There is a lot to like about Moonwalking (MacMillan, 2022) co-authored by Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann. This middle-grade verse novel set in New York City in 1980, alternates between the POV of the two protagonists. Pie Velez is a math whiz and graffiti artist, and his most unlikely friend, JJ Pankowski, is a punk rock fan and one of the few white kids at their school.
When I read books that I plan to review I record some of my favorite passages. Here are a few that I noted.
From Pie's second poem, "Bomb."
.... I never knew mist
wrapped in metal could be
light as air and dark as night
or brighter than a neon sign
I shake the can and
the seed of a rainbow clatters
inside before blooming in my palm
and climbing across the wall
......
tags spread like wildfire
we write in code on concrete
words most folks can't read
signs that wow
warn
and won't be ignored
WE ARE HERE (p.8)
From one of JJ's poems entitled, "Three Chords." In this scene when the reader is just getting to know JJ, he's learning how to play his uncle's guitar.
Joe Strummer said
you don't need talent
you don't need skill
all you need is a loud voice
an electric guitar
three chords
and a story. (p. 15)
Clearly, both boys yearn to express themselves.
JJ finds refuge in a school that is so crowded no one notices him. This is an excerpt from the poem, "Invisible Me."
They're a team
I won't go out for.
A party for which I don't beg
an invitation.
A universe
I dare not disturb. (p. 25)
Pie struggles with his mother's mental illness, being bullied by neighborhood kids who call her loco, and his dreams of being an artist. JJ's father lost his job and they have to cram into his grandmother's apartment; he doesn't fit in at school and he misses his sister who moved out.
Slowly, the boys get to know one another and learn to appreciate each other's art. JJ gapes at "Pie murals on subway cars and buildings." Pie invites him to eat lunch in the quiet art room. JJ makes him a mixtape and the boys bond. But when JJ joins him to tag some buildings, the police show up and their encounter becomes a test of their friendship.
This poem excerpt is from"Tag--I'm It" From JJ's POV:
all I could think about was how through it all JJ said nothing
did nothing just kept his head down to keep himself safe
Andres was right no mixtape's gonna change the system
'cause when it comes to playing tag with cops
they only ever try to catch
someone like me. (p. 146)
The ending is not your typical "two-different-kids-become-friends" and live happily ever after. But, it satisfactorily concludes the book. I loved the imagery in the poems and the way each character was deeply shown and how the boys helped each other through difficult times.
The main thing that I didn't like was how JJ discovers that his sister is a lesbian and that is why she left home. I thought that was a peripheral subplot that didn't add to the boys' friendship story. Christian parents, grandparents, and teachers should be aware that this subject material is included in the novel.
I wrote an email to Lyn Miller-Lachman stating my concerns and she responded: "Thank you for your note and your thoughts. I’m glad you appreciated the poetry and the story of MOONWALKING....The reason for including that thread is to show JJ’s growing realization that the world is more complex than he had believed—one more for his list of 'things that make no sense.' However, this crisis also shows him that he has choices, and he chooses to maintain his relationship with his sister, just as later on he will do what he can to maintain his friendship with Pie in the face of Pie’s anger. If you do include a note to potential readers who are Christians, I could see this as a discussion prompt: What would you do if you found out someone close to you—a family member—was having a same-sex relationship? Would you cut all ties to that person, or would you maintain the connection?”
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What do you think, readers? Are you interested in reading this book? Why, or why not?
Congratulations to Gwen McCluney who won EVICTED! and to Hewi Mason who won A Planet Like Ours.
