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The Moon by Night (Austin Family #2)
As if simply being fourteen-years-old weren’t bad enough—what with the usual teenage angst and uncertainty, Vicky Austin’s always comforting and reliable home life is changing completely. Her brother John is going off to college in the fall. Maggy, an orphan taken in by the Austins two years ago, has gone to live with her legal guardian. And the rest of Vicky’s family...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
September 2nd 2008
by Square Fish
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Growing up, L'Engle was one of my favorite authors, and I read pretty much any book I could find by her. Some became all-time favorites. Some I would not recommend or want to read again. This is one of the latter.
Since I have a real soft spot for A Ring of Endless Light (a later book in the same Austin family series) I thought I would revisit this one. I had read it so long ago that I had forgotten much of it, except that it involved a cross-country camping trip and the introduction ...more
Since I have a real soft spot for A Ring of Endless Light (a later book in the same Austin family series) I thought I would revisit this one. I had read it so long ago that I had forgotten much of it, except that it involved a cross-country camping trip and the introduction ...more
Okay, four stars...That's quite a bit but this novel deserves them, despite its flaws. After all, I'm re-reading it, and I'm well past 'young adult'. Just that says a good deal about a book.
It's skillfully written, sometimes tedious (how many descriptions of campgrounds can you take?), and mostly persuasive. Many have gushed about how 'true' Vicky's fourteen year old voice is. That's perhaps my biggest problem with this book. After all, I, too, was fourteen and female at a date ...more
It's skillfully written, sometimes tedious (how many descriptions of campgrounds can you take?), and mostly persuasive. Many have gushed about how 'true' Vicky's fourteen year old voice is. That's perhaps my biggest problem with this book. After all, I, too, was fourteen and female at a date ...more
Always a fan of L'Engle's works, but this one is a bit more juvenile than many of the others... Having read this immediately after finishing Meet the Austins I can say that L'Engle was able to keep Vicky's 'voice' in tact, while at the same time maturing a bit - it sounded like the same character, but more like a 14 year old than a 12 year old. A subtle but important difference, one that, to me, highlights how talented L'Engle was. I liked the teenage-angstyness of it, and even though Vicky is s...more
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I recently reread Meet the Austins, and on the strength of that decided to buy all the sequels. I enjoyed reading this (and it totally made me want to do a driving trip around the US with a tent). I loved Vicky's inner life and the sympathetic portrayal of transition from child to teen. However I got a bit fed up with everyone finding her beautiful - it seemed to undermine the idea that she had a secret 'inner' light seen only by her beloved uncle. I think she comes into her power a bit too youn...more
This was ok. I've decided to read all the novels in the Austin family series because I loved A Ring of Endless Light so much as a teenager. I would have liked this better as a teenager too, but now I just rolled my eyes through a lot of it. Zachary was SO unappealing and the writing wasn't great. I really want to travel across the US with the kids some day, so I thought I might like that aspect of it, but no, that was just the backdrop for the rest of the story. Not really worth reading, except ...more
This second novel about The Austins is just as charming as the first, filled with old-fashioned family ideals and happy endings. Vicky, the narrator, finds herself pulling away as she enters her teens and learns a lot about the "real world" as this is one of the first times her family has ventured so far away from home. Through interactions with other characters, the bubble of protection that she has been held in pops but she manages to still hold on to her ideals/values while ...more
OH MY LORD. LONGEST AUDIO BOOK IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!!!! I think I would have liked this book a lot better if I had physically read it and not had to listen to Meg Murray (or whoever the crap it was) talking. Her voice was REALLY annoying, which made the book NOT enjoyable.
But I shouldn't be reviewing the audio book experience, which was disappointing to say the least.
I think this book was too melodramatic for my taste. Zachary was a huge idiot and jerk. What is it abou...more
But I shouldn't be reviewing the audio book experience, which was disappointing to say the least.
I think this book was too melodramatic for my taste. Zachary was a huge idiot and jerk. What is it abou...more
Madeleine L'Engle has been one of my favorite authors for a long time now, ever since I read A Wrinkle in Time when I was in third grade. In her Austin family series, she creates another family that is completely unique and compelling.
L'Engle has a real gift for writing realistic teenage girls. The reason I love these books so much is because I knew Vicki. At certain points in my life I was her. I understood all her moodiness and frustration and passion and fear and joy. Her fights w...more
L'Engle has a real gift for writing realistic teenage girls. The reason I love these books so much is because I knew Vicki. At certain points in my life I was her. I understood all her moodiness and frustration and passion and fear and joy. Her fights w...more
I discovered The Moon by Night in a high school library. After devouring it, I was hooked on Madeleine L’Engle. I love all the introspective passages from Vicky’s viewpoint. Her thoughts hook me from the very first page: “Indoors there was excitement and confusion and I guess a lot of happiness. I was the only one who seemed to be unhappy because nothing would ever be the same again. Up to a few days ago my life had been all of a piece, exciting sometimes and even miserable, but always following...more
This charming sequel to the adorable Meet the Austins is not quite as good, but still excellent. The Austins are on a roadtrip, camping across America, and are nervous but excited to leave their New England farmhouse for tents, camp stoves, and sleeeping bags. (I could relate.) Vicky is now attracting Boys Across America, from bad-boy Zackary to good-guy Andy, and finds herself delighted by both, much to her family's chagrin. (I think this was my favorite part of this book; though Zachary and A...more
Let me say first that it's a wonderful book. The characters are people you care about, and get very involved with. The plot is fun. The writing is excellent.
However, I think it is dated, no matter what Wendy says to the contrary. The attitudes of the menfolk, first of all- Daddy makes all the calls, takes the women and children out of danger, and dictates what his wife may not wear (pants, natch). John, the priggish elder brother, follows Daddy's lead here. The overarching worry abo...more
However, I think it is dated, no matter what Wendy says to the contrary. The attitudes of the menfolk, first of all- Daddy makes all the calls, takes the women and children out of danger, and dictates what his wife may not wear (pants, natch). John, the priggish elder brother, follows Daddy's lead here. The overarching worry abo...more
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This was a wonderful book for tween/teens to take a good look at the kind of person they want to be. Vicky meets two boys on her family trip--both take a liking to her and she likes the attention. Zachary is an emotional rollercoaster for her, and Andy is calm and stable. I don't think Zachary is a bad person, but I questioned my kids what type of influence they would rather have on another person, also what type of person would they rather be around.
I think it is a wonderful bo...more
I think it is a wonderful bo...more
The Moon by Night is pretty annoying - it details an Austin family camping trip across North America and spends most of its time describing places along the way. Huge Things keep happening at different sites (bear attack! landslide!) but they only loosely tie together. This was the most disappointing of the Austins books thus far, although I really liked the character of Andy, who was almost able to redeem a pretty boring story.
The summer of a fourteen-year-old girl who camps her way across country with her family ... and on the way finds and questions God, death, free-will, boys, earthquakes, geysers, bears, and her family. Not my favorite L'Engle, but I enjoyed it. More of a period than some of her others. K. liked it as well, somewhat surprisingly given the whole 14-year-old girl protagonist thing.
L'Engle's follow-up to the cozy Meet the Austins involves a cross country trip between the two coasts and up through Canada. Again, the delightful Vicky Austin is the main character, and we see this country and her family through her questioning 14-year-old eyes. I can't recommend these books highly enough!
A nostalgia read from my childhood. Although it was good, the first book will always be the favourite. Still, it was fun to revisit these characters. Parts of the book are so profound and well-written (and other parts are very awkward, but that makes sense for a teenage protagonist, I guess!)
A little too much boy drama in this one for me. The book is really about Vicky's coming of age in a way. She's 15 and just trying to figure out who she is. I did enjoy the travel log of their trip across the USA and then back again. It was fun to read their camping adventures.
I had higher expectations for this book because I enjoyed Meet the Austins so much. However, the narrator is going through Teen Angst which is not my most favorite time of life and don't want to be subjected to it any more than I have to.
There's really no better way to pass a quiet Sunday afternoon in the hammock (or fireside couch) than with a L'Engle story.
'The moon by night' was charming, delightful, enjoyable but not dull from lack of heart-stopping action. It was even kind of eerie and uncanny to experience Vicky's 14yr old view of the American cross-country vacation.
I regret that I tried so hard to be a muffin at that age--read the book, you'll understand--that I overlooked what was right before my eyes. This is the gr...more
'The moon by night' was charming, delightful, enjoyable but not dull from lack of heart-stopping action. It was even kind of eerie and uncanny to experience Vicky's 14yr old view of the American cross-country vacation.
I regret that I tried so hard to be a muffin at that age--read the book, you'll understand--that I overlooked what was right before my eyes. This is the gr...more
An interesting easy read. While there are elements that are timeless and which remain relevant, this book is now also fascinating as a historical study - a family vacation across the United States at a point when culture was just changing and how a somewhat traditional (although unusual, even then) family reacts to situations. The first-person perspective of the teenager works, even though the author was in her forties. There are plenty of issues that have not been resolved in the subsequent dec...more
I just finished reading this as my library actually had a copy and it was on the shelf. I liked it better than MEET THE AUSTINS (dang I always want to spell that name with an E), but not as much as the time series books or the first of the O'Keefe/Murray family books - ARM OF THE STARFISH. I began to read ACCEPTABLE TIME, but then I realized it was 4th in the O/M family books, so I put it aside for now. I'm trying to get the next book in the Austin family series via ILL. My local public libr...more
A little more exciting than Meet the Austins. I'm glad I didn't read this as a young girl; it would have raised unrealistic expectations for romance on family camping trips.
Not a bad book, but probably can't be appreciated as well after a certain age. Personally, I am too much of a realist and cynical to believe in all this pureness and innocence.
I really enjoyed reading this book about the Austin Family's cross-country camping trip. I've been to many of the same places, like Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and had many similar thougts & feelings to the main character, 14yo Vicky. I wish I had read this book when I was that age!
A good book exploring themes of growing up, why is there evil?, and the value of diversity.
The novel follows a family as they travel cross country and then back camping mostly in state and national parks. The don't have a trailer but a tent that hooks over the back of their station wagon. (The book was published in 1963.) It reminded me that a fancy RV is not necessary for even longer traveling camping trips.
I really enjoyed reading about all the different places that ...more
The novel follows a family as they travel cross country and then back camping mostly in state and national parks. The don't have a trailer but a tent that hooks over the back of their station wagon. (The book was published in 1963.) It reminded me that a fancy RV is not necessary for even longer traveling camping trips.
I really enjoyed reading about all the different places that ...more
I think given the choice between bookish female L'Engle protagonists, I'll probably pick Meg Murray every time. But I remember enjoying the Austin books as well.
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rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of thoughtful young-adult lit
Shelves:
ya-lit
L'Engle affectionately explores the awkward, pained teens who don't hear let alone follow the beat of the drummer everyone else seems to be dancing to.
A fun romp about the country with a young Vicki Austin, with a nearly impossible amount of odd happenings, but a fun journey both outwardly and inwardly.
I think this book has the most true voice of a 14 year girl of any that I've read. At least...true to MY 14 year old voice. It sounds so much like my journals from that age. I agree with the thoughts on religion, and the big family dynamics brought me back to my childhood. Also, I loved hearing about the national parks and campgrounds as they were in the 60s when this was written.
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Madeleine L'Engle was an American writer best known for her Young Adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and Many Waters. Her works reflect her strong interest in modern science: tesseracts, for example, are featured prominently in A Wrinkle in Time, mitochondrial DNA in A Wind in the Door, organ regener...more
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