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Over the Moon
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Twelve-year-old Mallie's prospects are grim. In her mining town, Coal Top, boys leave school at 12 to work in the mines, and girls leave to work as servants for the rich people. Mallie can't stomach the idea of that kind of life, but what choice does she have? Especially when her family is counting on her wages to survive.
All that changes when Mallie is recruited for a da ...more
All that changes when Mallie is recruited for a da ...more
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“Over the moon” is an idiom, meaning “full of joy!”, “ecstatic,” or “thrilled.”
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My heart is full.
Not my favorite Natalie Lloyd book, but it's still a special tale full of starlight & friendship & soaring mountains & constellations.
It will be a while until this smile leaves my face. :')
l o v e l y | q u o t e s
- Denver's hair is curly, soft as dandelion fluff. Wishing clocks is what my mama calls dandelions. That is a fitting way to think of my brother, too--so small and magical to me. A wish come true. From the first time I saw him, I knew I'd never love any person more th ...more
Not my favorite Natalie Lloyd book, but it's still a special tale full of starlight & friendship & soaring mountains & constellations.
It will be a while until this smile leaves my face. :')
l o v e l y | q u o t e s
- Denver's hair is curly, soft as dandelion fluff. Wishing clocks is what my mama calls dandelions. That is a fitting way to think of my brother, too--so small and magical to me. A wish come true. From the first time I saw him, I knew I'd never love any person more th ...more
Apr 13, 2020
Jill Williamson
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
middle-grade-fantasy,
animal-books
Flying horses? An oppressed town. Over the Moon is a gripping middle grade story about a brave girl who not only gets to ride a winged horse, she uncovers the truth about the world she lives in, then faces it, head on. I adored Mallie's character. She was brave and bold and easy to cheer for. This story was fantasy with a hint of dystopian and a lot of heart. I am so glad I read it! My copy is going right into my classroom library. I highly recommend it to middle grade fantasy fans.
...more
I read Over the Moon because Goodreads recommended it to me and I thought it sounded good. Not quite was I was expecting, but it was still a good book. (I still can't get the Mountain Girl song out of my head.)
Mountain girl, lift up your eyes,
the stars are shining bright for thee,
reach out and take the silver cord,
braid beauty for all to see.
The story was intriguing. I just wish it was longer because it felt like the ending wasn't complete. Otherwise a good book that I'd probably read again, and ...more
Mountain girl, lift up your eyes,
the stars are shining bright for thee,
reach out and take the silver cord,
braid beauty for all to see.
The story was intriguing. I just wish it was longer because it felt like the ending wasn't complete. Otherwise a good book that I'd probably read again, and ...more
This was the lovely, beautiful, moving story I thought it would be -- just as the other Lloyd books I've read are. The first thing to note is that this one is more fantasy than on that magical realism line that "The Key to Extraordinary" and "A Snicker of Magic" are. The setting still feels similar to the others and you can just feel the author's love for it -- even when it's shrouded in a cruel dust, infested with monsters, and life is so very hard. It will come as no surprise that while the he
...more
From beginning to end every moment is captivating. The characters, compelling in every respect, embody all that is right and good and true and shades of the opposite, too. There are many places in our world literally mirroring the book's setting of mountains and mining, dense forests and valleys with rivers. At the same time these places and scores of other locations are figuratively identical in having the Dust, yellow-eyed monsters, and feeling the absence and silence of riders and weavers of ...more
An absolutely beautiful book that is full of layers that are begging to be discussed. Lloyd has outdone herself with this one - full of gorgeous language and set in a haunting, yet beautiful setting. I have a feeling this one will be well loved amongst readers!
Classic Natalie Lloyd. Lyrical, imagery-rich writing, laced with hope and mountain charm. But this book had something else, too: gumption. Moxie. Grit. Courage to stand up and not accept the stories you’ve always been given. Now I can go back to anxiously awaiting her next novel. ❤️
Painful to complete. Disjointed and expository. Not to mention the overly-precious syntax.
Sep 28, 2020
Anita
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
beehive-nominee-2021
Full of hope and exciting! Super cute fantastical vocabulary: starpatches, dustblobs, and starbirds.
Imagine a world where you couldn’t see the sun or stars. A world where dust covered everything and being close to a lot of it made you sad, angry, and violent. A world where you aren’t allowed to sing. A world of monsters that grow from the dust. Monsters that are a cross between snakes and wolves. A world where the old people say they remember a time of stars, light, flying horses, and happiness.
Twelve-year-old Mallie is tired of being afraid. Tired of all the secrets around her. Tired of not ...more
Twelve-year-old Mallie is tired of being afraid. Tired of all the secrets around her. Tired of not ...more
Over the Moon by Natalie Lloyd, 304 pages. Scholastic Press, MARCH 2019. $17.
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Mallie lives a dreary, desperate life in tiny town on Coal Top Mountain. An insidious dust has covered the skies for almost a generation, blocking out the sky, the sun, and stars. Mallie slaves each day in the valley below for a meager salary, but one day she finds an ad looking for brave boys willing to risk their lives for an adventure. This may be j ...more
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Mallie lives a dreary, desperate life in tiny town on Coal Top Mountain. An insidious dust has covered the skies for almost a generation, blocking out the sky, the sun, and stars. Mallie slaves each day in the valley below for a meager salary, but one day she finds an ad looking for brave boys willing to risk their lives for an adventure. This may be j ...more
This was a fun short read with a strong female lead. Targeted at older elementary kids, I was particularly pleased at the inclusion of a character with a limb difference. I think boys and girls alike will find things they have in common with Mallie and want to root for her throughout. Stories like these expose kids to others that may be different from them, but more importantly, highlight all the ways they are the same. I'm hopeful that for kids and others that read this book they'll keep this i
...more
How ridiculous of me to have this book sitting on my unread shelves for a whole year. I kept wanting to read it and always having some other thing I "needed" to read, like a book for a book club or a buddy read, or something due at the library, or whatever.
Well, anyway, I've read it at last. And I loved it. I didn't love it for like the first two-thirds of the book, I just liked it a lot, but that ending! I had tears in my eyes repeatedly during the last couple of chapters.
Also, this book has fl ...more
Well, anyway, I've read it at last. And I loved it. I didn't love it for like the first two-thirds of the book, I just liked it a lot, but that ending! I had tears in my eyes repeatedly during the last couple of chapters.
Also, this book has fl ...more
I love Natalie Lloyd’s books. I read them each time they come out after discovering A Snicker of Magic. This one had her signature magic flare, her impeccable enchanting way with words, and her trademark genuine, feisty, bold heroine. I felt the resolution was rushed and happened too quickly which was the only reason I did not give 5 stars. Read this for a fantastic spellbinding story.
Mallie Over the Moon will fight the dust and fly straight into your heart! Natalie Lloyd creates another magical experience for her readers. The power of love, family, friendships, and song shine brightly in Over the Moon.
This book was magical. Once you get to the good part, you can’t put it down. Lloyd’s vision was amazing. I’m a big fan of her books. Leo’s sweetness, Mallie’s determination, little Denver’s courage were all so encouraging!! I definitely want to read it again!!!
With my level of work stress, weather-induced pain, and general existential ughness right now, "gives-no-fucks girl with prosthetic arm and magically bonded flying horse stands up for workers' rights, tells male oppressors to get bent" exactly fit the what-I-needed bill.
...more
I always start a Natalie Lloyd book not knowing what to expect but being certain it's going to be magical, fun, and full of positive messages. This is probably my favorite of hers as the whole concept of flying horses and weaving stars is quite romantic. I like Mallie's fierce and yet gentle way of protecting her family and searching for truth. I think young readers will enjoy this book and learn important lessons from the characters and their situations.
...more
I loved it! I'm so excited to recommend this to students.
...more
This was a three star read most of the way, but I think the ending and the lessons implied in this book bump it up to four stars. This is a Beehive Nominee for 2020/2021.
Not only is this one of my favorite authors, but I did not want to put this book down once I started reading it! I read it on a plane ride home, got home late, and then stayed up even later to finish reading! Natalie Lloyd has such a wonderful way of connecting the reader to the characters. You can just feel her smiling personality come out in her creations!
I got an early copy of this book while attending a reading conference for educators.
I got an early copy of this book while attending a reading conference for educators.
Ohmyword, I loved this one so much! Natalie Lloyd is so creative and fun. She loves sad towns and the kids who save them---and now I do, too!
Over the Moon was even more fantastical than The Key to Extraordinary or A Snicker of Magic with flying horses and dust monsters. I think it would be a perfect movie.
This one also had even more heart and imagery in it. I may be reading into it but it felt like it was about faith. The darkness and pain sin brings versus the LIGHT and joy that Jesus brings. ...more
Over the Moon was even more fantastical than The Key to Extraordinary or A Snicker of Magic with flying horses and dust monsters. I think it would be a perfect movie.
This one also had even more heart and imagery in it. I may be reading into it but it felt like it was about faith. The darkness and pain sin brings versus the LIGHT and joy that Jesus brings. ...more
I will always be a fan of Natalie Lloyd and this one did not disappoint!! This is such a powerful story about the need to push through the dark times! I don’t know a single person that will not be able to relate to this story!
Why I'm interested in this book: Recommended on Twitter by Michelle Knott.
...more
I loved the characters in this story. Mallie is a smart and courageous character. I liked the overall message making up your own mind about what you've been told to be the truth.
...more
3.5 stars
So THIS seems like a departure from Natalie Lloyd's usual style.....or no, I take that back, from her usual setting.
In other elements it is full of Lloyd's signature style, which I interpret as (among others):
1. The names. I mean, I love them, don't get me wrong. But you gotta admit naming a character Mallie Ramble is unique. (And naming a kid Denver, although that might just have been me. And again, I'm not saying I didn't like it, I love all her names. I just don't think I ever saw th ...more
So THIS seems like a departure from Natalie Lloyd's usual style.....or no, I take that back, from her usual setting.
In other elements it is full of Lloyd's signature style, which I interpret as (among others):
1. The names. I mean, I love them, don't get me wrong. But you gotta admit naming a character Mallie Ramble is unique. (And naming a kid Denver, although that might just have been me. And again, I'm not saying I didn't like it, I love all her names. I just don't think I ever saw th ...more
"Dust has covered the sky since before I was born."
In this world, the valley people are the wealthy; the mountain people work for them. But it wasn't always that way. Long before Mallie was born, the mountain people harvested the starlight with the help of their starbirds (flying horses) and weaved it into beautiful cloth to sell. But now, the dust has covered the stars and caused chaos in this world. The Guardians run the country and keep the peace. They tell the mountain people "We can only li ...more
In this world, the valley people are the wealthy; the mountain people work for them. But it wasn't always that way. Long before Mallie was born, the mountain people harvested the starlight with the help of their starbirds (flying horses) and weaved it into beautiful cloth to sell. But now, the dust has covered the stars and caused chaos in this world. The Guardians run the country and keep the peace. They tell the mountain people "We can only li ...more
"You push through it, and you get to the light again."
Mallie Ramble is a mountain girl. Every day she braves the thick Dust that covers her down to go down to the valley, where she cleans house for a rich family. Every girl in her village does the same, while the boys are sent to the mine. Mine work is dangerous - it can make boys sick, and took Mallie's father's voice.
But life used to be different. Mallie's people used to ride flying horses and weave starlight together, singing songs while mak ...more
Mallie Ramble is a mountain girl. Every day she braves the thick Dust that covers her down to go down to the valley, where she cleans house for a rich family. Every girl in her village does the same, while the boys are sent to the mine. Mine work is dangerous - it can make boys sick, and took Mallie's father's voice.
But life used to be different. Mallie's people used to ride flying horses and weave starlight together, singing songs while mak ...more
In a dismal Dust-darkened but fantastical Appalachian-like realm, Mallie tries to save her little brother from the deadly miner’s life by taking part in the sinister town/mine autocrat’s quest for gold which hovers around nearby mountains. Starbirds, thought-to-be-extinct magical flying horses, will have to be quickly trained by and bonded with miner (low class) and valley (rich) boys who will dare to go on risky missions for the gold. One-armed and poor, Mallie is the only girl who boldly takes
...more
Feb 24, 2020
Yvonne
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Ruth Thompson, Lynley Herbert, Scott Cozad
This is a charming fantasy novel for young people of all ages. Hard-working Mallie Ramble has gone to work for one of the wealthy families in the Valley because a corrupt class of aristocrats have fired her father from his job at the mines. To make matters worse, the Guardians -- authoritarian oligarchs who govern the Coal Top community -- want to take Mallie's younger brother Denver away to work in the mines. The Guardians have told the Ramble family that Denver must work in order to "repay" th
...more
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