Moonwalking

Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
New York Public Library Best Book of 2022
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year
A Read Across America Title

"This novel in verse, alternately narrated by two boys in 1980s Greenpoint, Brooklyn, one channeled by Elliott and one by Miller-Lachmann, eloquently tackles race, culture and life on the spectrum." -- The New York Times

"The coauthors' equally strong contributions evocatively bring the characters and setting to life through visual poetry. The even pacing makes for an engrossing read, and the characters' pain and promise will remain with readers. A stellar, hauntingly beautiful narrative." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"In an authentic look at the racial divide that continues today, authors Elliott and Miller-Lachman bring varying degrees of own-voices authenticity to the characterizations and emotions represented. Their multilayered exposure of a specific time in history will resonate with modern readers, who will see these racist acts echoed all too loudly in current events." -- Booklist, starred review

"A tender, engrossing tribute to art and close interpersonal bonds that explores themes of neurodivergence, mental health, and institutional prejudice." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Through alternating first-person accounts, and with varied poetic styles, Elliott (A Place Inside of Me, rev. 11/20) and Miller-Lachmann (Rogue, rev. 9/13) present a thoughtfully structured and sensitively rendered verse novel set in early- 1980s Brooklyn featuring two memorable protagonists... Both authors are adept at evocatively re-creating the setting, with references ranging from Ronald Reagan's anti-union stance to Jean- Michel Basquiat, Michael Jackson, and the Clash. Authors' notes give background on various aspects of the novel, including autism as a likely diagnosis for JJ, using today's terms. -- Horn Book, starred review

"Fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander will delight in Elliott and Miller-Lachmann's novel-in-verse told in dual perspectives... A touching story of race, class, and friendship, this story does not end with a neat bow but on a realistic note... A recommended must-have for middle and high school collections looking to expand their upper middle-grade offerings." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"While JJ and Pie's childhoods unfold 40 years in the past, their experience will ring true to modern readers, with explorations of immigration, racism, mental illness, and love - all topics that still resonate powerfully today. Racism is as real, divisions are as stark, no matter how freshly walked the protests or raw the throats that call for justice." -- Quill & Quire

"In the captivating middle-grade novel Moonwalking, two boys in 1980s Brooklyn form an unlikely friendship through music and art... Elliott and Miller-Lachmann use dual points of view to bring this heartwarming but also painful novel-in-verse to life... They delicately cover topics that include interracial friendships, abuse, mental health, immigration, disabilities, class and the sense of belonging in language that is easily accessible to middle-grade readers." -- Shelf Awareness