What do you think?
Rate this book
Moon Water
Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the summer of 1969, Moon Water finds Nettie, 16, with her boyfriend wanting to breakup just as they are figuring out the sex thing. Nettie’s lifelong nemesis is jabbing her with perfectly polished nails, while her hellfire and brimstone preacher refuses to baptize her. Amid this turmoil, a Monacan Indian medicine woman gives her a cryptic message about a coming darkness, a blood moon whose veiled danger threatens Nettie and those she loves. To prepare for the darkness, Nettie and her best friend, Win, make a treacherous journey into the mountains to build a mysterious dreamcatcher of ancient elements.
280 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2019
41 people are currently reading
3851 people want to read
About the author
Pam Webber
4 books169 followersPam Webber is the bestselling author of three historical novels—The Wiregrass, Moon Water, and Life Dust. The Historical Novel Society, Southern Literary Review, and Readersfavorite.com among others highly recommend her work because of the memorable characters, engaging stories, and immersive settings.
As a second career novelist, Pam is a popular speaker for book clubs, writing circles and civic organizations. She was honored to be a panelist at Virginia Festival of the Book, the Library of Virginia, and James River Writers.
Pam is also an internal medicine nurse practitioner and former nursing educator. She and her husband, Jeff, are avid travelers and especially love visiting the national parks and world heritage sites. They live in the beautiful Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
For updates on Pam’s next novel, visit her at www.pamwebber.com
As a second career novelist, Pam is a popular speaker for book clubs, writing circles and civic organizations. She was honored to be a panelist at Virginia Festival of the Book, the Library of Virginia, and James River Writers.
Pam is also an internal medicine nurse practitioner and former nursing educator. She and her husband, Jeff, are avid travelers and especially love visiting the national parks and world heritage sites. They live in the beautiful Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
For updates on Pam’s next novel, visit her at www.pamwebber.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
August 29, 2019
I was so happy to find Nettie again in this story. Now, it’s the summer of 1969, and she’s in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nettie and her boyfriend are thinking of breaking up.
Those are not the only hard times Nettie is experiencing, though. She has a lifelong nemesis bugging her left and right, and of all things, her preacher is refusing to baptize her.
Nettie meets a Monacan (Native American) medicine woman who tells her about an upcoming darkness, specifically a blood moon, that will affect Nettie and her loved ones. I live not far from the Blue Ridge mountains, and the blood moon still has importance and intrigue today.
The medicine woman tells her she must prepare a dream catcher, which she does along with her best friend, Win.
Pam Webber is back with her beautifully simple storytelling. The native Monacan elements added interest, and with this region not being far from where I live, I was captivated with the history and touches of culture.
There was a light mystery here and great tension. I loved Nibi, the medicine woman’s, sections with herbs and her resourceful knowledge of the wilderness. I also loved witnessing Win and Nettie interact with Nibi.
Overall, Moon Water’s characters shine, as does Pam Webber’s smooth storytelling.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Those are not the only hard times Nettie is experiencing, though. She has a lifelong nemesis bugging her left and right, and of all things, her preacher is refusing to baptize her.
Nettie meets a Monacan (Native American) medicine woman who tells her about an upcoming darkness, specifically a blood moon, that will affect Nettie and her loved ones. I live not far from the Blue Ridge mountains, and the blood moon still has importance and intrigue today.
The medicine woman tells her she must prepare a dream catcher, which she does along with her best friend, Win.
Pam Webber is back with her beautifully simple storytelling. The native Monacan elements added interest, and with this region not being far from where I live, I was captivated with the history and touches of culture.
There was a light mystery here and great tension. I loved Nibi, the medicine woman’s, sections with herbs and her resourceful knowledge of the wilderness. I also loved witnessing Win and Nettie interact with Nibi.
Overall, Moon Water’s characters shine, as does Pam Webber’s smooth storytelling.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
August 30, 2019
“Some things must end for others to begin.”
Amazing story. Two sixteen-ish young women come of age in historical fiction set in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in 1969. Nettie gives up the freedom of childhood (see The Wiregrass) and expects certainty in adulthood: love, faith, friendship. Nope.
“Journeys force us to make choices that never leave our lives in the same place.”
Slow start leads to a cataclysm of Biblical portions, which actually happened fifty years ago. Excellent character and plot development and foreshadowing, if occasionally telling too much too soon. Nettie lived in a different world: no computers, camera-equipped cell phones, social media, credit cards. Manners mattered. The focus is local; the moon landings, Vietnam War, and politics are offstage.
“Your job is simple: forgive it, forget it, and move on. Not only for their sake, but for yours.”
In 1969 Virginia was still shedding segregation laws which recognized only whites, lumping all others. Some Virginians had already made the transition; others still haven’t. Race is not an issue here, but Webber portrays all people with sympathy and respect, even the few who didn’t seem to deserve it.
“Sometimes what we’re searching for is right in front of us and we’re too distracted to see it.”
Part of growing up is deciding and declaring what you believe. Nettie reflects an honesty so pure it hurts. The confluence of Christianity and Native American spiritualism is not always as smooth as portrayed.
“I was baptized last night. I believed when I went into the water, and I believe now. The rest is icing.”
[Full disclosure: Pam Webber gave me an advance copy in return for an honest review. I won.]
Amazing story. Two sixteen-ish young women come of age in historical fiction set in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in 1969. Nettie gives up the freedom of childhood (see The Wiregrass) and expects certainty in adulthood: love, faith, friendship. Nope.
“Journeys force us to make choices that never leave our lives in the same place.”
Slow start leads to a cataclysm of Biblical portions, which actually happened fifty years ago. Excellent character and plot development and foreshadowing, if occasionally telling too much too soon. Nettie lived in a different world: no computers, camera-equipped cell phones, social media, credit cards. Manners mattered. The focus is local; the moon landings, Vietnam War, and politics are offstage.
“Your job is simple: forgive it, forget it, and move on. Not only for their sake, but for yours.”
In 1969 Virginia was still shedding segregation laws which recognized only whites, lumping all others. Some Virginians had already made the transition; others still haven’t. Race is not an issue here, but Webber portrays all people with sympathy and respect, even the few who didn’t seem to deserve it.
“Sometimes what we’re searching for is right in front of us and we’re too distracted to see it.”
Part of growing up is deciding and declaring what you believe. Nettie reflects an honesty so pure it hurts. The confluence of Christianity and Native American spiritualism is not always as smooth as portrayed.
“I was baptized last night. I believed when I went into the water, and I believe now. The rest is icing.”
[Full disclosure: Pam Webber gave me an advance copy in return for an honest review. I won.]
July 7, 2019
See full review here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
MOON WATER follows Nettie in the summer of 1969 when her life is in turmoil. Nettie is 16 years old and her life is changing. She is not sure if she and her boyfriend, Andy- a childhood friend turned more- will last once they go to college, and this worry has been making her unsure of whether she loves him. Andy decides to give her a break until she can figure it out.
At the same time, she is preparing for baptism in the church. However, Nettie still has a lot of questions about religion that she isn't sure about, and her honesty means she cannot lie to the pastor, resulting in a delay in her baptism. He assigns her to work with another pastor more closely to go over material and believe more fully before she is baptized.
Nettie and her BFF Win are inseparable and do everything together, and this summer is no different. As per usual, they often take the train to Win's grandmother Nibi. Nibi is a Monacan Shaman or Medicine Woman, and she has warnings for the girls with the upcoming blood moon. As part of this, she is teaching them carefully how to make dreamcatchers starting with how to painstakingly gather the materials they need. Many other lessons are tucked into the process.
What I loved: The best parts of the book were those with the dreamcatchers and the lessons that Nibi teaches the girls. I would have loved to be even more fully immersed in the Monacan culture and Nibi's vast knowledge. The plot is fast-paced, a lot of the story told in dialogue, which keeps things interesting and moving quickly. There are also some interesting debates on Christianity and good/evil in the context of Christianity (I would certainly label this as Christian fiction), as Nettie prepares for her baptism. Some of the concepts/lessons, such as good and evil coexisting and not being easy to separate, are universal, however.
What left me wanting more: The book seemed more focused on the Christian spiritual journey than on the Native American, and I was looking for more along the latter. I would also love to read a book from Win's point-of-view, exploring her culture more closely. Here, it was a secondary plot.
This may be a spoiler, so if you want to avoid them- skip this paragraph. A big part of the latter story was sexual assault/harassment. While this is handled with some care (police mentioned), I would have liked to see more about the recovery/resources. Parents are hardly involved and no therapist or other resources are described. The book overall has a quick pace that does not get into the details, but this is a pretty big plot point here, so I would have liked to see more.
I would also add warnings for character death and natural disasters.
Final verdict: Overall, this is a fast-paced coming-of-age story that weaves some Native American traditions into Christian fiction with interesting morality and faith-based discussions. I would recommend for people looking for something unique that will spark interesting discourse on good/evil, sins, and moving forward after traumatic events.
MOON WATER follows Nettie in the summer of 1969 when her life is in turmoil. Nettie is 16 years old and her life is changing. She is not sure if she and her boyfriend, Andy- a childhood friend turned more- will last once they go to college, and this worry has been making her unsure of whether she loves him. Andy decides to give her a break until she can figure it out.
At the same time, she is preparing for baptism in the church. However, Nettie still has a lot of questions about religion that she isn't sure about, and her honesty means she cannot lie to the pastor, resulting in a delay in her baptism. He assigns her to work with another pastor more closely to go over material and believe more fully before she is baptized.
Nettie and her BFF Win are inseparable and do everything together, and this summer is no different. As per usual, they often take the train to Win's grandmother Nibi. Nibi is a Monacan Shaman or Medicine Woman, and she has warnings for the girls with the upcoming blood moon. As part of this, she is teaching them carefully how to make dreamcatchers starting with how to painstakingly gather the materials they need. Many other lessons are tucked into the process.
What I loved: The best parts of the book were those with the dreamcatchers and the lessons that Nibi teaches the girls. I would have loved to be even more fully immersed in the Monacan culture and Nibi's vast knowledge. The plot is fast-paced, a lot of the story told in dialogue, which keeps things interesting and moving quickly. There are also some interesting debates on Christianity and good/evil in the context of Christianity (I would certainly label this as Christian fiction), as Nettie prepares for her baptism. Some of the concepts/lessons, such as good and evil coexisting and not being easy to separate, are universal, however.
What left me wanting more: The book seemed more focused on the Christian spiritual journey than on the Native American, and I was looking for more along the latter. I would also love to read a book from Win's point-of-view, exploring her culture more closely. Here, it was a secondary plot.
This may be a spoiler, so if you want to avoid them- skip this paragraph. A big part of the latter story was sexual assault/harassment. While this is handled with some care (police mentioned), I would have liked to see more about the recovery/resources. Parents are hardly involved and no therapist or other resources are described. The book overall has a quick pace that does not get into the details, but this is a pretty big plot point here, so I would have liked to see more.
I would also add warnings for character death and natural disasters.
Final verdict: Overall, this is a fast-paced coming-of-age story that weaves some Native American traditions into Christian fiction with interesting morality and faith-based discussions. I would recommend for people looking for something unique that will spark interesting discourse on good/evil, sins, and moving forward after traumatic events.
Read
September 16, 2019Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this! That said, I went into the book thinking it would be one thing but it ended up being another. It's certainly written well, however, I found myself uninterested in the characters and story so I decided to forgo finishing Moon Water and to leave it "unrated."
I can see many loving this book, especially those who enjoy reading about torn romances written in lyrical prose. It is written wonderfully, but it's not a story for me. At least, not at this time!
I can see many loving this book, especially those who enjoy reading about torn romances written in lyrical prose. It is written wonderfully, but it's not a story for me. At least, not at this time!
September 1, 2019
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, what an adventure! This was incredible! I really enjoyed it and I loved the elements of faith, love and a little bit of mystery.
Im crazy about romance so I wanted to know how Nettie was going to fix her situation. I loved her honesty and trouble followed her everywhere she went. She was likable and fun with lots of determination to love those closest to her.
There was lots of great characters with many hidden meanings and a great ending.
I will definitely read another by this author. I thought it was very well written.
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.
Wow, what an adventure! This was incredible! I really enjoyed it and I loved the elements of faith, love and a little bit of mystery.
Im crazy about romance so I wanted to know how Nettie was going to fix her situation. I loved her honesty and trouble followed her everywhere she went. She was likable and fun with lots of determination to love those closest to her.
There was lots of great characters with many hidden meanings and a great ending.
I will definitely read another by this author. I thought it was very well written.
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.
October 6, 2019
Most of the time we pick the book, but ever so often, it’s the book that picks us!
Never doubt a book’s power of influence.
A true gift to a reader.
Pam Webber wrote such an extraordinary work of Art with Moon Water.
When I saw it I just knew it was speaking to me, without even reading the blurb I felt it’s pull.
I’ll never forget Nibi, Win, and Nettie, or their adventures into nature’s bounty.
Examining one’s own life is the hardest endeavor to accomplish.
Win and Nettie apply lessons they learn from nature into dreamcatchers, all weaved together into a beautiful coming of age gift.
Nibi knew an evil darkness would descend upon them when the blood moon rose, she knew preparing Win and Nettie before this fateful event occurs might be her last calling. Times running out, will they have time to absorb all Nibi needs them to learn?
“Some of the most important journeys start in the wrong direction.”
“SEE THE INVISIBLE, BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE, AND RECEIVE THE IMPOSSIBLE.”
I highly recommend this book. I was given this book by netgalley for an honest review.
Never doubt a book’s power of influence.
A true gift to a reader.
Pam Webber wrote such an extraordinary work of Art with Moon Water.
When I saw it I just knew it was speaking to me, without even reading the blurb I felt it’s pull.
I’ll never forget Nibi, Win, and Nettie, or their adventures into nature’s bounty.
Examining one’s own life is the hardest endeavor to accomplish.
Win and Nettie apply lessons they learn from nature into dreamcatchers, all weaved together into a beautiful coming of age gift.
Nibi knew an evil darkness would descend upon them when the blood moon rose, she knew preparing Win and Nettie before this fateful event occurs might be her last calling. Times running out, will they have time to absorb all Nibi needs them to learn?
“Some of the most important journeys start in the wrong direction.”
“SEE THE INVISIBLE, BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE, AND RECEIVE THE IMPOSSIBLE.”
I highly recommend this book. I was given this book by netgalley for an honest review.
February 23, 2021
Okay folks, this is going to be a hard book for me to review, because I’m apparently swimming against the tide of public opinion. Someone in my IRL book group won copies for everyone in a giveaway, and we agreed to read and discuss it in an upcoming month.
It took until the very end of the book, and after giving credit for the author’s adequate writing style, and for the suspension of my disbelief in so many of the plot contrivances, for me to give a 3-star rating to it. It’s really more of a 2 1/2 star, to be honest, based solely on the plot, but by the last page, I was okay with 3 stars. But I have to say that this book came across as, at best, aimed toward a YA (young adult) market instead of folks used to more well-orchestrated stories.
Foremost in my mind right now is that the author seemed to be juggling so many issues, and she seemed to be unsure which needed to be foremost as the crux of the story. We had competing with each other, for starters, Native American shamanism, Christian identity and theology, teenaged angst and social dysfunction (including boyfriend problems), Appalachian folklore and inherent dangers (this took place in 1969), all topped off with several layers of good-versus-evil shenanigans, natural disasters and small-town issues. I would say more, but don’t want to give any spoilers. Seriously, you name it, it was there. I truly didn’t know which way to turn until the alluded-to “black cloud” eventually descended as the climax. I was doing a lot of head shaking while reading. But I persevered, and am now wondering how our book group discussion will go!
I’m sorry, Ms. Webber, but you wanted an honest review, and this is it. However, I’m glad that you obviously have some fans out there, based on the other critiques I’ve read.
It took until the very end of the book, and after giving credit for the author’s adequate writing style, and for the suspension of my disbelief in so many of the plot contrivances, for me to give a 3-star rating to it. It’s really more of a 2 1/2 star, to be honest, based solely on the plot, but by the last page, I was okay with 3 stars. But I have to say that this book came across as, at best, aimed toward a YA (young adult) market instead of folks used to more well-orchestrated stories.
Foremost in my mind right now is that the author seemed to be juggling so many issues, and she seemed to be unsure which needed to be foremost as the crux of the story. We had competing with each other, for starters, Native American shamanism, Christian identity and theology, teenaged angst and social dysfunction (including boyfriend problems), Appalachian folklore and inherent dangers (this took place in 1969), all topped off with several layers of good-versus-evil shenanigans, natural disasters and small-town issues. I would say more, but don’t want to give any spoilers. Seriously, you name it, it was there. I truly didn’t know which way to turn until the alluded-to “black cloud” eventually descended as the climax. I was doing a lot of head shaking while reading. But I persevered, and am now wondering how our book group discussion will go!
I’m sorry, Ms. Webber, but you wanted an honest review, and this is it. However, I’m glad that you obviously have some fans out there, based on the other critiques I’ve read.
September 14, 2019
I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Pam Webber, and SheWritesPress. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Moon Water is an excellent story, taking us back to Central Virginia in 1969, and immersing us into this small community, the youth, the Baptist community, the Monacan First American sub-genre with highlights on bad and good people, ideas, responses. It is a photograph of an era lost - but one that was very important to those children raised in this stew-pot of religions and social mores. Much of this structure of society has been lost over the last 50 years. Some consider that a good thing. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs and cultures. Some consider much lost in the modern, generic times when freedoms and history are lost to communities in the name of equality. Have we really offered equal footing to all takers by dismissing our differences? Or have we just all given up the hearts that made us special? Time will tell.
This is a well researched, well-written look into an era many of us old ones remember fondly. It is, I think, something to give the newest generations of young adults pause and to perhaps help them find some treasured keepers in our discarded past.
pub date Aug 20, 2019
received Aug 13, 2019
review by Sept 13, 2019
SheWritesPress
Reviewed on September 13, 2019, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Moon Water is an excellent story, taking us back to Central Virginia in 1969, and immersing us into this small community, the youth, the Baptist community, the Monacan First American sub-genre with highlights on bad and good people, ideas, responses. It is a photograph of an era lost - but one that was very important to those children raised in this stew-pot of religions and social mores. Much of this structure of society has been lost over the last 50 years. Some consider that a good thing. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs and cultures. Some consider much lost in the modern, generic times when freedoms and history are lost to communities in the name of equality. Have we really offered equal footing to all takers by dismissing our differences? Or have we just all given up the hearts that made us special? Time will tell.
This is a well researched, well-written look into an era many of us old ones remember fondly. It is, I think, something to give the newest generations of young adults pause and to perhaps help them find some treasured keepers in our discarded past.
pub date Aug 20, 2019
received Aug 13, 2019
review by Sept 13, 2019
SheWritesPress
Reviewed on September 13, 2019, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
March 26, 2021
Barely a 3. I was bored. I did enjoy Nibi and all she brought with her [nature/nurture/homeopathic stuff]. But meh. Definitely YA--which I've read--but better.
August 21, 2019
Pam Webber’s second novel did not disappoint! Ever since reading her first novel, I’ve patiently waited more from this gifted author. Not only does she create strong, memorable characters, Webber writes with the ability to weave humor, love, pain, danger, mystery and nature in exquisite style.
I first “met” Nettie in Webber’s first novel, The Wiregrass. Imagine my delight to find her waiting for me in Moon Water! She is now sixteen and carries with her all the complexities and angst of a girl her age. While Nettie is the main character in both of Webber’s novels, it is important to note that each can be read as a stand alone novel.
In addition to her ability to create memorable and strong characters, Webber is also a master of crafting vivid imagery and a palpable sense of place. Readers are deftly transported into the beautiful yet sometimes treacherous Blue Ridge Mountains where Monacan Indian medicine woman Nibi instructs Nettie and her friend Win on valuable life skills as they search the mountain terrain for natural elements necessary to create a mysterious dreamcatcher.
You’ll laugh. You’ll shed a few tears. You’ll gasp when taken off guard. You’ll experience the dangers and the joys of being part of Nettie’s life. And when all is said and done, you’ll be left wanting more!
I first “met” Nettie in Webber’s first novel, The Wiregrass. Imagine my delight to find her waiting for me in Moon Water! She is now sixteen and carries with her all the complexities and angst of a girl her age. While Nettie is the main character in both of Webber’s novels, it is important to note that each can be read as a stand alone novel.
In addition to her ability to create memorable and strong characters, Webber is also a master of crafting vivid imagery and a palpable sense of place. Readers are deftly transported into the beautiful yet sometimes treacherous Blue Ridge Mountains where Monacan Indian medicine woman Nibi instructs Nettie and her friend Win on valuable life skills as they search the mountain terrain for natural elements necessary to create a mysterious dreamcatcher.
You’ll laugh. You’ll shed a few tears. You’ll gasp when taken off guard. You’ll experience the dangers and the joys of being part of Nettie’s life. And when all is said and done, you’ll be left wanting more!
August 22, 2019
"Nature doesn't seek right. It seeks balance." Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. A beautifully written and poignant coming of age story. Although this is a historical fiction novel, it has a little bit of everything, mystery, whimsy, humor, mysticism and adventure. The characters were very well developed and the descriptions transport you in time. I was invested in this story immediately and had a hard time putting it down. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
June 4, 2019
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'Darkness thrives on deception. It will bait and mislead until it is primed and ready to do its worse.'
It is the summer of 1969 in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 16 year old Nettie is struggling with her heartbreak and jealousy after longtime boyfriend Andy asked for more than she was ready to give. Now there is the threat of Anne, like a snake that has been lurking, waiting to take her man! Nettie has her best friend Win to help her see reason, and together they visit Win’s grandmother Nibi, a Monocan Medicine Woman teaching Win the skills of their people. The girls have a project, making their own dream catchers, which takes skill and patience, guided by Nibi. Together, they must find all the supplies needed, and that requires looking near and far within nature, no easy feat. “Nature supplies what you need, not necessarily what you want.” Nettie is restless, agitated with all the problems circling her head. Bad enough Anne wants what is hers, now she must face Pastor Williams, the man just can’t seem to forgive her for her past shenanigans. All she wants is to be baptized like all the other girls but her questioning nature seems to exhaust the Pastor’s good nature, and her belief seems is as shaky as her confusion about her feelings for Andy. Pastor William’s feels she needs more lessons in humility, and practice a lot less profanity. It seems fate is more than willing to test Nettie.
A new love interest enters the scene, that could test the strength of Nettie’s love for Andy. Sex has become a burning desire between the two, but once you take that step, there is no going back. Their love was born in grade school, but they are becoming adults now and shedding the skin of their youth, the wrong step can change everything. Maybe it is Andy’s turn to be jealous, if he even loves her anymore. Is it better to start over with another? Should she concede and just let Anne keep Andy, though she certainly isn’t good enough for him?
It isn’t just dream catchers the wise old woman has planned for the girls, Nibi teaches them survival skills like hunting and how to show reverence for what nature offers. Hiking, camping, the girls need to become one with the land. Something is coming on the waxing moon of August ( the Blood Moon) some human darkness, there is a knowing Nibi has always had, attuned to her surroundings and it will require strength and knowledge for the girls make it through. Deception and evil can hide behind the face of holiness, and no one is more vulnerable than Nibi’s young grandchild Win and her friend Nettie. There are more dangerous and trying times coming that are far bigger than Nettie’s enemy Anne’s antics and manipulations or even her feelings for two young men. Will the friends have the strength to fight it? Can Nibi help save them, despite her aging bones? Nature too can be friend or foe and sometimes those who are meant to lead the young can abuse their power. As they enter the mountains we readers hitch a ride and join the fight against nature, animal and otherwise.
I always love reading mountain fiction and with Nibi’s knowledge of herbs and creatures big and small I felt like I have had my ear pressed to the earth. Most of us are living cut off from the elements and no longer attuned to our surroundings, wouldn’t know nature’s offerings as poisonous or nurturing. Medicine Women have always fascinated me, and Nibi is by far my favorite character. Her grandchild Win is wise and being readied to stand in Nibi’s place, Nettie is just on the cusp of womanhood but still has just the right amount of recklessness and naivete. Dangers for young women are wildly different than the threat of the elements in the wild, and those in power know all too well how to manipulate and confuse a girl with their own doubt. I like the turn the story took. While the relationship between Nettie and Andy are important, the meat of the story is the relationship the girls have with Nibi and of course, the power of their own strength.
Publication Date: August 20, 2019
She Writes Press
'Darkness thrives on deception. It will bait and mislead until it is primed and ready to do its worse.'
It is the summer of 1969 in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 16 year old Nettie is struggling with her heartbreak and jealousy after longtime boyfriend Andy asked for more than she was ready to give. Now there is the threat of Anne, like a snake that has been lurking, waiting to take her man! Nettie has her best friend Win to help her see reason, and together they visit Win’s grandmother Nibi, a Monocan Medicine Woman teaching Win the skills of their people. The girls have a project, making their own dream catchers, which takes skill and patience, guided by Nibi. Together, they must find all the supplies needed, and that requires looking near and far within nature, no easy feat. “Nature supplies what you need, not necessarily what you want.” Nettie is restless, agitated with all the problems circling her head. Bad enough Anne wants what is hers, now she must face Pastor Williams, the man just can’t seem to forgive her for her past shenanigans. All she wants is to be baptized like all the other girls but her questioning nature seems to exhaust the Pastor’s good nature, and her belief seems is as shaky as her confusion about her feelings for Andy. Pastor William’s feels she needs more lessons in humility, and practice a lot less profanity. It seems fate is more than willing to test Nettie.
A new love interest enters the scene, that could test the strength of Nettie’s love for Andy. Sex has become a burning desire between the two, but once you take that step, there is no going back. Their love was born in grade school, but they are becoming adults now and shedding the skin of their youth, the wrong step can change everything. Maybe it is Andy’s turn to be jealous, if he even loves her anymore. Is it better to start over with another? Should she concede and just let Anne keep Andy, though she certainly isn’t good enough for him?
It isn’t just dream catchers the wise old woman has planned for the girls, Nibi teaches them survival skills like hunting and how to show reverence for what nature offers. Hiking, camping, the girls need to become one with the land. Something is coming on the waxing moon of August ( the Blood Moon) some human darkness, there is a knowing Nibi has always had, attuned to her surroundings and it will require strength and knowledge for the girls make it through. Deception and evil can hide behind the face of holiness, and no one is more vulnerable than Nibi’s young grandchild Win and her friend Nettie. There are more dangerous and trying times coming that are far bigger than Nettie’s enemy Anne’s antics and manipulations or even her feelings for two young men. Will the friends have the strength to fight it? Can Nibi help save them, despite her aging bones? Nature too can be friend or foe and sometimes those who are meant to lead the young can abuse their power. As they enter the mountains we readers hitch a ride and join the fight against nature, animal and otherwise.
I always love reading mountain fiction and with Nibi’s knowledge of herbs and creatures big and small I felt like I have had my ear pressed to the earth. Most of us are living cut off from the elements and no longer attuned to our surroundings, wouldn’t know nature’s offerings as poisonous or nurturing. Medicine Women have always fascinated me, and Nibi is by far my favorite character. Her grandchild Win is wise and being readied to stand in Nibi’s place, Nettie is just on the cusp of womanhood but still has just the right amount of recklessness and naivete. Dangers for young women are wildly different than the threat of the elements in the wild, and those in power know all too well how to manipulate and confuse a girl with their own doubt. I like the turn the story took. While the relationship between Nettie and Andy are important, the meat of the story is the relationship the girls have with Nibi and of course, the power of their own strength.
Publication Date: August 20, 2019
She Writes Press
August 27, 2019
Best book I have ever read!
This book searches your soul & heart. I loved The Wiregrass & have read it three times. When this book came out I was thrilled because I knew it would be absolutely wonderful & that I would be taken away to the same place as the story was told. It is inspirational, heartfelt, & soul searching. There are two parts of it that are so funny that tears were rolling down my face as I couldn’t stop laughing. It tears at your heart strings & has you looking at your own life. I am 30% Native American & as Nibi & Win believe the two spiritual realms are woven together. Pam Webber please keep writing these absolutely amazing books. I read at least 3 novels a week. My three favorite books in over 4’000 are Moon Water, The Wiregrass & Sweetie. Thank you Pam for this amazing story.
This book searches your soul & heart. I loved The Wiregrass & have read it three times. When this book came out I was thrilled because I knew it would be absolutely wonderful & that I would be taken away to the same place as the story was told. It is inspirational, heartfelt, & soul searching. There are two parts of it that are so funny that tears were rolling down my face as I couldn’t stop laughing. It tears at your heart strings & has you looking at your own life. I am 30% Native American & as Nibi & Win believe the two spiritual realms are woven together. Pam Webber please keep writing these absolutely amazing books. I read at least 3 novels a week. My three favorite books in over 4’000 are Moon Water, The Wiregrass & Sweetie. Thank you Pam for this amazing story.
October 7, 2019
4.5/5.0
Further, the balance between Christian beliefs and Native traditions and beliefs is smoothly done and aids character development. Overall, this is a great read for teens and adults!
Read full review in the 2019 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Further, the balance between Christian beliefs and Native traditions and beliefs is smoothly done and aids character development. Overall, this is a great read for teens and adults!
Read full review in the 2019 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 9, 2019
Once again Pam Webber gives her reader a great story about Nettie. She's sixteen now and filled with questions. Will she and her beloved Andy make a go of their romance? Will she be baptized by her fire and brimstone preacher? And what horrors will come under the Blood Moon? Can Nettie help lessen the catastrophe? Who will die and who will survive? Lenore Gay
August 22, 2019
Moon Water by author Pam Webber is WONDERFUL! I enjoyed reading this story of 1969 teenage Nettie and her close friend Win. Nettie is an honest-hearted high school girl who has very strong opinions about good and evil, right and wrong but is not able to give her boyfriend Andy a definite answer if she will love him forever. She honestly can not promise forever but Andy is hurt and they take a break. I thoroughly was immersed in the counsel of Win's Grandmother Nibi who is a Monocan medicine woman. I loved and respected the bridge of Christian beliefs and the Native American beliefs of spirituality and the soul. Nibi is concerned about the darkness which she feels is coming with the approaching Blood Moon. The story is set in the time preceding the onslaught of hurricane Camille and this story is based on the aftermath of destruction in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Grandmother Nibi has challenged Win and Nettie to make their own dreamcatcher following the Native traditions of a medicine woman. She tells the girls it will be a source of protection in the coming darkness. Nibi gives guidance as needed and the two girls try to complete the process of gathering the items and making the dreamcatchers. The girls' adventures and learning experiences are very interesting.
Also, Nettie wants to be Baptised into her church. Her pastor feels she is not spiritually ready for the serious commitment of the water baptism. Nettie is disappointed and a bit frustrated. She is required to start counseling classes each Wednesday night after service with an associate of the church Even though she is learning about how her attitudes and beliefs affect her faith, Nettie becomes suspicious of Mr. Danes motives. I won't post spoilers, but the coming catastrophe is heartbreaking! I held my breath as I read some scenes.
There were so many wonderful thoughts, explanations, and Christian beliefs along with the Native teaching that I had highlighted many passages of this book. As I said in the beginning, it is WONDERFUL!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Grandmother Nibi has challenged Win and Nettie to make their own dreamcatcher following the Native traditions of a medicine woman. She tells the girls it will be a source of protection in the coming darkness. Nibi gives guidance as needed and the two girls try to complete the process of gathering the items and making the dreamcatchers. The girls' adventures and learning experiences are very interesting.
Also, Nettie wants to be Baptised into her church. Her pastor feels she is not spiritually ready for the serious commitment of the water baptism. Nettie is disappointed and a bit frustrated. She is required to start counseling classes each Wednesday night after service with an associate of the church Even though she is learning about how her attitudes and beliefs affect her faith, Nettie becomes suspicious of Mr. Danes motives. I won't post spoilers, but the coming catastrophe is heartbreaking! I held my breath as I read some scenes.
There were so many wonderful thoughts, explanations, and Christian beliefs along with the Native teaching that I had highlighted many passages of this book. As I said in the beginning, it is WONDERFUL!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 25, 2019
If you’re old enough to remember 1969 you may recall reading of the devastation caused by Hurricane Camille and the flooding of biblical proportions that inundated an entire valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It is within this framework that “Moon Water” is set. It chronicles 16 year old Nettie’s struggles to choose wisely about decisions that will affect her entire future. To aid them in their rites of passage,
Nettie and her best friend Win are tasked with scouting out and obtaining several natural materials needed to make their dream catchers. This trek tests their courage, faith, hope, commitment and strength. Along the way Nettie begins to find answers to some of her more puzzling life questions - questions she’s been struggling with, especially precepts that others blindly accepted. Her reputation for speaking her mind was well known. These questions led to Nettie’s pastor refusing to baptize her. But then, this was 1969.
“Moon Water” is so much more than a trip down memory lane, but it does take us back to a simpler time, before cell phones and social media. This is a masterwork and deserves its own place among the classics. I approached this book with a ho-hum attitude that was quickly dispelled. You’ve all heard the mantra, “I couldn’t put it down,” I can testify that it’s true. Pam Webber’s writing is substance with style.
My thanks to She Writes Press for furnishing an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) for an honest and unpaid review. Publication date for “Moon Water” is August 20, 2019. and was named “Read of the Month” for September 2019 in the Southern Literary Review. Five stars.
“Moon Water” is
#NetGalley #MoonWater #PamWebber
Nettie and her best friend Win are tasked with scouting out and obtaining several natural materials needed to make their dream catchers. This trek tests their courage, faith, hope, commitment and strength. Along the way Nettie begins to find answers to some of her more puzzling life questions - questions she’s been struggling with, especially precepts that others blindly accepted. Her reputation for speaking her mind was well known. These questions led to Nettie’s pastor refusing to baptize her. But then, this was 1969.
“Moon Water” is so much more than a trip down memory lane, but it does take us back to a simpler time, before cell phones and social media. This is a masterwork and deserves its own place among the classics. I approached this book with a ho-hum attitude that was quickly dispelled. You’ve all heard the mantra, “I couldn’t put it down,” I can testify that it’s true. Pam Webber’s writing is substance with style.
My thanks to She Writes Press for furnishing an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) for an honest and unpaid review. Publication date for “Moon Water” is August 20, 2019. and was named “Read of the Month” for September 2019 in the Southern Literary Review. Five stars.
“Moon Water” is
#NetGalley #MoonWater #PamWebber
November 26, 2019
The summer of 1969 was life changing for Nettie and her best friend, Win. Win’s grandmother, Nibi, a Monacan medicine woman, insisted the two girls begin a dreamcatcher project that involved them gathering the materials themselves. Nibi was extremely talented with herbal remedies and the old ways, and believed that the end of summer full moon would bring disaster, though she could not predict exactly what form that would take. Nettie’s boyfriend Andy had broken up with her, her frenemy Anne was everything dainty and ladylike that Nettie was not, and the preacher refused to baptize her because she asked pointed questions about faith. Between missing Andy, finding a new friend in Ethan, and creating her dreamcatcher, Nettie learns more about herself than she ever thought possible.
Moon Water is a beautiful novel, a story of change and growth that showcases the determination of Nettie and Win to complete the necessary tasks to create their dreamcatchers. I enjoyed Nettie’s blunt honesty, being blessed with that same talent, and I understand how that gift is not always appreciated. Nibi’s great love for the girls, and for her community, was shining through in everything she did, from her remedies and salves to her deep desire to pass on the old traditions. Though there is great tragedy within these pages, there is also hope and inspiration.
My thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher and author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Moon Water is a beautiful novel, a story of change and growth that showcases the determination of Nettie and Win to complete the necessary tasks to create their dreamcatchers. I enjoyed Nettie’s blunt honesty, being blessed with that same talent, and I understand how that gift is not always appreciated. Nibi’s great love for the girls, and for her community, was shining through in everything she did, from her remedies and salves to her deep desire to pass on the old traditions. Though there is great tragedy within these pages, there is also hope and inspiration.
My thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher and author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2019
Moon Water is a beautiful and deeply moving novel with a strong historical sense of place and time. This is truly a book of both substance and pure entertainment - fun, happiness, sadness, and complexity. It will make you feel, think and question and then reexamine what you feel, think and question.
To me, it represented coming of age in the 60’s in the south surrounded by both excellent role models and those not so excellent, adventures that could turn dangerous in the blink of an eye, sweetly heated but innocent romance, and lots of decisions to make for personal growth.
This book explores the duality found in every human being along with the choices, actions, reactions, and their outcome. It will make you laugh, cry and sit on the edge of your seat in suspense while reading as fast as you can to find out where those choices and actions, both of humans and Mother Nature, will take you.
Ms. Webber is a master of storytelling with a gift for writing about complicated relationships and circumstances that make one feel they are right in the midst of the action. I think this author has what it takes to be one of America’s great modern novelist and I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
To me, it represented coming of age in the 60’s in the south surrounded by both excellent role models and those not so excellent, adventures that could turn dangerous in the blink of an eye, sweetly heated but innocent romance, and lots of decisions to make for personal growth.
This book explores the duality found in every human being along with the choices, actions, reactions, and their outcome. It will make you laugh, cry and sit on the edge of your seat in suspense while reading as fast as you can to find out where those choices and actions, both of humans and Mother Nature, will take you.
Ms. Webber is a master of storytelling with a gift for writing about complicated relationships and circumstances that make one feel they are right in the midst of the action. I think this author has what it takes to be one of America’s great modern novelist and I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
October 14, 2019
This is an interesting coming of age novel, also based on an historical event in 1969.
The 2 main characters are friends, Nettie & Win & they are being guided by Win's grandmother on how to make their our dream catchers. Win's grandmother Nibi, is a medicine woman of the Monacan Indians.
There is something on the horizon coming, pertaining to the moon & Nibi can't quite "see" what it is but she wants the girls to be prepared.
The story is interwoven with some Christianity on Nettie's part & her questioning of good & bad, right & wrong, speaking up when things don't seem right. I liked how the American Indian views were mixed in with her Christian faith.
Nice story, loved the work the girls had to do to make their dream catchers & what they learned & saw on this part of their journey in life. These unknown lessons would be helpful to them, sooner than they ever expected.
'Darkness thrives on deception. It will bait and mislead until it is primed and ready to do its worse.' How true these words are at this crazy time in our country.
Thank for for the ARC Net Galley
The 2 main characters are friends, Nettie & Win & they are being guided by Win's grandmother on how to make their our dream catchers. Win's grandmother Nibi, is a medicine woman of the Monacan Indians.
There is something on the horizon coming, pertaining to the moon & Nibi can't quite "see" what it is but she wants the girls to be prepared.
The story is interwoven with some Christianity on Nettie's part & her questioning of good & bad, right & wrong, speaking up when things don't seem right. I liked how the American Indian views were mixed in with her Christian faith.
Nice story, loved the work the girls had to do to make their dream catchers & what they learned & saw on this part of their journey in life. These unknown lessons would be helpful to them, sooner than they ever expected.
'Darkness thrives on deception. It will bait and mislead until it is primed and ready to do its worse.' How true these words are at this crazy time in our country.
Thank for for the ARC Net Galley
August 21, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was at once entertaining and thought-provoking. The engaging story about the summer journey of the main characters, Nettie and Win kept my interest all the way through. But the interplay between good/evil, light/dark, and truth/lies made me pause every so often to think. Especially interesting were the differences and similarities between the Baptist teachings and the Monacan tribal traditions. We should all strive to have the faith, wisdom, courage, hope, strength and commitment Nettie discovers she has by the end of the book.
July 30, 2021
The magic within these pages is utterly beguiling. I am in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the folk lore live among the trees. 1969 was the year I was born, so with this hook starting there, I, falling deeply in love. I loved step along the path. I was so happy to join Nettie on her journey.
I highly recommend Moon Water. This is a book I’ll treasure..I trust my views changes slightly as age. I think it will be interesting to read in another 5-10 years.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I highly recommend Moon Water. This is a book I’ll treasure..I trust my views changes slightly as age. I think it will be interesting to read in another 5-10 years.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 24, 2019
won this read through a Goodreads getaway - lucky me. i've been born and raised within the area of the Blue Ridge Mtns. i know their beauty and i love them so so much. I was so happy to have gotten this book!! was chatting with a lady who we were camping with recently ... we have traveled around the US ... but coming home to those mtns are just so amazing ... they just call 2 u ... they soothe ur soul. any who ... well written. i am new to this author, love the cover. well done. will read more soon enough.
December 31, 2019
I was fortunate to have won a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This story was amazing. A coming of age story, yet so much more. I don't want to give any spoilers so I will just say the ending totally blew me away. Just wow! Highly recommend this book. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 21, 2019
Best read in a long time!
August 27, 2019
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"This is a sweet coming of age novel that packs a bigger punch than at first you'd expect."
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"This is a sweet coming of age novel that packs a bigger punch than at first you'd expect."
November 26, 2019
I loved this book. Pam Webber's writing is excellent. I felt that I was there with the characters as they took on their summer adventures.
August 17, 2019
Pam Webber knocked it out of the park with this book. I could not put it down. I laughed at the hi-jinks the teens got into and cried at the tragedies that happened. The characters are strong and vulnerable at the same time. This book is a great story for teens and adults alike. I think this would be a great movie.
July 2, 2019
Moon Water is a standalone sequel to another book, which I admit I haven't read.
Seventeen year old Nettie spends the summer of 1969 with her best friend Win learning to make dreamcatchers, taught by Win's Grandmother, Nibi, a Monocan medicine woman. Nibi is insistent that they make them before the blood moon in August, as she has visions of something disastrous happening. Nettie and Win work on their dream catchers, spending a lot of time searching the mountains for items, but they also have a summer where Nettie can't decide how much she loves her ex-boyfriend Andy, and making friends with two California boys visiting their Grandmother.
There is a lot to like here. The author excels at creating a summery rural southern setting, and the characters are (mostly) developed. Even though some of the dialogue was stiff or too expository, the scene where the blood moon brings bad tidings is extremely tense and well written, and had me on the edge of my seat.
But.....
I can't help but think that this book was told from the wrong point of view. Win is a much more interesting character than Nettie. I couldn't bring myself to care about Nettie and Andy's relationship, partly because Andy was the most boring character in the book. But in a book that relies so heavily on Native American customs, it seems strange to have those customs viewed through the lens of a white girl, not the Monocan character. I don't know if the author is Native herself, and if she is white the book definitely seems well-researched.
I'm not religious, and while I wouldn't call this Christian Fiction, there was definitely a Christian bent to it that I wasn't expecting. And while, yes, Native Americans can be Christians just as much as anyone else can, this particular book ignored the ugly history of Christianity toward Native cultures. Not one little mention of cultural genocide or mission schools.
So, there were some problems, but overall it was a book I enjoyed reading. Coming of age stories are my jam, and even though I'm a city-dweller, I love books that take place in small towns. So I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good coming of age book with a little bit of history. (Oh yes, the big thing that Nibi warned about is based on 100% true events)
**I received an ARC of this book. It will be released in October 2019.**
Seventeen year old Nettie spends the summer of 1969 with her best friend Win learning to make dreamcatchers, taught by Win's Grandmother, Nibi, a Monocan medicine woman. Nibi is insistent that they make them before the blood moon in August, as she has visions of something disastrous happening. Nettie and Win work on their dream catchers, spending a lot of time searching the mountains for items, but they also have a summer where Nettie can't decide how much she loves her ex-boyfriend Andy, and making friends with two California boys visiting their Grandmother.
There is a lot to like here. The author excels at creating a summery rural southern setting, and the characters are (mostly) developed. Even though some of the dialogue was stiff or too expository, the scene where the blood moon brings bad tidings is extremely tense and well written, and had me on the edge of my seat.
But.....
I can't help but think that this book was told from the wrong point of view. Win is a much more interesting character than Nettie. I couldn't bring myself to care about Nettie and Andy's relationship, partly because Andy was the most boring character in the book. But in a book that relies so heavily on Native American customs, it seems strange to have those customs viewed through the lens of a white girl, not the Monocan character. I don't know if the author is Native herself, and if she is white the book definitely seems well-researched.
I'm not religious, and while I wouldn't call this Christian Fiction, there was definitely a Christian bent to it that I wasn't expecting. And while, yes, Native Americans can be Christians just as much as anyone else can, this particular book ignored the ugly history of Christianity toward Native cultures. Not one little mention of cultural genocide or mission schools.
So, there were some problems, but overall it was a book I enjoyed reading. Coming of age stories are my jam, and even though I'm a city-dweller, I love books that take place in small towns. So I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good coming of age book with a little bit of history. (Oh yes, the big thing that Nibi warned about is based on 100% true events)
**I received an ARC of this book. It will be released in October 2019.**
December 30, 2019
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This was my first book by this author, and athought this is more of a young adult book I fill any age group can enjoy this read. The book was very well written and integrated both Christian beliefs and those of the Native Americans. Nettie and Win face many different trials over this journey, only time will tell whether good will win over evil. I would recommend this book to others.
This was my first book by this author, and athought this is more of a young adult book I fill any age group can enjoy this read. The book was very well written and integrated both Christian beliefs and those of the Native Americans. Nettie and Win face many different trials over this journey, only time will tell whether good will win over evil. I would recommend this book to others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews