PRAISE FOR FULL MOON LAGOON
From The Critics
|
Nawrocki has created a magical story that still feels grounded in reality thanks to her three realistic main characters, their snarky, often hilarious banter, and some heartbreaking historical details. A short, sweet story that will educate readers about a dark time in history while also providing a healthy dose of sci-fi fun.
- Kirkus Reviews In Full Moon Lagoon, a smart-mouthed twelve year old named Maddy narrates an unusual adventure set on Cortes Island, B.C. The premise is supernatural – diving into a lagoon opens a time window that takes Maddy and her two friends back to 1941. Everything else feels real – the characters, the historical situation, and the outcomes.
Most of the characters have a “difference” blended in to their fulsome personalities. The point is shown rather than told: we are all different but certain differences make other people so uncomfortable that they can lead to avoidance, dislike, fear, hatred and even violence. Canada’s internment of its citizens of Japanese heritage illustrates this pertinent theme on the historic scale, while Maddy’s relationship to her wheelchair-bound stepfather illustrates it at the personal level. As this beautifully written, fast-paced adventure develops, the characters – and the reader – come to a deeper understanding of discrimination. - Carrie Saxifrage, author of The Big Swim, Coming Ashore in a World Adrift |
|
5 Reasons You Don’t Have to Be a Kid to Love "Full Moon Lagoon"
Full review by editor Coreen Boucher
Full review by editor Coreen Boucher
From the Kids
What young readers are saying about Full Moon Lagoon . . .
Dear Monica,
Thank you for writing Full Moon Lagoon, I think it’s a really good book and plan to share it with my friends.
I like the way it’s written. It’s playful, and even after my Mom told me it was time to go to bed, I wanted to keep reading it. I’d like to go to the lagoon to dive off the rock, and feel the rush of the water. From the way you described it, I could do that all day. I remember learning sign language in grade three and loving it. Now I think about it all the time, and have been looking up youtube videos to remind myself how to do it.
Graeme.
What young readers are saying about Full Moon Lagoon . . .
Dear Monica,
Thank you for writing Full Moon Lagoon, I think it’s a really good book and plan to share it with my friends.
I like the way it’s written. It’s playful, and even after my Mom told me it was time to go to bed, I wanted to keep reading it. I’d like to go to the lagoon to dive off the rock, and feel the rush of the water. From the way you described it, I could do that all day. I remember learning sign language in grade three and loving it. Now I think about it all the time, and have been looking up youtube videos to remind myself how to do it.
Graeme.
I just wanted to comment on the book. Personally, I thought the book was amazing. The cover matched well with the book, there was a lot of drama which I enjoyed and I learned so much about the things that happened back then. Continue to write, you're great at it. -- J
Comments from the grade seven class of Whitemouth School:
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT YOUR BOOK WAS . . .
. . . all the twists and turns and surprises. - J
. . . every chapter was breathtaking, always exciting and keeping our interest. - C
. . . the idea! And how things happened unsuspected. It is a really good book. - A
. . . that it had great characters, great story, just great in general. - M
. . . the whole main idea about book (time travelling to the past). - M
. . . some words were different than any other book I read. - C
(a few people commented on a plot twist that we don't want to give away!)
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT YOUR BOOK WAS . . .
. . . all the twists and turns and surprises. - J
. . . every chapter was breathtaking, always exciting and keeping our interest. - C
. . . the idea! And how things happened unsuspected. It is a really good book. - A
. . . that it had great characters, great story, just great in general. - M
. . . the whole main idea about book (time travelling to the past). - M
. . . some words were different than any other book I read. - C
(a few people commented on a plot twist that we don't want to give away!)
From the Parents:
Graeme and I are halfway through Full Moon Lagoon, and yesterday when there was the supermoon he said, ‘imagine what it would be like in the lagoon tonight. Do you think it would make the current even stronger? Can we try next summer?’ And on our way out the door, hopping on our bikes yesterday morning he asked, ‘do you think people can sign faster than we can speak out loud?’ I thought you’d like to know your images, characters, and story are mingling in a little boy’s head and creating new thoughts and ideas. That’s art!
Graeme and I are halfway through Full Moon Lagoon, and yesterday when there was the supermoon he said, ‘imagine what it would be like in the lagoon tonight. Do you think it would make the current even stronger? Can we try next summer?’ And on our way out the door, hopping on our bikes yesterday morning he asked, ‘do you think people can sign faster than we can speak out loud?’ I thought you’d like to know your images, characters, and story are mingling in a little boy’s head and creating new thoughts and ideas. That’s art!
We finished the book and Graeme had lots of questions, especially about Draggin, perhaps because he was a boy, but also because of his hearing. He also had questions about the internment, and it led us into a whole other conversation about Syrian refugees and France’s response to the recent terrorist attacks. It’s a fantastic book, beautifully written (so smooth and easy to read aloud) and raises lots of questions for kids about difference and inclusion, on individual and political levels. As a parent, I was so pleased to see how the story opened up new and different areas of interest for Graeme.
Keva Glynn
Keva Glynn
Hi Monica,
While camping on Cortes Island this summer we picked up your book, Full moon Lagoon. I read it to my two sons who really enjoyed it even though they claim not to like fantasy literature.
They learned something new about Canada's history too.
I enjoyed how well written the book was. The characters were well thought out and the descriptions were often poetic and easy to visualize.
We had just visited the lagoon for the first time on our last trip as well! This made your book all the more meaningful.
Will you be writing another one soon?
Thank you again.
Mikiala, Soren and Kahlil
While camping on Cortes Island this summer we picked up your book, Full moon Lagoon. I read it to my two sons who really enjoyed it even though they claim not to like fantasy literature.
They learned something new about Canada's history too.
I enjoyed how well written the book was. The characters were well thought out and the descriptions were often poetic and easy to visualize.
We had just visited the lagoon for the first time on our last trip as well! This made your book all the more meaningful.
Will you be writing another one soon?
Thank you again.
Mikiala, Soren and Kahlil
I read your book like my dogs eat treats. I have shared your book old school by passing it on to two lovely young readers in my life. As I read, I kept wishing I'd had this book when I taught grade 6 - in fact I kept imagining the reactions of those in my last class. Thank you.
Wendy Chase
Wendy Chase
From the Teachers:
I ordered a class set of Full Moon Lagoon and read it with my Grade 7 students. They loved it! It also tied in well with our study in Social Studies of the World Wars. Monica was kind enough to arrange a video chat with my class where she was willing to answer questions about the book and the process of publishing. Thank you so much Monica! We look forward to more books from you!
~Leanne Van Bergen, Whitemouth, Manitoba
I ordered a class set of Full Moon Lagoon and read it with my Grade 7 students. They loved it! It also tied in well with our study in Social Studies of the World Wars. Monica was kind enough to arrange a video chat with my class where she was willing to answer questions about the book and the process of publishing. Thank you so much Monica! We look forward to more books from you!
~Leanne Van Bergen, Whitemouth, Manitoba
Hi Monica,
I just wanted to let you know that I love your book. I don't usually read a book cover to cover. I started and finished your book in one exciting afternoon. There are so many layers within it... The relationships; time travel; history; the themes of racism, loyalty, being positive; the value of knowing history. It's a real winner. I'm going to read it to my class.
Aaron
I just wanted to let you know that I love your book. I don't usually read a book cover to cover. I started and finished your book in one exciting afternoon. There are so many layers within it... The relationships; time travel; history; the themes of racism, loyalty, being positive; the value of knowing history. It's a real winner. I'm going to read it to my class.
Aaron
