick with a book written in 1 person's point of view, as it makes things easier to understand and comprehend. That being said, I really like the story, I feel it was well written and the characters were easy to like. Though it was a little bit of a heartbreaking story, I enjoyed the plot of the book and would recommend others to read it.

Elaine Vickers does it again with Half Moon Summer! As friends and families discover more about each other over a summer vacation, they run towards one another, answers and happiness. Drew is missing his best friend while Mia is transplanted for the summer and missing her Dad. The two find each other and discover more about their families history, present and future. They challenge each other in all ways possible. A great story of discovery, friendship, family and working towards a goal.

Half Moon Bay is the location for the meet-cute of the summer holidays, although Drew and Mia have not only met before, but slept together – in the same maternity ward cot. It's a summer where neither is where they want to be – Mia stuck with relatives while her dad sinks too much money helping out other family members, and Drew sans his best ever friend, who's recently moved away. There are darker clouds on the horizon, too – but they might just find the bond that keeps everything ticking. But then again, they might not…

This proved to actually be a quite wonderful mixture of growing up story, hymn of praise for running, and daddy-issues drama. Normally I wouldn't find myself rating either of the latter two very highly, but somehow the combination works, and the end result is very emotive. Alternating chapters show the two characters off, Mia's in a free verse to speed herself to the end of a notebook and therefore her father back home. But what's most warming here is the link between everyone, so this is ultimately a hymn to connections, the family and to community bonds. None of which is laboured over at the expense of the story, which will surely prove a most memorable one. Four and a half stars.

What a heartwarming but also heart wrenching story of two friends. Drew and Mia are 12 year olds dealing with some big life altering news. Together they train and run a half marathon while forming a beautiful friendship. It's through this hard work and perseverance that they work through the emotions and possible solutions that come with their current situations. As a runner myself, I know how great running can be as therapy.

Overall, I really loved this book. While it dealt with some pretty hard topics, I don't think it will be too much for its target audience. However, trigger warnings would still be helpful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

Holy cheese nuggets, you’ll want to get your hands on this book. I love how the characters told their stories in different formats. This one tugged at my heartstrings as I connected to Drew’s part of the story.

Drew is lonely because his best friend has moved away and he's alone his last summer before he needs to start helping in his dad's shop over the summer. Mia is upset because her dad is in Alaska taking care of her dying grandmother, leaving her in a town she'd rather not be in and away from their almost-finished house after so long of building it. These two have a past connection, but more importantly, they are connected by running and the pains of growing up.

I often dislike books with more than one POV character because they often don't have a lot to distinguish who the speaking character is. This book doesn't have that problem because Drew's POV is in prose and Mia's is in verse. I also typically don't like books in verse, but I liked it in this book. The author's language is quotable and comfortable. It actually reminded me of the feeling of summer when I was the age of the characters. It was beautiful to read and was quick reading because of the writing.

I enjoyed the development of the characters as they go from casually running to training for a half-marathon. The relationship between the characters is handled well, and while the

My main complaint about the book is that Drew's reaction when he finds out about the secret his dad is hiding doesn't seem realistic. However, his reaction does mean that the book doesn't get too dark and difficult to read. It helps the book overall feel sweet and only somewhat sad. Similarly, Mia's resolution of her family's problems seems somewhat disjointed. Still, these things don't change the enjoyment of the book.

I probably would have rated this book three stars because it's probably not a book that I'd read again or recommend often (except maybe to runners). However, I found the writing style to be so beautiful that I had to bump up my rating by a star.

This book shows the challenges of growing up, particularly when changes are happening that you can't do anything about. It shows how little things between family members and friends can add up to be so important.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the copy to review.

Elaine Vickers tackles questions of life in wonderful and engaging ways. The result is a book that explores experiences and centers youth in believable and relatable ways. Half Moon Summer is well worth reading.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for a honest review.

Wow, what a lovely and a little heartbreaking story that was. The plot follows 2 kids during summer. Drew feels lonely because his best friend Isaac moved away and he has no one around. His dad tries to make things better encouraging his son to start running as a habit during holidays. Mia's dad has to go to Alaska to take care of grandma and her family is in the middle of buliding a house so in order to save some money they move to Half Moon Bay. One day both of our main characters meet on the beach and start having a unique bond while running together.

I really enjoyed the fact that both narrations are different. Drew one is written like a typical novel while Mia's parts are slam poetry. They stand out from each other but also complement each other so much that it just makes sense. The story is complex, there is depth behind the whole idea of half marathon. The book shows you that we should enjoy things more when they happen and don't try to take anything for granted. It's bitter sweet but also important message and that is why I enjoyed this story so much.

This is a sweet story about a very special friendship between two 12 year-olds who are there for each other during some tough times. The chapters alternate with which child is narrating, Drew’s written in more typical novel fashion and Mia’s more in prose. While I appreciate that the author was giving the characters distinct voices in this way, I wasn’t personally a fan of the prose writing style. I also feel that changing the style every other chapter will make the book more difficult for a struggling reader to follow.

I enjoyed the storyline and know many children will as well.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #PeachtreePublishingCompany for an eARC of #HalfMoonSummer by #ElaineVickers in exchange for honest feedback. - 3.5 stars

A boy and a girl born on the same day unexpectedly cross paths the summer before they turn 13. A lovely friendship develops as they begin training together for a half marathon.
Both Drew and Mia have siblings and they have responsibilities towards their siblings, which they never once complain about. It’s refreshing to read a middle grade book with positive sibling relationships instead of conflict.
However, Drew and Mia are each dealing with personal and family difficulties that bring changes to their lives - starting with their summer plans. Drew’s best friend now lives in another city, and Drew’s dad is acting weird and keeping secrets. Mia didn’t expect to live with her gram for the summer, and she certainly didn’t expect her dad wouldn’t be with them.
Then Drew and his dad start running together, and Mia soon joins them. Everyone learns that life is never stagnant and you have to just keep moving forward even when things are not the way you want them to be.
Told in dual pov - Drew’s part in prose and Mia’s part in verse - this novel would be perfect for grades 5-8. It keeps moving at a good pace and leaves the characters living life to its fullest even in the midst of uncertainty.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

When two seventh graders begin running together every morning, they gain more than just exercise, but also a friendship strong enough to tackle obstacles they can't handle alone. Author Elaine Vickers tells a heartwarming story about how a summer with very little upside for a boy and a girl can become an experience of a lifetime. Told from each child’s perspective in both prose and in verse, the author captures the essence of what it means to be a child when everything familiar changes in the blink of an eye.

Excellent summer read for 9-12 year olds!

Thank you Peachtree Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Wow, such a beautiful book! I loved the structure. The story is told in alternating view points of the two main characters. Drew's chapters are in prose, Mia's chapters are in verse. The platonic friendship unfolding between Drew and Mia was so sweet. During a summer of loneliness, uncertainty, and worry, they support each other through their daily ritual of running and just being there for each other. The story sucks you in right from the beginning. Highly recommended for 5-7 graders but really anyone will enjoy it!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

“That’s how the big changes happen: whether you like it or not.”

Told in beautiful language, Half Moon Summer is a heartfelt middle grade novel about friendship, family, and finding balance between not giving up and letting go what you cannot change.

The summer of Seventh Grade brings along many big changes for 12-year old Drew and Mia, that neither of them have asked for. Drew spends his first summer without his best friend Isaac, and finds himself coping with the news of his fathers recent diagnosis on his own. Mia has to divide her worries between her dying grandmother and her fathers financial troubles that threaten to lose them their family-house. The two strike up a friendship over a shared goal: training to run a half-marathon at the end of the summer. Each of them runs for reasons of their own, but along the way they learn that some tasks are to big to carry on your own, and you need the shoulder of a friend to lean on.

Half Moon Summer shines in its quiet moments and shows how these small displays of family-love and friendship are the once that matter most in the end. There are few big flashy moments or perilous adventures, but there is an emotional, character driven journey to be had here.

The story is told in dual POV, Drew’s sections being told in prose, and Mia’s in verse. The fact that this isn’t stated explicitly on the cover or publishers synopsis is a missed opportunity in my opinion, as I think this would help the book find its audience. Novels in verse aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so I feel like “fair warning” will help with managing expectations and prevent disappointment. I personally really enjoyed the mixed format and loved the authors writing in general. The book is packed to the brim with quotable lines, beautiful prose and wisdoms beyond the years of its protagonists.

Therein lies one of the few complaints I have about the book. Without spoiling the story: the way Drew handles his fathers situation by the end of the book didn’t feel fully authentic to me. Admirable, yes, but maybe not too realistic for a 12-year-old-boy who’s only gotten this big news sprung on him. Grief in all its forms is a journey that takes time, and I personally would’ve loved to see Drew start that journey, but not necessarily being rushed to the end in order for the story to complete his arc. It’s okay to show kids that these things aren’t easy, and that it’s normal to take your time.
Apart from that minor point of critique, I wholeheartedly enjoyed and recommend this novel.

Many thanks to Peachtree Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story!! I laughed and I cried along with the characters. I felt like if I read this when I was in middle school, I could have easily connected with it and the message.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

A sweet but slightly typical summer tale.
pros:
*always love characters with passions, building and drawing were the two fun ones here
*I like that both MCs had siblings, and that they had responsibilities pertaining to them. Too many books simply don't include siblings or the bond between them.
*Tackles death and parental illness in a way that is very digestible for middle graders
cons:
*Mia's plan with the realtor/carpenter/house thief guy was very out of the blue for me pacing-wise and felt unrealistic story-wise (maybe I don't remember what it's like being twelve)
*It was lovely but just not very standout

Half Moon Summer is a heartwarming story of two young children, born on the same day in the same hospital in the same small town, whose lives cross paths again over the summer before their 13th birthday. Both of them are experiencing hardships, Mia's father away in Alaska to take care of her ill grandmother, and their house in Sacramento is in a bind. Meanwhile Drew is struggling with the idea of not having his "best summer ever" as well as his father keeping not so well hidden secrets. Thanks to his father, Drew and Mia begin running together with the goal to run a half marathon together, each for their own reasons. I thought this story was so beautifully written and inspiring for readers of all ages. It teaches you to enjoy life and appreciate what you have. The messages learned throughout this book will stick with you forever. Overall, a beautiful story and worth every minute spent reading it.