
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with body image, social media comparison, or feeling like the 'background character' in a sibling's shadow. Moon Fuentez is a talented photographer who has spent years being the invisible girl behind her influencer sister's lens. As she embarks on a summer road trip, Moon begins to challenge her mother's harsh criticisms about her body and worth, eventually discovering her own creative voice and spiritual connection to the universe. This is a deeply emotional, body-positive coming-of-age story that addresses the complexities of first love and family dysfunction. It is best suited for older teens due to its mature themes of sexuality and religious deconstruction.
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Sign in to write a reviewFrequent use of profanity throughout the dialogue.
Deals with emotional abuse, body shaming, and feeling unloved by a parent.
Explores the ethics of social media fame and curated identities.
The book deals with body shaming and emotional abuse from a parent in a direct, realistic manner. It also explores religious trauma and the deconstruction of strict Catholic views on sexuality. The resolution is hopeful but realistic: Moon finds self-love even if family relationships remain complex.
A 16-year-old girl who feels defined by her flaws or who is constantly comparing her real life to the curated images she sees on social media.
Parents should be aware of several descriptive sexual scenes and discussions of 'purity culture.' The book addresses toxic parenting head-on, which may be a point of reflection for the reader. A parent may reach for this after hearing their teen make disparaging comments about their weight or seeing the teen withdraw while a sibling receives more attention.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the romance and the 'enemies-to-lovers' trope. Older teens (17-18) will likely connect more deeply with the themes of breaking away from parental expectations and defining their own spirituality.
It masterfully weaves together high-concept social media culture with grounded, ancient-feeling spirituality and radical body positivity.
Moon Fuentez is the 'ugly' twin, according to her mother and the internet, serving as the camera-operator for her sister Star's influencer career. During a summer tour on a bus full of social media stars, Moon is forced to share a bunk with Santiago, a grumpy and mysterious boy. Over the course of the trip, Moon explores her photography, her Mexican-American heritage, and her changing relationship with her body and her faith.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.