Looking at the Moon

Looking at the Moon follows 11-year-old Norah Stoakes, a British war guest living with a wealthy family in Toronto during World War II. As a child evacuee sent to Canada for safety, Norah must adapt to her temporary home at the Ogilvie's summer cottage on Shadow Lake. The story takes place over one transformative summer in 1943, as Norah navigates relationships with her host family, fellow war guests, and the local community. Her experiences at Shadow Lake pull her between childhood comforts and growing awareness of the adult world, all while the war continues an ocean away. Through Norah's perspective, the novel examines themes of displacement, divided loyalties, and the ways war impacts those far from the front lines. The narrative captures a specific moment in Canadian wartime history while exploring universal experiences of growing up and finding one's place in an uncertain world.

Readers appreciate the realistic portrayal of a teenage girl's experiences as a British evacuee in Canada during WWII. Many note the book addresses complex themes like first love, family relationships, and wartime anxiety in ways young readers can relate to. The emotional depth and historical details receive frequent mentions in reviews. Common praise points: - Authentic teenage perspective and feelings - Well-researched historical setting - Natural progression from the first book in the series Main criticisms: - Some find the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more wartime context - The romance subplot feels rushed to some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) "Captures the confusion and excitement of first love perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer "The protagonist's inner conflict feels genuine and relatable" - Amazon reviewer "A thoughtful look at how war affects those far from the fighting" - School Library Journal reader review

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry A young girl helps her Jewish friend escape Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak A foster child in Nazi Germany steals books and helps hide a Jewish man in her basement during World War II.

The Sky Is Falling by Kit Pearson Two British children are sent to Canada as war guests during World War II to escape the London Blitz.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr A Jewish family flees Germany before World War II begins, experiencing life as refugees in Switzerland, France, and England.

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene A Jewish girl in Arkansas harbors an escaped German POW during World War II, challenging her understanding of friendship and loyalty.

🌙 Kit Pearson based much of Norah's wartime experience on her own mother's memories of hosting British guest children during World War II in Toronto. 🏠 The book is part of a trilogy known as "The Guests of War Trilogy," which follows British children evacuated to Canada during WWII to escape German bombing. ✈️ Between 1939 and 1940, nearly 10,000 British children were sent to Canada as part of a real evacuation program called "Operation Pied Piper." 📚 The novel won the Canadian Library Association's Young Adult Book Award in 1991. 🎭 Many scenes in the book take place at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre, which still stands today and was already a historic landmark during the time period of the novel.