Written by Jacqueline Woodson
When I saw this book in Booklist magazine with a starred review, I knew I had to read it. Several people whom I love continue to struggle with this evil addiction.
In Beneath a Meth Moon we watch 15 year old Laurel sink into the hell of meth addiction. After losing her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina, she moves with her father and little brother to a new town. There she becomes a member of the cheer squad and meets football star T-Boom. On their first date he introduces her to moon (meth). This is a harrowing story of how easy it is to become an addict, and how difficult it is to break free of it. It is also a story of love, hope, and friendship.
I appreciated the candor that Woodson uses in describing the physical effects of meth on the user. Some of them I recognized. Some I did not. This book helped me separate actions that an addict has control over and those that they do not- all of which were offensive to me. I hope that the change of heart that this book has brought to me, and the opening of my mind, helps me personally in handling the addictions of those I love.
For teens who read it, I pray that it gives them insight to recognize how un-glamorous and dangerous this drug is.
Review by Terrie Bishop, Academy Park Elem. Media Center
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 8-12
Beneath a Meth Moon
Written by Jacqueline Woodson
Nancy Paulsen Books
181 pages
Release Date: February 2, 2012
ISBN: 9780399252501 (hardcover)
