Luna by Julie Anne Peters - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

Nov 01, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Wendy Darling by: Leanne

Shelves: young-adult, lgbt, realistic-fiction, read-2011

Clearly, it's important that books like this are written, not only so that teens who are transgendered have a voice in young adult literature, but also so that our society as a whole has a chance to better understand gender identity and gender expression.

Regan's older brother Liam has always felt as if he was different. Through the years, he's been closer to her female friends than any guy his own age, and he's always been interested in typically "feminine" toys and clothes. Eventually, Liam be...more Clearly, it's important that books like this are written, not only so that teens who are transgendered have a voice in young adult literature, but also so that our society as a whole has a chance to better understand gender identity and gender expression.

Regan's older brother Liam has always felt as if he was different. Through the years, he's been closer to her female friends than any guy his own age, and he's always been interested in typically "feminine" toys and clothes. Eventually, Liam begins to transform his outward appearance for certain outings and lives a secret life as Luna, who is a reflection of his true female identity. Regan helps Luna hide this secret from their parents and everyone around them, but as social and family pressures start to build, Regan starts to resent how Liam/Luna's choices are affecting her own.

I'd read many glowing reviews of this book, and it was nominated for a number of awards when it came out in 2004. For me, however, this novel wasn't quite the reading experience I was hoping for. Firstly, Luna's story is so interesting that I really wish that the book had been told from her point of view--or even in third person omniscient. Luna's story is the reason I picked up the book, and it became a little frustrating to read everything filtered through her sister Regan's thoughts and emotions. Regan also behaves pretty selfishly and stupidly a number of times throughout the story, and while some of it might be understandable, I really didn't feel deep enough love and support from her for Liam/Luna to make up for it, other than some kneejerk defensive reactions.

I might have felt a little more lenient if this had been a middle grade book, as the level of complexity isn't very deep. The story line is so straightforward that I could probably have guessed its outline ahead of time (I could almost picture the checklist of acceptable terminology that had to be covered) and most of the characters do no more or less than what you really expect them to do. I don't feel as if I'm that well-versed in transgenderism, but none of the revelations or behaviors really surprised me all that much (from Luna or from her friends and family), and most of Luna's personality seems to be pretty stereotypical--she seemed so much more of a symbol to me than a real living, breathing, thinking, emotional human being. The way the story is told is also a little jumbled, and the flashbacks are rather awkwardly inserted into the story in no particular order.

It's nice to see that this is not one of those melodramatic stories that ends on a tragic note, however. I'm glad that teens can find not only struggles to identify with in books like this and Suicide Notes, but that there are also feelings of resolve and hope. Still, I wish that these characters had more emotional depth and that they interacted on a deeper, more meaningful level, rather than just mingling in surface activities (dates, trips to the mall, playing video games) or conversations that center around this topic alone. It would have made for a much richer and much more rewarding reading experience...not to mention a much more realistic one.

I've seen many positive reactions to this story, and if other readers find it more insightful than I did or are moved by it more than I am, then I'm happy that that's the case. This book certainly offers the opportunity to open up a dialogue about some important topics, and there's plenty of value in that. (less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

LUNA is the first book I've ever read that deals specifically with transgender issues. Although you get a feel for what the book is about by reading the back copy--in effect, that Regan's brother, Liam, is a woman trapped in a man's body--you don't get the full spectrum of what this actually means until you reach the end of chapter one.

"Rolling over, I muttered, 'You're such a freakshow.' Her hair splayed across my pillow, tickling my face. 'I know,' she murmu...more Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

LUNA is the first book I've ever read that deals specifically with transgender issues. Although you get a feel for what the book is about by reading the back copy--in effect, that Regan's brother, Liam, is a woman trapped in a man's body--you don't get the full spectrum of what this actually means until you reach the end of chapter one.

"Rolling over, I muttered, 'You're such a freakshow.' Her hair splayed across my pillow, tickling my face. 'I know,' she murmured in my ear. 'But you love me, don't you?' Her lips grazed my cheek. I swatted her away. As I heard her slog across the floor toward my desk--where she'd unveiled her makeup caddy in all its glory--a sigh of resignation escaped my lips. Yeah, I loved her. I couldn't help it. She was my brother."

Liam is the type of boy who, even as a small child, wanted to by the Mommy when he and Regan played house. For his ninth birthday, he asked for a Prom Barbie and a bra. Now, as a senior in high school, Liam is consumed with letting out Luna, the name he's taken for his female self. His dad, of course, is adamant that his son will finally play baseball. His mother, lost in a world of uppers and downers, pretends not to notice when her son offers to fix dinner or do the laundry. And Regan, the only one who knows her brother for who he is--a sister named Luna--is losing sleep and a chance for her own life by hiding the secret.

Something has to change, and it finally does when Luna decides to go all the way, to actually become Luna, the woman he knows he is. But what will it mean for his family, especially Regan, who has spent so long loving her brother, protecting his secrets, being a part of his life? It might just be time for Regan to have a childhood of her own, and for Luna to come out of the darkness, out of the shadow of the moon, and into the light.

LUNA is an emotional, heartfelt read that deftly deals with the issue of transgenderism in a way that makes it believable and important. I had never really thought of what it must be like for someone who believes they were born with the wrong body, but after reading LUNA, my heart and support goes out to anyone who has ever suffered with this issue. This is a book not to be missed. (less)

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Jan 05, 2008 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autographed, i-own, fiction

This book is an amazing step forward in YA literature. Other reviewers have given you the premise of the plot, I just wanted to add that I thought it was BRILLIANT that it was told from the sister's point of view. Within the largely conservative area I live in, not a lot of people would be interested in this book had it been told from Liam/Luna's point of view. But as it comes from the sister, it's a safe vantage. It's the perfect vehicle for introducing a LOT of people to an issue they might no...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Miranda rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is getting really good. Luna wants to tell he's parents that he is a girl. Thats what he wants to be. No a man but a woman.

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Jun 17, 2013 Caitlin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ugh

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book sort of bothered me in many ways. It wasn’t because it dealt with transgender issues; I was pretty excited to read a book about a trans* teen especially since I haven’t seen or read a lot of YA literature that dealt with that. It was more because of the way it was handled.

Peters is a believer of authentic voices, so she portrayed the narrator as the sister of Luna - a 16 year old boy, Liam, who is struggling with keeping her true identity a secret. Unfortunately, this placed most of th...more This book sort of bothered me in many ways. It wasn’t because it dealt with transgender issues; I was pretty excited to read a book about a trans* teen especially since I haven’t seen or read a lot of YA literature that dealt with that. It was more because of the way it was handled.

Peters is a believer of authentic voices, so she portrayed the narrator as the sister of Luna - a 16 year old boy, Liam, who is struggling with keeping her true identity a secret. Unfortunately, this placed most of the focus on the sister, Regan. It was all about Regan: how tough it was to keep the secret, the pressure it placed on her, how afraid she was when Liam experiments with revealing Luna in public. Although these pressures are very real, I had wanted to read about the experience of a trans* teen, not that of a trans* teen’s sister. Many times I thought it took away the focus from Luna, which was slightly disappointing. It also made Liam/Luna seem selfish and needy, always asking much of Regan. Regan, of course, asked for barely anything in return except a “normal” life.

One major thing that bothered me (spoiler alert): Regan is asked to babysit on the weekend, and having no social life, she agrees. Of course, this is when the hot guy asks her out. As repayment for all that Regan has done for her, Liam offers to babysit so that Regan can go on her first date. Great. Except Regan doesn’t tell the family about the new arrangement. She comes to the house, has the hot guy pick her up there, and Liam arrives after the parents leave. Regan’s plan is to return before the parents get back. Obviously this does not work out, and she walks in the door right when the parents are interrogating Liam about trying on the wife’s clothing.

My problem with this was that first of all, Regan was incredibly irresponsible. No wonder the parents flipped - even if you completely put aside the fact that Liam was wearing the wife’s clothing, the parents basically walked in the house to find some kid they didn’t know. As a parent, I would have been upset to find someone who wasn’t the babysitter in my house, especially with no babysitter in sight, right? So, she loses her job but blames it on Liam, who the parents of course think has some sort of disease and tells their mother (she told them off - props). Anyway, I also don’t think a 16 year old kid would risk his secret to try on the clothing of someone he was babysitting for. Is that just me? I just found that a somewhat unrealistic scenario in general, particularly because it is frequently mentioned that Liam has a secret stash of clothes & Regan allows him access to hers.

Liam’s excuse for this is “I couldn’t help myself”. This is where I started getting frustrated. No you cannot help yourself for being who you are - but I felt that sent somewhat of a condescending message. It should be more along the lines of “This is who I am” not “I couldn’t help myself”. It makes it sound like Liam has a lack of self-control, some sort of drug that she just has to give into. It’s the same excuse people make when they try to claim that homosexuals are pedophiles - “oh they just can’t help themselves”. It makes them sound like deviants. It’s wrong. I thought that Peters should have done without that little passage, because it’s not that she “can’t help himself”, it’s that she was born in the wrong identity. This came up a few times in the story, and it really bothered me every time because I just felt it was the wrong language to use. I was also confused by what the preferred pronoun usage was since it goes back and forth (and if it does in this review, that is why).

Don’t get me wrong - Peters did do some research. I was still compelled, curious as to what would happen. And Regan does learn in the end to truly accept and understand her brother. It’s definitely pro-transgender, and maybe it would help some teens learn a little bit more about gender identity issues in general (even if I thought it was condescending & heavy-handed at times). Through Regan, the reader can learn a little bit about transitioning and the concept of gender. Hopefully, readers will be inspired to do some research on their own. Even though I was not fond of the way the characters were portrayed (I found Regan whiny at times & my issues with Liam/Luna’s portrayal I addressed above), they were still fleshed out and felt (for the most part) realistic. If you give this book to teens to read, be prepared to talk about gender with them.(less)

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Feb 12, 2010 Brooke rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, queer

Hmm. Well, I'm glad this book was written because there certainly could be more books for and about the trans community. I did have some issues with this book, however. Some thoughts and some questions.

It was interesting how the mother and father had non-traditional roles (him not working,her working). Im not sure if this was necessary though or really served the plot in any way.

There is this theme or at least a few scenes in which Liam is painted as someone who "can't help himself" from cross...more

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Oct 05, 2008 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Liam has always known that he was a girl and has kept this knowledge locked away in a steamer trunk to be revealed only at night. Regan has been protecting her brother Liam since she can remember; protecting his secret from the world. During one fateful year, Liam and Regan’s carefully orchestrated lives begin to unravel when Liam can no longer keep Luna under lock and key to be seen only at night. Told from the perspective of Regan, Luna takes the reader on a journey through one teen’s transfor...more Liam has always known that he was a girl and has kept this knowledge locked away in a steamer trunk to be revealed only at night. Regan has been protecting her brother Liam since she can remember; protecting his secret from the world. During one fateful year, Liam and Regan’s carefully orchestrated lives begin to unravel when Liam can no longer keep Luna under lock and key to be seen only at night. Told from the perspective of Regan, Luna takes the reader on a journey through one teen’s transformative process from a body that is foreign to one that begins to feel like home, a sister’s release from a secret that has ruled most of her life, and the disastrous effects of unsupportive parents living in denial.

Luna is a beautifully written, well-developed, and thoughtful novel about the issues confronting transgender teens. Peters employs a few interesting narrative constructs to flesh out her story that include a narrator other than Luna herself and the use of the present tense in the flashbacks. Although Peters’ decision to have Regan as the narrator rather than Luna had to do with authenticity of voice , it was an interesting way to capture the ripple effect transgender identities have on family and friends. The present-tense flashbacks create an immediacy of the past that is at times uncomfortable, as if the characters are in two places at once with barely a tether. Moreover, Luna has been nominated for numerous awards both within the industry and reader’s choice arena and is a National Book Award Finalist.

Overall, this book is a wonderful read. YA literature has come a long way since my teen days in the 1980s. Peters’ writing style is both sophisticated and approachable. The present-tense flashbacks are highly effective in piecing the often storied lives of the characters. As I mentioned earlier, I did struggle a bit with Regan as narrator. I’m not sure I believe that a non-transgendered person couldn’t write an authentic and plausible voice for a TS character. With Regan as narrator, I was unable to delve deeper into Luna’s thoughts and life without having them vetted through her sister first, especially Luna’s unfolding relationship with Terri Lynn. In the end, I guess I didn’t want the book to end.(less)

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Aug 20, 2008 K rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad this book exists! While working in a public library a few years back, I came across Luna, and have recommended it a hundred times over ever since. It is one of the few young adult books I have seen so far that addresses the reality/experience of transgender teens, which has been needed for years! (Before this book, it was the Francesca Lia Block books that I would love for addressing queer youth experience. They are classics and address issues of gender for sure, but I appreciate th...more

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Jan 16, 2008 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My 11 year-old daughter recommended this young adult novel to me, and I got as sucked into it as she did. I love the protagonist: 15 year-old Regan, whose older sibling Liam/Luna is on the way to transitioning from male to female and has made Regan his sole confidante. Regan is the kind of protagonist/narrator who seems to be whispering all her secret yearnings into my ear, which reminds me of my own (past and present) ones. In her case, Regan is determined to love and accept a brother who is be...more

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Nov 14, 2009 Jess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction

I cried and cried while I read this book. But don't read it unless you are ready to think hard about some tough issues and stereotypes.

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Aug 25, 2008 Swankivy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favoritebooks

Wow cool, this made me want to read more of this author! This was a book told from the point of view of a girl with a transsexual brother, and what it was like growing up knowing she was the only person her brother could depend on to accept him for who and what he--really she is. I think reading it would really help anyone who has gender issues understand that they're not alone or crazy. This author writes other things about difficult teen situations, so I think I'm gonna have to check her out!...more

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May 18, 2013 Aine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-physical-copy, favorites, contemporary

This book was amazing. It's just been added to the list of books I think everyone should read. It's about a brother and sister... except the brother is trans. So it's really a book about two sisters. It's told in first person narrative from the POV of Regan, who holds her brother/sister's secret. Liam is really Luna, and this book chronicles her journey of coming out to the world. I have a friend like Liam/Luna, but so many don't. This book is so important when it comes to teens and LGBT issues....more

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Nov 03, 2011 Debora rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Luna è il primo romanzo per ragazzi che tratta di un argomento delicato come la transessualità e io, non mi vergogno ad ammetterlo, ho duramente criticato la scelta della Giunti Y di collocare un libro del genere nel settore per ragazzi. Senza contare che in moltissime librerie che frequento assiduamente da anni mi sono ritrovata a scorgere questo librettino nel settore per bambini, dove ci sono i tappetini a puzzle colorati per intenderci, fra Peter Pan e Alice in Wonderland. Io, che mi ero doc...more Luna è il primo romanzo per ragazzi che tratta di un argomento delicato come la transessualità e io, non mi vergogno ad ammetterlo, ho duramente criticato la scelta della Giunti Y di collocare un libro del genere nel settore per ragazzi. Senza contare che in moltissime librerie che frequento assiduamente da anni mi sono ritrovata a scorgere questo librettino nel settore per bambini, dove ci sono i tappetini a puzzle colorati per intenderci, fra Peter Pan e Alice in Wonderland. Io, che mi ero documentata sulla natura del libro, sono rimasta più volte sconcertata e ho fatto presente che, il libro in questione, non è per bambini ma per giovani adolescenti e che non andrebbe scaffalato in zone dove i ragazzini circolano, aprono e sfogliano senza restrizioni. Resta pur sempre un argomento che richiede un briciolo di maturità.
Morale della favola? Mi sono accorta che io per prima, che mi vanto tanto di avere una mente aperta, ero partita prevenuta nei confronti di questo romanzo. Per me era inconcepibile, o meglio impossibile, che un adulto fosse riuscito a scrivere un libro su questa tematica, adatto per un pubblico giovane e facilmente influenzabile come quello adolescenziale. Poteva essere una romanzo estremamente grottesco da parte di un etero convinto che aveva messo su i panni del buon samaritano o, diversamente, un romanzo estremamente di parte da parte di un trans offeso dalla chiusura mentale della società. O, ancora, semplicemente un romanzo stupido tirato fuori per fare marketing.
Alla fine, a furia di passare in libreria, prenderlo in mano, sfogliarlo e riposarlo mi sono decisa a chiederlo in prestito. Oggi, dopo aver letto questo romanzo mi ritrovo a pensare: "Okay, avevo sbagliato".
Luna è un romanzo di una dolcezza e delicatezza davvero inaudita. E' un bel romanzo, per chiarire in modo inequivocabile, assolutamente bello.
E' un romanzo in cui possiamo entrare e sbirciare con discrezione nella vita di Liam, uno dei due protagonisti, e del suo estremo disagio nell'essere uomo. Sì, perché Liam non è semplicemente un uomo a cui piacciono altri uomini. No, non è assolutamente un gay. Liam è una donna che, per qualche assurdo scherzo del destino, o della natura, è nato intrappolato nel corpo di un uomo. E sì, per deduzione logica, è una donna a cui piacciono gli uomini.
Liam fin da bambino rifiuta la sua mascolinità. Prima con l’ingenuità ovvia di quell’età e poi, come inizia a comprendere anche solo vagamente le implicazioni della sua situazione, con la disperazione di una bestia in gabbia. Perché Luna è questo, ingabbiata nel corpo di Liam, un corpo che diventa la sua maschera di giorno e che abbassa solamente di notte, con la sorella Regan.
Ed è proprio Regan la voce narrante di questo romanzo. E' Regan che riesce fin da bambina a vedere oltre il suo bellissimo e corteggiatissimo fratello maggiore la fragile e delicata Luna. E' lei che l'aiuta, di notte, a vestirsi e le da consigli, è lei che l'ama per ciò che è. Semplicemente sua sorella.
E si sorprende nel costatare quanto i suoi genitori siano lontani da tutto ciò che la, che li, riguarda. Quando siano ciechi per non notare la "recita" continua di sua sorella. Il senso di inadeguatezza, di frustrazione e di disperazione che lo stanno avviluppando mentre la sua mente si avvicina al periodo della "transizione".
Sì, perché Luna, finalmente o purtroppo, non è più disposta a nascondersi sotto le spoglie di Liam e scalpita per essere lasciata libera di vivere...
Luna è un romanzo molto, molto ben scritto dove non c'è "una sola" verità ed è questo che lo rende "superiore" a molti (o tutti?) altri. Non si narra semplicemente il disagio di Luna/Liam ma anche le conseguenze che tale situazione. Regan, la sorella minore, che benché ami profondamente sua sorella finisce comunque per venire risucchiata completamente nei suoi problemi, nella sua vita incasinata e che, per proteggere Luna dal Mondo, finisce spesso e volentieri nei guai. Regan che, alla fine, non ce la fa più ed esplode impossibilitata a vivere la sua vita perché la sua vita ruota attorno a Liam. Semplicemente Regan non è più in grado di aiutare suo fratello, se ne rende conto ma non vuole ammetterlo, neanche con se stessa, e preferisce urlargli contro tutto il suo presunto odio.
Un padre che non accetta di non avere il "figlio" che ha generato, o semplicemente che non si è mai accorto di nulla, preferendo "non vedere". Una madre che, come molte madri, sa ma non vuole sapere e preferisce ignorare i problemi. E gli amici, la scuola, la vita, i pregiudizi, l'ignoranza...
Questo libro non risparmia nulla e non è semplicemente una favoletta per spiegare... Ti mostra una realtà, una realtà diversa da quella che la maggior parte di noi conosce, con sincero realismo. Non ci sono "parti" da difendere o da "ghettizzare", c'è solamente una storia raccontare.
Un finale dolce-amaro ma incredibilmente colmo di speranza che fa commuovere e riflettere. Un libro da leggere e assolutamente consigliato.
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Jul 11, 2010 Amanda added it

Snapshot: Luna is the story of a sister coping with her brother's gradual revelation of his plan to transition from male to female. This is not a coming out story as such, but rather a coming of age story. Both Regan and her brother Liam are discovering how to stay true to themselves and to one another--especially Regan, the sister. She has been Liam's only real support her entire life, and now she's becoming smothered by Liam's constant need. On the other hand, she can't imagine her life withou...more Snapshot: Luna is the story of a sister coping with her brother's gradual revelation of his plan to transition from male to female. This is not a coming out story as such, but rather a coming of age story. Both Regan and her brother Liam are discovering how to stay true to themselves and to one another--especially Regan, the sister. She has been Liam's only real support her entire life, and now she's becoming smothered by Liam's constant need. On the other hand, she can't imagine her life without him. Other threads are Regan encountering her own romantic situations and complicated family dynamics between among the parents and children.

Hook: I think this story is cleverly written through the voice of a caring sibling rather than through the character actually transitioning. While many teenagers can be afraid of labels if they are found reading something "gay," I think looking at such a controversial issue through the lens of a supportive character makes the story easier to identify with. There is also the undercurrent of Regan's own first romantic sparks and insecurities, which students can easily identify with. This is a compassionate, eye-opening novel that would be a fit for any student who loves someone outside of the norm.

Challenges: High readability level; controversial topic. Many students might be squeamish reading a novel about gender transitioning.

Students in Mind: I would recommend this book to a student like Myther--a student who is interested in learning about the human experience through people's stories. I would be careful about the student I would suggest to read this: depending on cultural differences some students might be incredibly embarrassed. I would also lean toward suggesting this book to higher-level readers.

Conference Notes: What do you think about the relationship between Liam and Regan? How would you react if you were in Regan's situation? Would you be able to tell your boyfriend or girlfriend a secret like Regan's? Why do you think the parents weren't more supportive?

Level: High school, advanced readers.(less)

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Feb 20, 2009 Leonora rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was really good. I'd only read one of Peters' other books, 'Keeping You a Secret', and I thought 'Luna' was better written, more complex, and a fully realized novel. Technically, it's a young adult book, but can and should certainly be read by adults.

Throughout the book, I really felt for Regan as much as I rooted for Luna, her brother.

This book also has started to undo some transphobia that I'm loathe to admit I have. However, what occurred to me while reading this book is how similar bein...more

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Dec 05, 2008 lyNN rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay so its about this guy named Liam, and since he was little, he always felt like he wanted to be a girl. He doesn't tell the story of his life but his sister Regan does. Her life has mainly revolved around him by trying to protect him from the world especially from their father. Their dad wanted Liam to play sports and do father and son things.Wasn't a bad guy but expected too much. So Regan helps Liam by letting him dress in her room at the middle of the night as a girl and in the day to hel...more

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Nov 25, 2008 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Luna: A Novel, Julie Anne Peters tells the story of two siblings: Regan and Liam. Liam is a teen in high school who has spent all his life feeling like a woman trapped in a man’s body. One of the ways he has learned to deal with the confusion is to dress as a woman at night, experimenting with clothing, wigs, make-up, and calling himself Luna. When the novel opens, his younger sister Regan is the only person in the world who has seen this expression of self. His dependency on his sister has p...more In Luna: A Novel, Julie Anne Peters tells the story of two siblings: Regan and Liam. Liam is a teen in high school who has spent all his life feeling like a woman trapped in a man’s body. One of the ways he has learned to deal with the confusion is to dress as a woman at night, experimenting with clothing, wigs, make-up, and calling himself Luna. When the novel opens, his younger sister Regan is the only person in the world who has seen this expression of self. His dependency on his sister has put Regan in an awkward position in her own life. She feels trapped between Liam and their parents because she knows Liam’s secret, and has memories of how her parents have tried to squelch and ignore his desire to be a woman over the years. She has lost her friends due to the secrets and hints that Liam is not “normal.” Regan has lost track of whom she is as an individual, not knowing where Luna ends and she begins. When a new boy in Regan’s chemistry class begins to pay attention to her, her need to be her own person begins to bubble to the surface as she builds a relationship with Chris. Tension develops as Liam begins to experiment with being Luna in public, coming to a head when Luna makes an appearance at school at the same moment that Regan is ecstatic over making a date with Chris. The siblings must figure out how to support each other without being selfish.

Told in part through flashback, Luna: a Novel is uneven at times but wholly captivating. Telling the story through Regan’s eyes will capture readers who cannot relate to a character with gender identity questions, while readers with their own questions might still relate to Liam because the siblings are so close. While supporting her brother, Regan’s other problems are normal issues any teen can relate to: family arguments, lost friendships, trouble with school, a crush on a boy. Her voice is honest, both funny and awkward at times. Empathy for both siblings flows throughout Peters’ writing. The other characters in the book are not developed as well as Liam and Regan. The reader will be left with questions particularly about the mother of the family, who is distant, unhappy, and taking many pills. While Regan’s memories give hints to a story of a woman feeling trapped in her own gender role, the family tends to ignore their mother’s feelings and that piece of the story is left unresolved.

While not a perfect novel, the sensitivity with which Peters handles the topic of gender identity makes this book important for our current society. By staying true to both Regan and Liam, readers will find someone they can relate to, and hopefully grow in understanding by the end of the novel.
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Jun 16, 2013 Robin rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really wanted to like this book more than I did, because the subject matter is so important. I’ll start with that, in fact.

I think Peters does a decent job (although some of the work is done through repetition) of presenting the uninitiated reader with a sense of the painful dichotomy Luna lives through every day. The compulsion to be who we are is played out well in Luna’s attempts to express herself, and the fear she feels just walking out of her home dressed as she believes herself to be is...more I really wanted to like this book more than I did, because the subject matter is so important. I’ll start with that, in fact.

I think Peters does a decent job (although some of the work is done through repetition) of presenting the uninitiated reader with a sense of the painful dichotomy Luna lives through every day. The compulsion to be who we are is played out well in Luna’s attempts to express herself, and the fear she feels just walking out of her home dressed as she believes herself to be is well represented. Peters got me to believe that Luna was right, that she really was a girl. In fact, I never got a good sense of what Liam looked like at all, other than tall and slender, and that’s OK for this story.

Although I was initially disappointed that the story was not told in Luna’s voice, I think her sister Regan’s perspective was important. For one thing, even though Regan seems to accept Luna as real, when it comes to bringing that reality into… well, reality through the very suggestion of reassignment surgery, Regan’s gut reaction is negative, almost as though it was all right as long as Liam was just playing dress-up. For another, seeing the transformation begin through Regan’s eyes, in Regan’s life, presents us with an angle that would be easy to overlook if we focus on the difficulty of the trans person alone: The effect that the coming-out has on others.

Despite the importance of the topic – or perhaps because of it – I feel the book itself should have been better. It seemed as though Peters was so anxious to get Luna’s plight into the light of day that the story itself took a seat in the back of the mini-van. Not only was the story very short, but also things seemed to happen rather precipitously. There was so little foundation in place that I often felt suspended in mid air, more by lack of intention than anything else.

I liked Regan’s voice: Just irreverent enough, immature in mostly the right ways. But her characterization was limited and static, and I had no idea what Chris saw in her or, for that matter, what she saw in Chris. And Regan and Chris stumbling over each other in silly ways became so predictable that I groaned mentally anytime the two kids approached each other. Also, I found myself wishing Regan would decide when to refer to Luna as “she.” She seemed to have no trouble figuring out when to use which name, so why was the use of pronouns so oddly confused? I didn't see a pattern that would help me understand the disconnect in this particular aspect.

As for the parents… I think in a book written for teens, the parents should either be not much more than the off-page, inarticulate mumblings of the Charlie Brown cartoons or they should be important, meaningful influences to the teen(s), whether for good or ill, with at least some complexity. Luna’s parents were some unhappy combination of these two approaches, obviously there only as props.

Because the story’s foundation is so thin, Luna bravely flying off into the sunset at the end felt like stepping off a step that wasn’t there. It’s a great way to say to transgender teens, “There’s hope.” But this particular hope will, I think, seem unreachable to most of these teens, requiring (as it did in this case) not only a strong connection we never witnessed with a character we never met, but also an amount of money greater than any explanation the story provided. And I’m not convinced it was something Luna was quite prepared to do.

So read the book to gain a better understanding of the plight of transgender teens, and you'll be fine; I think that is its strength.
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Apr 27, 2013 Marla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read at the encouragement of my daughter, this is a YA novel about a teenage transgender (TG) boy's transition. My main comment is, it's important that books like this be written, especially for young adults. And, I read the book in one sitting, which is a good review. That being said, how much more powerful would it have been, to be written from the voice of Liam/Luna? (it was written from his sister's point of view) We could have been privy to feelings and emotions of a teen TG. Instead we got...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Eddie McGlynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Warning: This review contains spoilers.

I wish I could say that this book was enthusiastically and insistently recommended to me by a friend or librarian, telling me that if I didn’t read this book, I might as well be “pentaplegic” (I know that this is not an actual word, but bear with me) in all five senses, or that I had discovered this book one day by idly perusing through a high school semester reading list. The reality, however, is an entirely different matter and, truth be told, is quite s...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Ileen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, favourites, ebook, scrittori-statunitensi

Questo è amore. E non è la solita storiella di due ragazzi che dopo mille peripezie riesco finalmente ad amarsi. No, questo è amore allo stato puro.
Liam e Regan sono fratello e sorella o forse sarebbe meglio dire che sono due sorelle. Perché in realtà Liam si fa chiamare Lia Marie e di notte entra nella camera di Regan per essere libero di vestirsi, pettinarsi e truccarsi. Liam non è omosessuale è una ragazza a tutti gli effetti, tranne che per il suo corpo; madre natura ha sbagliato, ha fatto...more Questo è amore. E non è la solita storiella di due ragazzi che dopo mille peripezie riesco finalmente ad amarsi. No, questo è amore allo stato puro.
Liam e Regan sono fratello e sorella o forse sarebbe meglio dire che sono due sorelle. Perché in realtà Liam si fa chiamare Lia Marie e di notte entra nella camera di Regan per essere libero di vestirsi, pettinarsi e truccarsi. Liam non è omosessuale è una ragazza a tutti gli effetti, tranne che per il suo corpo; madre natura ha sbagliato, ha fatto confusione e lui è nato maschio, con un’anima di donna. Così, da sempre, è intrappolato in vestiti e atteggiamenti che non sente suoi; tutta la sua vita è una recita di giorno ed una liberazione di notte, quando, in camera di Regan, si veste, si trucca e si guarda allo specchio rischiarato dai raggi della luna. Luna. Proprio così, Liam ha deciso di cambiare nome. Un’altra volta. Regan conosce il segreto di suo fratello; solo lei è ammessa nel sancta snctorum del suo essere. Solo lei lo comprende e lo protegge, solo lei lo incoraggia. Lei sa perfettamente della condizione di disagio in cui vive il fratello, costantemente spinto dal padre ad essere quello che lui non è: un sedicente adolescente, pieno di ragazze, con una sana passione per lo sport e un amore sconfinato per il baseball. Niente di più lontano da Luna: una bellissima ragazza, piena di coraggio e pazienza, con una sana passione per le parrucche e la biancheria intima e un amore sconfinato per Dana International e gli specchi. Di mezzo, così, c’è posto per l’apparenza: Liam è bello, corteggiato, indipendente, un piccolo genio che lavora già in privato con la sua migliore amica di sempre Alyson. Solo che Alyson è innamorata di Liam e da sempre crede che prima o poi si sposeranno. Ovviamente solo nei suoi sogni, perché Liam invece ha ben chiaro che cosa vuole essere. E non è di sicuro l’uomo di casa.

Ma questa vita fatta di segreti non è facile da portare avanti, soprattutto per Regan, che, pur amando oltre ogni cosa Luna, non riesce a fare conciliare il suo bisogno di normalità con la sua famiglia. E con il suo ingombrante fratello. Con una madre praticamente assente, dipendente da psicofarmaci e calmanti ed un padre maschilista nonché assolutamente incapace di vedere suo figlio per quello che è, Regan è l’unico rifugio di Luna. E lei non esita mai a mettere da parte i propri impegni e la propria vita per Luna. Anche quando nella sua vita entra Chris, un ragazzo conosciuto al corso di Chimica. Anche quando deciderà di accompagnare di nascosto sua sorella Luna al centro commerciale, vestita da donna, come tanto desidera. Eppure, piano piano, Liam non riesce più e non vuole più nascondere Luna, non vuole relegarla ad una vita di notte, reale solo al sicuro nella stanza di Regan; vuole mostrarsi al mondo ed alle persone che ama per ciò che è realmente, senza doversi più nascondere. Il primo passo lo fa con Alyson, la sua amica di sempre, il suo grande banco di prova, la quale rimane stupita, delusa forse, incapace di accettare la realtà, incapace di rinunciare al ragazzo che da sempre ama. E prende le distanze sentendosi tradita da Regan e da Liam.

«Lui è sempre la persona che conosci. Solo che è più felice come ragazza» dissi [Regan] a bassa voce.
Lei fece per aprire la bocca, poi la richiuse. Scosse la testa guardando il soffitto. «Sono io che non sono più la stessa. E io cosa dovrei essere allora? Una lesbica? Non penso proprio» disse e si allontanò in fretta da me.
«Se l’amassi davvero, non farebbe nessuna differenza» le urlai dietro.

Trovo semplicemente stupenda quest’ultima frase. Perché racchiude una verità grandissima quanto difficile da accettare. Se si ama si può tutto. L’amore sarà diverso, ma sarà sempre amore.
Sono felicissima di avere letto questo piccolo gioiello. Io non ho mai avuto, né mai avrò pregiudizi verso una qualsiasi forma d’amore. L’amore è universale e policromatico. Non ha una sola forma di espressione giusta, ne ha infinite. E a chi mi dice che questo amore è contro natura rispondo che esistono due sole cose contro natura: la prima è l’ignoranza. Siamo animali, noi uomini e come tutti gli animali dobbiamo imparare tante cose nella vita per sopravvivere ed evolvere la nostra specie. Chi resta relegato nell’ignoranza non segue il corso della natura. Essere ignoranti non significa non essere colti, significa non essere in grado di capire la realtà ed ostinarsi a contrastarla. La seconda cosa contro natura è la cattiveria gratuita, la malvagità fine a se stessa. Nessun animale, tranne l’uomo, uccide per divertimento. Uccide se ha fame, attacca se si sente minacciato, ma non fa del male per la pura gioia di farlo. Chi fa soffrire il prossimo senza motivo, chi lo oltraggia, chi lo deride, chi fa del male agli altri senza essere spinto da fame, paura, istinto di sopravvivenza (come gli animali) è contro natura. Pertanto, senza troppi giri di parole, bisognerebbe avere più rispetto per l’amore e per le persone. Più comprensione per le difficoltà degli altri. E poi basta etichettare la gente come omosessuale, lesbica, transgender, etero… siamo persone, tutte persone uguali!! E l’amore è amore. Non si classifica!
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Mar 05, 2013 Hilary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teach-it

Powerful and moving, I actually had to put it down when it got to a part that was super tense. Having Liam/Luna's story narrated by a sibling allows for empathy and sympathy for everyone, and for the novel to be more than a "coming out" novel.

Obviously, this novel isn't for you if you think transgender people are headed right for the pits of hell to roast for all eternity, but for anyone who accepts, or is trying to accept, everyone in the LGBT (insert other letters of the acronym here) communi...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Josie Tolton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Luna tells the story of a teenage trans girl from the perspective of her younger sister Regan. They face the normal pitfalls of teenage existence in addition to those Luna and Regan face due to Luna being a trans girl. The family goes through real struggles and denial. While there is bravery, there is hope, and there are bright spots, there is also plenty of difficulty and rejection. The storytelling is not overly rough, but neither does it come across as glib. The one flaw seems to be the paren...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Biondy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbt-lit, drama, family, teenlit

Judul: Luna
Penulis: Julie Anne Peters
Penerbit: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Halaman: 304 halaman
Terbitan: September 2005

Regan sebal banget sama tingkah abangnya. Dia jadi nggak punya privasi karena abangnya selalu memakai kamarnya untuk berdandan, di tengah malam buta, lagi.

Acara dandan itu bisa makan waktu berjam-jam, bikin Regan nggak pernah bisa tidur nyenyak. Ditambah lagi abangnya itu seriiiing banget minta ditemani belanja baju, hampir tiap akhir pekan. Kenapa sih dia nggak bisa belanja sendir...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

To be honest I might have been a teeny weeny bit prejudiced against transgenders but that has completely COMPLETELY changed. Sometimes I think that if we just force everyone to read these novels that expose prejudiced matters in such a moving way then the world would be a much better place. By the first few chapters not only was I saying 'I don't mind it anymore' but I was saying 'GO FOR IT! BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T I'll jump into the book so that I can hold a knife to your throat to convince you to...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Alicia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbtq

Luna, by Julie Anne Peters, is a novel about a transsexual teenager and his decision to transition. Also, the novel discloses the effects of the transition on his younger sister; who happens to be his sole confidante. When Liam reveals that he wants to transition and become Luna permanently, it is challenging for Regan to keep his secret and throughout his transition. Luna is a moving and practical portrayal of the hardships and success a boy confronts in so as to create his destiny and become t...more Luna, by Julie Anne Peters, is a novel about a transsexual teenager and his decision to transition. Also, the novel discloses the effects of the transition on his younger sister; who happens to be his sole confidante. When Liam reveals that he wants to transition and become Luna permanently, it is challenging for Regan to keep his secret and throughout his transition. Luna is a moving and practical portrayal of the hardships and success a boy confronts in so as to create his destiny and become the person he always wanted to be.

While I enjoyed that this novel advocate for transsexual characters in literature, I found some elements of the novel that failed for me. First, I was disappointed that the novel was told through the eyes of his sister, Regan, and not by Luna herself. I felt that the story would have a different impact and would have been a better story if it was told through Luna’s perspective and I wish we could have heard her voice on everything she experienced. Instead, the author chose to illustrate Regan’s benefits and deficits of her sister’s transition. Second, I found that the behaviors, as Luna transitioned into a girl, were stereotypical and overdone. Between the shopping and overly expressive “grisliness” that Luna experienced, I felt that the author over did the stereotypical image of someone who is gay or transgender/sexual. However, one aspect of the novel that Julie Anne Peters’ did that I appreciated was she did not give Luna, an LGBTQ individual, a fairy tale ending. Although Luna’s life goes through ups and downs, Peters did not put back her life together completely; this I found to be very realistic and a smart move on her part as an author.

Overall, I think that the book is important for teens to read because it allows for all people to read and understand the life of a transsexual individual. I would also recommend it to any individual who is struggling with their own identity, knows someone who is struggling, or is a sibling of someone going through an LGBTQ transition. I don’t think this novel should be required for all students to read, but I feel it would be a good book for someone to read individually.
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Oct 29, 2012 Taylor added it

.3% of Americans suffer from Gender Dysphoria , because the percentage is so low many people do not understand or know that it exsit and is real mental illness.

In the book Liam is the one that is suffering from gender Dysphoria. His little sister Regan is the main charter, and the story is told from her point of veiw. She tells what is feels like to have a transgenedr for a brother and how it is affecting her life as well as his. The story takes place in the 21 centry. To give kids a better un...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Zahra Khan added it

What I thought about the book was its an inspiring story about how a kid finds his identity. The author Julie Anne Peters wrote this book to tell a message that its OK to be different and that its alright to be an individual. I think that the character Luna is trying to find himself through out the book. I also feel that the point of the book is to show that Luna's diction of wanting to be a girl not, only effects him but it also effects his family. For example when Luna's dad can't except him...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Jason rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really resonated with Luna in ways I didn't expect, and it was an exciting read that opened me to a lot of things. There isn't that much young adult trans literature out there, and it's very good that this book is. At the same time, though it was an exciting read, parts of it felt almost too predictable. There are ways the story was very well-written and other places I thought it could have been done much better. I wanted to keep picking it up to find out what happened next. I forgot I had fin...more

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Jul 29, 2012 ilike merey added it

Shelves: young-adult, sex-in-the-fourth-dimension, 2012

I am having a difficult time rating this book, so I won't.

Ultimately, this was an uplifting story about a boy who wants, longs, needs to be a girl and the heart-ache this causes him and the people around him (namely, his sister, from whose perspective the story is told.) The story ends happily, which is good again. I think it's important for trans kids to see hope for their situation, to know it exists.

The family dynamic and the characters were all extremely real--I think my one real problem wi...more

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