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The Next Full Moon

by Carolyn Turgeon (Goodreads Author)

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 77 ratings · 24 reviews

This thoroughly compelling, gorgeously told tale, begins as the weather turns warm enough to swim in the local lake, twelve-year-old Ava is looking forward to a lazy summer, and her crush, Jeff is most definitely taking notice of her. Everything is going beautifully. Until Ava starts to grow feathers—all over her shoulders, arms, and back. Horrified, mortified, and clad in...more

Paperback, 192 pages

Published March 13th 2012 by Downtown Bookworks (first published January 24th 2012)

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Jun 09, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Awesome! Absolutely loved it! I kinda wish it was not a YA book simply cause then it would be longer! None the less a thoroughly sweet fairy-tale-esque coming-of-age story about a 12 year old girl who starts to grow feathers... to tell any more would give it away. Big smile on my face!

1 like · like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Scarlett rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA, teachers

Recommended to Scarlett by: Barnes and Noble

Shelves: ya, fantasy, bk-club-librarians-sdhc

Fast read. It can be finished within about an hour & a half with only 185 pages. Maybe less. I finished in one sitting. The story reminded me of the fairy tale of the girl and her swan brothers. I can't recall the name. My memory fails me, but I recall reading it when I was little.

In this modern story, summer is just beginning for Ava, and with it comes the interest of the cute boy at school. Just as everything seems to be falling in place for her, she wakes one morning to a single floating...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Naberius rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ava's a well-written character --- she's a believable 12 year-old, with her emotions sometimes on a bit of a rollercoaster, just over a boy she likes (not to mention the whole feather thing). Lucky for her, she's got a good best friend (even if she's a bit odd at times), and a supportive father. She's annoyingly impulsive at times, but at the same time, pretty thoughtful about what she begins to learn about the Swan Maidens.

I also liked how the author gives us a different twist on the whole gro...more

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May 24, 2012 Crystal Starr Light rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: signed-by-author, fantasy, children, it-s-not-you-it-s-me

Once upon a time, an almost 13 year old girl is on her way to enjoying a day at the lake when she begins to sprout feathers. Is she a freak? Or is there something special about her?

I honestly didn't realize that this was a juvenile/middle reader book until I started reading it (though I had a good idea it was when I bought it, based on the price). I don't typically read a whole lot of books from this age group for whatever reason, so reading something for the tween set was an interesting departu...more Once upon a time, an almost 13 year old girl is on her way to enjoying a day at the lake when she begins to sprout feathers. Is she a freak? Or is there something special about her?

I honestly didn't realize that this was a juvenile/middle reader book until I started reading it (though I had a good idea it was when I bought it, based on the price). I don't typically read a whole lot of books from this age group for whatever reason, so reading something for the tween set was an interesting departure and also a great learning experience.

This is a book that I think tweens (9 - 12 girls, because the main character is a girl and there is a lot of talk about boys and kissing, which I don't think most boys the same age would care about, though I am probably wrong) would probably adore. In fact, I would probably recommend this book to a tween girl who isn't too hot on reading to get her started on the addiction.

The characters felt fairly realistic. I say "fairly" because it has been awhile since I was almost 13 and because a lot of the things Ava and Morgan talk about/do weren't things that I did. For instance, Ava is pretty boy crazy over Jeff Jackson. At some points, it threatens to dominate the story and turn this into a typical contemporary romance. Now, I do think the romance was age appropriate and well-done (not too much dramatics you wouldn't expect in the early teens/late tweens), but I really wanted to focus more on Ava and her feathers (and Ava's mother). Another thing that felt weird to me was how easy it was for Ava to deceive her father about the feathers and how she didn't want to talk to him about them. I know that if I were in Ava's shoes, the first person I would have told would have been my parent, especially my only living parent who has cared for me since I was 3. But I don't want to come down too harshly on Ava; she really is a good girl who tries to do the right thing, even though some of her logic fails (such as not going with just any stranger at night, but then opening the door to said stranger when she is alone at home--I would definitely recommend parents discussing this with any tweens reading this book).

The relationship between Ava and Morgan was also refreshing. I liked how Ava had a real female friend--even if Ava does go on and on at times about how annoying Morgan is (though I tried to imagine it more as a playful banter than Ava being REALLY upset about Morgan). I thought some of the other relationships could have been brought into more focus. Ava and her grandmother were great, but we only get two relatively small scenes. Same with Ava and her dad (which does tread that interesting, challenging "Not a girl, not a woman" stage you would expect in someone about to turn 13). As for the whole "mean girls" thing--saying that Jennifer Halverson is a mean girl and having her say a few things that are slightly mean does not make a very good antagonist.

The story is ostensibly about Ava growing feathers, but there are times when this thread disappears for other side stories--and this book is not even 200 pages long. I would definitely have liked to see about 100 pages more detailing more of Ava coming to grips with her feathers and her newfound history because I definitely enjoyed those parts. The other side stories either got to be too long (Jeff Jackson) or skimmed over (Ava's birthday party). When only a week has passed and we are at the halfway point, I knew that Turgeon would likely have to start skipping time to get to the birthday party (skipping over the all-important exams and how Ava did on them) and that is exactly what happens. Exams happen; Jeff and Ava are an item; and so on and so forth (there was a time that it seemed the plot had disappeared). The actual birthday party that has been building up to be a big thing ends up being glossed over and suddenly, we scream into the ending, breathlessly wondering what has happened.

One of the biggest "problems" I, as an almost 30 year old woman (God, I feel old), had with this book was the lack of a driving force. There is no "bad guy", there is no world that needs saving, no MacGuffin to be found, no evil force to be defied. On one hand, I liked this; sometimes, I get tired of some character having to Save the World from Vaguely Defined EVUL. And I do like character studies, and I think this book is trying to be more of a character study than ACTION ADVENTURE CHASE GO GO GO! But, like I said earlier, there are times when it seems the plot disappears, and I am sitting there, wondering, "Why am I reading this to the end again? What is the big payout I am looking for?"

I really was impressed with Turgeon's writing. Somehow, it balanced between being poetic and pretty and appropriate for the intended age group. As an adult, I didn't feel like I was being talked down to too much, and there were definitely some passages that were breathtaking to read.

Thinking back on this book, I really think your enjoyment of this novel will come down to A) your age and B) your expectations. My review may seem a bit critical, but that is just to an adult's eyes. I think tweens would really love this book; I would almost love to give this to my almost 13 year-old self because I think she would ADORE it. And as long as an adult realizes that this is a juvenile novel with less complicated issues, I think even adults could enjoy this. So when you see that three stars above my review, don't run away immediately from this book. Check it out if you can and see if it suits your fancy.(less)

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Sep 29, 2012 Judi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received five free copies of this book from the publisher, and I can't wait to share it with my 8th grade students. Fantasy and having a main character turn into a swan isn't usually my cup of tea, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying the storyline. The moral of the story is to just enjoy who you are, even if you are different from the rest of the crowd. I found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what happens to the main character. I also think that my students will enjoy the romance par...more

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May 22, 2013 Rachel E rated it 3 of 5 stars

The first book I read by Carolyn Turgeon was Mermaid and it was labeled as just a regular fiction, not teen or anything like that, so I wrongly assumed that all of her books were in that category! This book is for ages 9 and up, but it was still a good book to read! I appreciate the author taking old fairy tales that we all know (this one is based off of swan lake) and revamping them, but not totally changing the story. It was a very good book and a very quick read and I cannot wait to read the...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Jolie Rolie Polie :D rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, magic, not-my-favorite

I think that this book was poorly developed. Morgan is a beyond annoying character that sounds like a sixty year old that is not quite stable. Ava sounds, at times, like a whiny five year old, but at other times, a fifty year old trapped in a 12/13 year old's body. Even the things that were supposed to be realistic were definitely not. "Jeff Jackson" was an annoying two year old. The author did not sell me the idea of the 'swan maidens'. It was completely annoying how Ava just saw her mom for on...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Bonnie at A Backwards Story added it

Shelves: 2012, fairy-tales

THE NEXT FULL MOON is Carolyn Turgeon's first non-adult novel. Last year, I reviewed both MERMAID and GODMOTHER for Fairy Tale Fortnight, and Carolyn took the time to participate in a great interview. I was so excited when she told us that she was about to publish her first middle-grade novel and have been looking forward to it ever since, because I loved her other two novels so much (And I STILL need to find a copy of RAIN VILLAGE, the only book I haven't read by her!).

While THE NEXT FULL MOON...more

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May 04, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love Carolyn Turgeon's books, so I had to snatch up this book when I had the chance.

Some thoughts:
- Like her other books, I finished reading this and felt at peace. Ava reminded me of the fairy godmother in another one of Carolyn's books.
- It is a book about transitions rather than a solid, action packed plot.
- Believable characters and mindset for a 12 year old!
- casual conversational writing mixed with poetic, descriptive phrases
- beautiful & emotional ending

My only complaint is that t...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Katherine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-novels

The story wasn't bad, but it felt more like an introduction to what could have been an amazing saga. I know this book is intended for much younger readers, but you are really left hanging at the end of the story.

The story follows a young twelve year old girl who's about to turn 13 and notices that she's growing feathers in her body. Of course, she freaks out and as she tries to figure out what's happening to her, she still goes through her normal transition period of having a crush on the popula...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Mel Raschke added it

When Ava, a motherless girl, nears thirteen, she begins to grow feathers. Ashamed at first, she tries to hide them, until she realizes the magical world they open up. Girls will enjoy the way Ava blossoms as the story progresses, her hilarious best friend Morgan, their budding relationships with boys, and the fun they have planning her thirteenth birthday party.

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Oct 15, 2012 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: intermediate-childrens-books, ira-2013, young-adult-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 03, 2012 Angel Ziegle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Angel by: preteen girls

I bought this book for a friends daughter and decided to give it a quick read. It's about a girl going through the changes of awkward preteen to teenager, with a twist. She learns she is a swan maiden.

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Jun 08, 2012 Jennifer Cain rated it 4 of 5 stars

This selection was a First Reads win.

I love fairy tales! Carolyn Turgeon puts a modern twist on a classic "Ugly Duckling" story. Filled with teenage drama and middle school angst, it is a perfect selection for young adults.

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Sep 21, 2012 Jen Andrews rated it 2 of 5 stars

Loved the cover art and the idea behind the story but it was too much like living in a 12-year old's head. Which I guess it who it was written for.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 10, 2012 Pattie Fore marked it as to-read

Really excited for this book, just waiting for the Nook version to be available, I've already preordered it!

1 like · like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Hayley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-books

This was a nice, easy read; laced with lightheartedness and happy endings to break the monotony of our despairing and desparate world.

I liked the Swan Maiden concept that Carolyn Turgeon brought to life, one which could most certainly evolve into a modern faerie tale.

Obviously, it's clear I enjoyed the book overall, but the story was too juvenile for my taste (then again, I knew it would be). But the writing was decent, the plot and setting were both well-constructed and described. And the last...more

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Sep 24, 2012 TONIA DELLINGER rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ava Lewis is just about to turn 13 and school is almost out for the summer. One trip to the lake with her best friend Morgan and her crush Jeff Jackson changed her whole world. She starts to grow feathers....

This is a beautiful, magical coming of age fairytale. Reading this book was like riding a rainbow made of sunshine and candy! I absolutly loved it. I immediately gave it to my daughter to read, she is 10. I recommend this book for all those who are looking for some magic in their lives. I ha...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Elisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, fantasy-paranormal

I always enjoy Turgeon's writing style, and this was certainly a cute book, but there was so little conflict that it got boring at times for me. Every potential issue that sprung up was resolved within a few pages, so there was never much tension. I will absolutely continue to read this author's books, though-- there is just something about her prose that I find really compelling.

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Oct 26, 2012 Jocelin rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting story. I felt the author captured the angst and urgency of being a young girl on the verge of becoming a teenager. The main character was changing ( literally and figurative). It was a quick read and the story flowed quite nicely. I enjoyed it, a very good back to school read for girls getting back to the grind of school.

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Dec 02, 2012 Jolene Perry added it

Totally adorable.
A fabulous book for 4th - 10th? grade maybe??
I read it EASILY in two nights - a short story, a FAB coming-of-age book with some normal every-day girl stuff and some paranormal, fun stuff.

My 9 year old wanted to read it, so I did it first.

Fun. And I'd totally read more from this author.

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Jun 03, 2011 Jessica Ramirez marked it as to-read

Excited because this is one of my favorite authors.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 09, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Definitely the characters are reminiscent of seventh grade girls and boys. I should know, I've taught seventh grade for 14 years now. ;)

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May 26, 2012 Shutterbug Markland rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I couldntput this book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to Ava. This is beautiful and enchanting story.

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May 18, 2013 Isabella rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 18, 2013 Alley Naro marked it as to-read

May 16, 2013 Karrie marked it as to-read

Shelves: folktales

May 16, 2013 Ashraks marked it as to-read

May 14, 2013 Laura marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Tal marked it as to-read

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About Carolyn Turgeon

Carolyn Turgeon is the author of five novels: Rain Village (2006), Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story (2009), Mermaid (2011), which is being developed for film by Sony Pictures, and The Next Full Moon (2012), her first and only book for middle-grade readers. Her latest novel, The Fairest of Them All, comes out in August 2013 from Touchstone/Simon & Schuster and is about Rapunzel growing up...more

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