La luna esta arriba / The Moon is Up (LEÑADORAS / LUMBERJANES)

Lumberjanes (Novels) #2

by Mariko Tamaki, Brooklyn Allen (Illustrator)

Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin—Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley—love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counsellor Jen . . . and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella’s, where the woods contain endless mysteries.

As the camp gears up for the big Galaxy Wars competition, Jo and the gang get some help from an unexpected visitor—a Moon Pirate!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, LGBT, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens

198 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2018

About the author

Mariko Tamaki is a Toronto writer, playwright, activist and performer. She works and performs with fat activists Pretty Porky and Pissed Off and the theatre troupe TOA, whose recent play, A vs. B, was staged at the 2004 Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Her well-received novel, Cover Me (McGilligan Books) was followed by a short fiction collection, True Lies: The Book of Bad Advice (Women's Press). Mariko's third book, FAKE ID, is due out in spring 2005.

Mariko Tamaki has performed her work across Canada and through the States, recently appearing at the Calgary Folkfest 2004, Vancouver Writer's Festival 2003, Spatial III, and the Perpetual Motion/Girls Bite Back Tour, which circled though Ottawa, Montreal, Brooklyn and Chicago. She has appeared widely on radio and television including First Person Singular on CBC radio and Imprint on TVO. Mariko Tamaki is currently attending York University working a master's degree in women's studies.

[MacMIllan Books]

Reviews

[laura (bbliophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun and I love the Lumberjanes so, so much!

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just going to copy and past my review of the first Lumberjanes prose novel because my feelings are pretty much the same:

While I really hate to give this only 3 stars, I just don't think Lumberjanes works as well in prose format. And I KNOW this series is actually for middle-grade children and I'm an adult reading them but even so, this novel read 'younger' than the comics do for me. I don't really know how to describe it but I think that in trying to keep with the 'feel' of the comics the author dumbed down the writing a lot, so there's just a lot of short sentences and exclamations and parts where she's trying to very quickly describe all the characters' reaction to something and it gets all muddled, whereas in the comic you could just look at their faces / positions etc. It was still a fun read, but I found myself wishing I was reading it in comic form most of the time.

I did feel like this one read a bit more naturally than the first, but I still definitely think this series works better as a comic. I might wait awhile to check out the third one.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloomin' Readathon, sun space: a book that is bound to make you happy

I needed a win this readathon and I knew this would be what I needed. The first book was already such a big source of happiness to me and the second part was just as great. I love these characters, they’re all so loveable and their adventures are so fun!

This story was also especially cute for me because my girlfriend is an astrophysicist, so I think it’s really nice to have a story with so many astronomical elements. I also thought the message was important and it nicely fitted the character. Overall, such a delight of a book, I love Lumberjanes!

[Kitkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! I was worried but the book was really good! I can’t wait to read the first book about unicorns!🦄 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄😆😆😆😆

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

As readers of The Phantom Paragrapher will know, I am a big Lumberjane fan so when I saw that they had also released chapter books. I knew I had to read them. In The Moon is Up, the cabins are preparing for their annual Galaxy Wars. Each cabin has to find the nine planets with the clues that their fearless cabin leader Jen has come up with. It's a race against the clock as Zodiac and Roanoke are tied throughout the game. However, it's not a Lumberjanes novel without a bit of mischief and mayhem as someone is stealing the cheese from their camp. The Lumberjanes will discover it's a little mouse who isn't just any mouse, he is the son of an evil Mouse Pirate who has been tasked to stealing all the cheese that the camp has to offer for his mother and her crew. Of course, the mouse falls for the friendship that the Lumberjanes have as they welcome him into their group with open arms. Can the Lumberjanes not only win the annual Galaxy wars but also help save their camp from the evil Mouse Pirate Queen? Find out in Book #2 Lumberjanes series - The Moon is Up written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Brooklyn Allen.

[Alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantan las leñadoras, y aunque le digo una y otra vez a mi novia que soy más Jen que Jo, quiero tanto a Jo, y he leído este libro en el momento perfecto, algo dentro de mí necesitaba leer, justo ahora, ese "solo porque PUDIESE ir a un sitio como ese, solo porque me hubieran aceptado, eso no significaba que estuviese obligada a ir". Puede o puede que no me haya hecho llorar un poquito las reflexiones del final en un momento en el que estoy second-guessing myself demasiado. Que decida no ir en ese momento no cambia nada sobre el futuro de Jo, solo está en su derecho a decidir decir que no a buenas oportunidades cuando no vienen en el momento en el que las queremos. Podemos priorizar otras oportunidades que igual a otros les parecen "peores" a largo plazo solo porque son lo que queremos ahora, y siempre habrá tiempo para lo demás. Te quiero Jo, qué duro es ser científica y qué bien lo vas a hacer en el futuro!!!!

[McKinlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free DRC from netgalley and the publisher. This does not affect my rating.*

If you're new here, I love the Lumberjanes. I'll take these girls in comics and novels, any way i can get them to be honest. This one fell a little short for me, it was just missing something I can't quite pinpoint, but I still liked it a lot. Full disclosure, i've been in a major slump lately, so it could also be that.

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been disappointed by the last couple of volumes of the Lumberjanes graphic novels, but the middle-grade prose novels are more than making up for it.

One small note, though: It's Billie Jean King, not Billy Jean King. If you're going to misspell something, the name of a feminist icon maybe shouldn't be it.

[Joelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Lumberjanes comic and was thrilled when I heard about their middle grade novel series. Even more thrilled when I got to read a proof of the second book. The reality didn't live up to my expectations (having Lumberjanes things explained in prose wasn't as fun as seeing it in the comics), but I'd still recommend it to 3rd-4th graders who are interested in getting into or reading more about Lumberjanes.
(I read an ARC ebook from NetGalley.)

[Ashly Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was adorable.

RTC

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another truly delightful installment! Moon mice and music and friendship and fun vs obligations all take a turn in this one.

[Karine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so much good point: good friends ( reminds me of sisterhood of the traveling pants and the cookie club series) camping, adventure, science and so much more. A must read series ⭐️🥳

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first one. Still more Junior than YA, but closer to what I'd expect from Lumberjanes (and yay, Mal and Molly's relationship is explicitly acknowledged!) Will definitely be reading the next one, as well as the graphic novels :D

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best part of this one was that the Lumberjanes thought Saskatchewan sounded like a made up place 💕

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin—Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley—love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counsellor Jen... and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella's, where the woods contain endless mysteries. As the camp gears up for the big Galaxy Wars competition, Jo and the gang get some help from an unexpected visitor—a Moon Pirate!

Lumberjanes: The Moon is Up is more fun and adventure with the ever-popular and ever-unique Lumberjane scouts of Roanoke cabin.

While the books are about everyone, all 5 girls get their moments, there's a little more focus on Jo this time around, like there was with April in the previous book. Jo's the quiet thinker, the practical scientific one in their group with a love of math and science. She's smart and resourceful. She knows who she is, even when some thought she was someone else when she was younger (Jo is transgender). Her days are spent having adventure after adventure with her friends, but then a letter arrives. A serious one. A letter that could mean great opportunities for her. But it would mean leaving camp. Leaving adventure and fun behind. Plus, there's the whole missing cheese and a sudden appearance by a Moon Pirate to deal with.

As with the previous book, I love the idea of this, of more stories about the girls of Roanoke cabin and the bizarre situations they often fall into, of little prose adventures that work alongside the comics. It's certainly not a series you can go into without at least reading a couple of the collected trade volumes of the comics, but the tone is the same. The adventure and the friendships, the awesomeness of young girls supporting other young girls. The worry if you're doing the right thing. The puns when it comes to badge names and the references to famous women. A must-read for the middle grade crowd of Lumberjanes fans.

(I received an e-galley of this title to review from Amulet Books through NetGalley.)

[Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lumberjanes: The Moon is Up is a middle grade novel written by Mariko Tamaki, and illustrated by Brooklyn Allen. It’s based on the comic book series, Lumberjanes, which is a delight of a series. I was slightly worried that the novel would not be able to hold true to the comic, or would be ‘dumbed down’ for a lower readership. Luckily, that is not the case.

This book is honestly wonderful. I want to give it to every girl I know, and cry ‘Read this! There are so many girls! There are so many eldritch horrors! Read, for the love of God!’. If I’d had this book when I was little, it would have made my life, and probably would have made me want to go to camp.

I love all the random puns and references the girls make. At one point, someone exclaimed ‘Roxanne Gay!’ and I couldn’t help laughing. This book is written with so much love for women, with so many funny and clever references that it’s a delight to read. It’s a snuggle under the covers with a torch when you’re meant to be asleep kind of book.

Jo is my favourite character in anything, ever. I loved her from the first moment I read her in the first Lumberjane comic, and I love her in this book too. She’s wonderfully written, awkward, shy, likes to be on her alone, but still the kind of person that you want to hang out with and cuddle a lot. Also, she’s a trans girl whose story doesn’t revolve around being trans! She also has two dads! What more could a reader ask for!

Ripley, my baby! Someone please tell her that there is edible glitter that she can buy and consume, I need this girl to have her glitter fix. Also, her instant reaction into finding a mouse as tall as a loaf of bread that wears clothes and can talk is to hug it. She’s the best blue haired girl in the world.

The drawings are also adorable. I realise they’re not completely finished yet, but even the sketches are still fun and dynamic with a whole lot of energy. My Adobe Digital Edition skipped over a few of them, so I’m not sure I was meant to see them, but they’re still really cute. I honestly can’t wait for the finished edition.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this ARC.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could top smelly unicorns and cloud people? Holy Carrie Fisher, its got to be pirate space mice! The Moon is Up was a fantastic continuation of both the Lumberjanes graphic novels and the Unicorn Power novel. I personally love that at this point they expect readers to be reading both formats and be familiar with Mal, Molly, Jo, April and RIPLEY! If you are not familiar with the Lumberjanes of Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for for Hardcore Lady-Types than you need to go read everything you can in the series!

The Moon is Up is not just about space pirate mice; It is really a story about realizing you can do things just because they are fun. You don't have to do serious things that are expected of you just because you should. You can take time for fun. The message is that fun and friends are an important part of life.

My takeaway from this series is that we should always swear and count in hard-core lady types/feminist icons. I am sure I am not the only one who writes down the names of the people I don't know to google later. Am I right?

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Lumberjanes! I enjoy these books much more than the graphic novels because they take longer to read.

This story is a great follow up to the first novel. But it is hard to follow the stinky unicorns from the first story. This one had a bit too many references to space for me, though it was pretty entertaining. The tasks that the Lumberjanes had to do were all space related, and it ended with a Moon Pirate mouse visiting the planet! You never know what you’re going to get at the camp!

I wish there were more illustrations. I love the pictures of the girls, which really tie the novel into the graphic novels. Also, I keep getting some of the girls mixed up in my head, like April and Molly, so seeing their pictures often would have helped me keep track of the girls.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s must read for fans of the Lumberjanes!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Nadina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't help but love all the LumberJanes stories. Just like the graphic novels and the first actual novel, this book was filled with fun, puns, and hilarious moments.
There was character growth through this novel, and you could read it without having read the other novel or the graphics (though you'd be missing out on funny moments and references to past events).
I loved the premise of this tale, and how the end set the series up for the next book. I really like that it is broken into parts (almost like volumes of a graphic novel) and chapters (more like each individual "episode" of the graphic novel.
The illustrations are great and color is really not necessary, though it would be fun if they were in color.
I like that each part, in fitting with the series" has a badge idea that is somewhat the focus of that part.
Over all a great series that does not sacrifice from the original characters personalities and history.

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review*****

I really, really enjoyed this - I love the Lumberjanes graphic novels and this is a great addition to that world. The story is fun - and I'm going to have to go and find myself a "proper" copy to check out the finished artwork. So much fun and so true to the characters that we already know from the graphic novels. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I love the way that the Lumberjanes and their different families and backgrounds are presented - without comment, without an explanatory comma and without assuming that it's something other or different or unusual - which is, of course, totally how it should be. Really good on all fronts.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a digital review copy from Netgalley*

Unfortunately, this book wasn't as good as the previous installment. There was just something missing that I can't quite name. Despite this book being under 200 pages and containing frequent illustrations, I feel like it was longer than it was and dragged too much for me to enjoy it. The storyline also wasn't my favorite. It is one that I think would have worked better in graphic novel form. I understand that the author was trying to connect Jo's inner struggles to the plot but I feel like it could have been done better with a different storyline. I still love the characters and their friendship is one of my favorite fictional friendships. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The previous Lumberjanes novel by Mariko Tamaki ended on a cliff hanger scene... Jo glimpsed from the window of the Roanoke cabin a round glowing craft like a tiny moon descending in the forest and a small figure slipping out into the night. Shortly after, cheese begins to go missing from the Lumberjanes kitchens. But Jo has a lot of other things on her mind: the first annual Galaxy Wars- four days of space-themed contests and activities- is about to kick off in camp. And the Jo receives a letter, forwarded from home: an invitation to The Center for Scientific Advancement and Research's Summer Theory and Advanced Astronomical Research summer program. It's a dream offer except for one catch. She would have to leave the Lumberjanes behind.

[Krista K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing me an arc of this new addition to the Lumberjanes. Direct quotes are not final

I think this sequel to Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power! does a better job of introducing the five scouts of Roanoke cabin to new Lumberjane readers. I thought the character development left something to be desired, and I think the overuse of feminist icon names (e.g. "Oh my AMY POEHLER," "Holy Ruth Bader Ginsburg," etc.) may be alienating to younger readers. I understand the intent, and maybe kids who read it will be inspired to find out more about the people mentioned, but I found it tedious.

I think Tamaki also missed an opportunity with the new character Barney, who was introduced in the first novel. Barney identifies with "they/them" pronouns, and that was not mentioned in this book and no time was spent getting to know them.

[Mercedes McLean-Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book better than the first in this series, perhaps because I had a clearer vision of what I was picking up, but I also think that the author hit her stride. However, I still object to the way that this book, and this series, treats Mal. In the graphic novels (the original presentation of these characters) Mal is the most cautious, the one to recognize and object to the dangers that her cabin-mates are subjecting themselves (and her) to. She is the ultimate example of “bravery isn’t not being afraid, but doing the job in spite of the fear” or whatever the cliche is. The novel series makes her seem like a whiny wimp. Dislike.

[Liesl · Rating 3 out of 5]

YES! Feminism and scouting and diverse, badass women! I am 100% here for this. Conveys all the magic of friendship and scouting (I am slightly in love with the badges) as well as a nice whimsical tale of adventure. All of the girls are really interesting in their own right and the group dynamic is just perfection. Also nice seeing a prominent female lead who's passionate about science in the shape of Jo. I need to read all the Lumberjanes comics now.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the second chapter book of the Lumberjanes series, the bunk mates of Roanoke are off on an adventure to solve the riddles posed in teh Galaxy War created by their camp counselor, Jen. Along the way, they will also have to decorate their cabin as well as deal with space mice and moon moles. Jo has a decision to make when her acceptance to a prestigious science camp arrives. Should she stay or should she go?
As madcap as the comics, the chapter books are just not as good. They continue the stories well but something about having the pictures just make the Lumberjanes a little bit better.

[Kayt O'Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues right where the first novel left off. I still enjoyed it immensely, so I'm going to copy the relevant parts of my first review:

A middle grade novel set in the fantastic summer camp of the Lumberjanes comics, this was an exceedingly fun romp that captures the spirit of the comics. What I was really impressed with was how the novel's writing really captured the spirit of the comics. It's casual, excitable, has a decent amount of CAPSLOCK that never feels out of place, and many, many puns.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The girls of Roanoke cabin are back for another adventure! The second book in the spinoff novelization of the original graphic novels, this book does not disappoint!

Jen and the counselors are planning an epic all-camp game called Galaxy Wars, and Roanoke is out to win it! Along the way, they meet a mouse, Castor, who joins them as a cabin mate for this novel. There’s more to Castor’s story though....which of course leads to the adventure!

Highly recommended for middle grade readers and adults who love a camp or girl power story!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't get enough of these hardcore lady-types and their adventures at camp whether it be up a mountain or in the cabin, getting badges and getting right with themselves and learning teamwork and the power of friendship TO THE MAX.

Adore the novelized version of the graphic novels as much as the graphic novels themselves. With a theme of orbs and science-like adventures, this is a romp with plenty of puns!

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was somewhere between a four and a 5 for me. I loved the story line. It dove deeper into the friendships of all the girls, and all around had a great plot. In general I liked this one better than the first one in the Novel section of the Lumberjanes series. I still like the comics better, but I will take the Lumberjanes in any form! Whether it's a comic or a novel I always enjoy reading this series!