Hands Across the Moon

Review by Gigi Hoffman Mia and Gretchen are best friends, excited to start their junior year of high school together in sunny California...until Gretchen and her family move to Ecuador. Gretchen is brokenhearted--she resents Ecuador, none of her clothes or stuff has arrived yet, and the rest of her family loves it. To makes things worse, she doesn't speak any Spanish and is a total outsider at her new school. On the other hand, Mia is bored at home by her typical routine. All she does is go to school, church, the gym (she's an Olympic-hopeful gymnast), and help out at her mom's store. Isn't there more to life than that? The two share their struggles, laughs, pain, and experiences through letters to each other, even if they are half a world away. Meyer does a great job of setting up Gretchen and Mia. I felt like I was right there with them while they talked about everything through their letters. If you've ever had a friend move away and tried to keep in touch through letters, or even if you haven't, check this book out.

I happen to love books written completely in letter format, so I enjoyed "Hands Across the Moon." It's the story of two friends who are separated during their junior year because one of them must move to Ecuador with her family. The book documents their year apart through the letters that they use to keep in touch with. I am not so sure everything that happens is COMPLETELY realistic, but it is realistic enough. The only thing I would say that I didn't like was not enough information was given about the characters' families. There isn't much detail--but that makes the letters real. At the end of the book, I found myself wondering what happened next. I think it's worth the read.

A well-done book showing the trials and joy, and most of all the energy of teenage girls. The use of the letter-witing medium adds to the appeal, making the communications between the two main characters real and immediate.

As a parent, "Hands Across the Moon" took me back to my high school years in a most pleasant way. Like the characters in this book, who must rely on letters to stay connected, my best friend and I bonded through writing (mostly notes exchanged between classes), so reading this novel made it possible to recall how much importance teenagers place on their friendships, how vital those links can be. Now that my daughters are getting older, I hope they'll gravitate toward books like "Hands," which teaches character and trust in God, but shows clearly that life is never easy and decisions can sometimes overwhelm us. Jane G. Meyer has found that adolescent voice that many of us left behind long ago. Her characters are flawed, yet lovable, just as they should be. The story's unusual twists keep readers turning the pages. I'll be looking for more books like this one to share with my daughters and we'll be keeping our eyes on this author.