The Shade of the Moon

Dark BUT amazing!

I understand why the reviews are bad for this novel. The scenes in the end of first part involving Jon lying to Sarah about him raping Julie in order to protect her from Tyler are shocking. He even tries to tear at Sarah’s blouse even though Jon would have gone no farther.

That’s still not an excuse for that behavior, though. Jon could have worded his fear that Tyler-who-will-die-later anyways might hurt her for her liberal views on social class. Then he should have told Sarah about Julie, his worst mistake he ever made.

Jon didn’t rape Julie. Yes, he later finds out his big sister Miranda and Julie’s future sis in law euthanized Julie. Miranda also only told her husband and Julie’s other brother, who spilled the beans on how Julie died without knowing Jon’s role.

Jon is a very spoiled brat in the beginning. He hates Grubs, even though he’s a Slip, the second to the top, Clavers. Slips and Clavers have similar roles in order to boss the Grubs around.

Then comes Sarah saying everyone is equal like I certainly would. Jon is very touchy about loving Sarah since he wants to protect his reputation but his Stepmother’s as well. He even looks down upon his three family members the Grubs. (Four counting Liana who was just a fetus at the time.)

His Mom, his pregnant sister, Miranda and her husband Alex are all Grubs. His brother Matt and his wife Syl live elsewhere. Jon lives with his Stepmom Lisa and his half brother Gabe.

His Dad is dead before, and by the end of the story his Mom is slaughtered for standing up against the system. Then Lisa, his last parent commits the horrific act of suicide by shooting herself in the heart. That last death was triggering for me but it’s fake plus spoilers so I read on.

Jon has just rescued Miranda and Alex’s baby girl Liana Hope Morales from the Claver home that the hospital let them take when that scene happens. Everyone misheard that Liana was born dead or died shortly after since she was deformed. Which Sarah and Jon helped get her back.

3 year old Gabe is living with his brother and half mother in law, Syl (who can’t have kids) afterwards by the end, random fyi.

Miranda, Alex and their daughter Liana along with Sarah live in New Harmony, the system free enclave at the end as well. Jon even married Ruby’s twin sister by mistake in order to protect her from the mines. Jon respects right away before he knew that it was Opal in disguise that she hates being touched.

Jon goes from being a bully who justifies prejudice among people and even almost rape, but CHANGES everything at the series’s end. He grows up and moves on from Julie but learns important lessons.

A great end for a series. The last one is dark BUT amazing! The shade of the moon is the best one I have read out of the first and third by far. Susan Beth Pfeffer’s theme of prejudice and hate are relatable for me as well, sadly. But we can work towards a better future like these characters are doing.

Great book, five and more stars!