Moon at Nine - Softcover

Ellis, Deborah

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1927485592 ISBN 13: 9781927485590

Publisher: Pajama Press, 2016

Synopsis

Based on interviews with a young woman forced to flee Iran because of her sexual orientation, Moon at Nine is a tense and riveting novel that shines a light on an issue of social injustice that continues to this day.

Fifteen-year-old Farrin has grown up with secrets: ten years after the overthrow of the Shah, her aristocratic mother is still working against Iran's conservative revolutionary government. But when Farrin befriends Sadira, the intriguing and outgoing new student at her school for gifted girls, her own new secret is even more dangerous. Because the girls discover their relationship is more than just a friendship―and in Iran, being gay is punishable by death.

About this title

About the Author

Known around the world for her Breadwinner series, author and humanitarian Deborah Ellis has written nearly thirty books for children and young people, most of which explore themes of courage and social justice. Deborah's many awards include the Governor General's Award, the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Vicky Metcalf Award, the American Library Association's Notable List, and the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. Deborah lives in Simcoe, Ontario.

Review

This is a thought-provoking story inviting readers to ponder the interplay of cultural, moral, and sexual issues in different countries around the globe. (International Reading Association)

A firm grounding in Iranian history, along with the insight and empathy Ellis brings to the pain of those whose love is decreed to be immoral and unnatural, make this a smart, heartbreaking [novel.] (Publishers Weekly)

A story that illuminates, astounds and perhaps will grow empathy for other cultures and sexualities. (49th Shelf)

In this riveting love story based on true events, Deborah Ellis transports readers to Iran in 1988 just nine years after the Islamic Revolution... Readers will find this powerful book both compelling and chilling. (Dragon Lode International Books)

Ellis skillfully introduces readers to the social and political backdrop, showing in troubling detail how fear, suspicion, and historical animosities fragment Farrin’s world and limit her freedom....Secondary characters provide fascinating windows into other perspectives and call attention to Iran’s heterogeneity, creating a multidimensional portrait of corruption and cruelty, resistance and compassion. (The Horn Book Magazine)

[T]he portrait painted of 1980s Iran's political climate - and in particular the situation of gay and lesbian people and political prisoners - is haunting. (Kirkus)

Multi award-winning author Deborah Ellis excels in creating stories of determination in the face of adversity and social injustice. Here, she presents us with a sensitive and passionate tale based on the true life experiences . . . Beautifully told . . . (Quick Brown Fox)

As more and more states strike down anti-gay marriage laws, Moon at Nine is a chilling reminder of the suffering of too many others . . . its importance is hard to deny. (BookDragon, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center)

. . . inarguably powerful . . . .A book study guide is included and will help encourage much needed discussion. (ALA Booklist)

more than simply an LGTBQ novel or historical fiction...a multi-faceted hybrid that can be enjoyed by both teens and adults...It is powerfully grounded in the setting of Tehran, and depicts the beauty of falling in love and the cruelty and coldness of power in the hands of outside forces. (The Ottawa Review of Books)

About this edition

• Publisher: Pajama Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1927485592
• ISBN 13: 9781927485590
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224