Brighter Than the Moon
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Shy foster kid Jonas and self-assured vlogger Shani met online, and so far, that's where their relationship has stayed, sharing memes and baring their souls from behind their screens. Shani is eager to finally meet up, but Jonas isn't so sure--he's not confident Shani will like the real him . . . if he's even sure who that is.
Jonas knows he's trapped himself in a lie with Shani--and wants to dig himself out. But Shani, who's been burned before, may not give him a chance: she talks her best friend Ash into playing spy and finding out the truth. When Ash falls for Jonas, too, he keeps that news from Shani, and soon they're all keeping secrets. Will it matter that their hearts are in the right place? Coming clean will require them to figure out who they really are, which is no easy task when all the pieces of your identity go beyond easy boxes and labels.
Lauded writer David Valdes offers a heartfelt, clever, and thought-provoking story about how we figure out who we want to be--online and IRL--for fans of David Levithan and Adam Silvera.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Valdes (Spin Me Right Round) thoughtfully crafts a jam-packed story about three teens learning the importance of honesty and struggling to understand their identities. Sixteen-year-old biracial (Black and white) beauty YouTuber Shani has been burned by boys before, but she thinks she's ready to open her heart again, this time to 17-year-old artist Jonas. The only issue is that they've never met IRL; their friendship has blossomed exclusively through Instagram DMs and phone calls. Jonas, worried that Shani won't accept his foster care upbringing, keeps it secret from her. Shani, sensing he's hiding something and nervous about getting catfished, enlists her best friend, trans 17-year-old Ash, who is Indian and Cuban, to uncover the truth about Jonas. When Ash strikes up an online friendship with Jonas under the guise of commissioning art, their romantic chemistry takes them both off guard. With friendships in turmoil, the trio must maneuver their budding romances while balancing their individual struggles of self-expression. Discussions of identity and privilege occasionally become muddled amid the teens' clashing traumas, but an overarching theme of forgiveness and lifelong discovery provides valuable insight. It's a sweet story that positively explores the validity of online friendship and romance. Ages 12–up.
