Plot Summary

Keeping the Moon

Sarah Dessen
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Keeping the Moon

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1999

Book Brief

Sarah Dessen

Keeping the Moon

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1999
Book Details
Pages

228

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Colby, North Carolina • 1990s

Publication Year

1999

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

HL650L

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Super Short Summary

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen follows Colie Sparks, an insecure girl who spends the summer with her Aunt Mira in a small beach town after her mother, a successful fitness expert, leaves for a business trip. As Colie navigates her new environment, she faces bullying, builds new friendships, and develops self-confidence, culminating in a newfound sense of self-worth and a romantic relationship with a local artist named Norman. The book addresses issues of bullying and self-esteem.

Contemplative

Inspirational

Emotional

Heartwarming

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.2

69,164 ratings

64%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Sarah Dessen's Keeping the Moon captures the transformative summer of a self-conscious teenager who discovers confidence and friendship in a coastal town. Readers commend the relatable characters and heartfelt plot. Critics note predictable elements, but the emotional depth and growth overshadow these flaws, making it a moving young adult read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Keeping the Moon?

Readers who enjoy Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen are often teens and young adults who appreciate coming-of-age stories with emotional depth and relatable characters. Fans of contemporary YA fiction such as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares and To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han will find this book appealing.

4.2

69,164 ratings

64%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

Keeping the Moon, originally published in 1999, showcases Sarah Dessen's early exploration of themes like self-discovery and body image, which recur throughout her work.

The novel originally began as a screenplay, which Dessen wrote during college, before she adapted it into a novel format, demonstrating her versatile writing capabilities.

Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!

Keeping the Moon was re-released as part of a special anniversary collection, highlighting its enduring popularity and significance in Dessen's body of work.

Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!

Book Details
Pages

228

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Colby, North Carolina • 1990s

Publication Year

1999

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

HL650L

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