What the Moon Said

It's 1930, the beginning of the Great Depression in Chicago, when 10-year-old Esther and her family move from the city to a farm in Wisconsin. Laural Merlington performs this lovely, heartrending story of love, superstition, and determination to persevere in the face of bad luck and difficult days. Esther and Violet are portrayed with light, childlike voices, Ma with heavy Russian accents, and Pa with subtle German-accented tones. Told from Esther's perspective, the story is full of hope and friendship, with Ma's superstitious beliefs guiding the family member's lives. Merlington's expert narration transports listeners from Chicago, where jobs are scarce, to a hardscrabble Wisconsin farm that lacks electricity and running water. The audiobook is perfect for preteen listeners, and adults will be charmed as well. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

November 18, 2013
A ring around the moon, a dream about a wedding, and rain at the outset of a journey are all causes for alarm in the mind of Esther Vogel’s Russian immigrant mother. Her superstitions, combined with a lack of physical affection, make (nearly) 10-year-old Esther wonder if Ma loves her. In 1930, Esther’s life changes dramatically when her family moves from Chicago to a Wisconsin farm after her father loses his job. The house is dilapidated, with no electricity and an outhouse instead of a bathroom. Optimis-tically determined to see the situation as an “adventure,” Esther is thrilled to have horses, cows, and (best of all) a dog, and she finds beauty in the quiet landscape and excels in school. Yet what she really wants—approval, a steady best friend, and relief from poverty—are elusive. Rosengren, in her first novel, offers an intimate account of a family’s adjustment to country life and the hardships of the Great Depression. It’s easy to root for Esther, who makes the most of each day, wants little, and gives much. Ages 8–12.