Walk Two Moons

Sharon Creech's Newbery Medal-winning novel, Walk Two Moons, is a deeply moving story about thirteen-year-old Salamanca Hiddle, who travels cross-country with her grandparents from Ohio to Idaho. To pass the time, Sal tells them the dramatic story of her new friend Phoebe Winterbottom, whose mother mysteriously disappeared. As Sal recounts Phoebe's tale, she slowly processes her own profound grief over her mother's departure and eventual death, a truth initially hidden from the reader. The book beautifully intertwines themes of loss, family love, friendship, and the importance of empathy, encapsulated in the Native American aphorism that gives the book its title. While the book touches on Native American themes, it has received criticism for stereotypical and romanticized depictions, which parents may wish to discuss with their children. It is a powerful narrative for children navigating complex emotions and understanding different perspectives.

After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.