Scan barcode
eeva's review against another edition
3.5
This was…almost physically painful to read. I had vague recollections of this book, but I couldn’t remember how everything ended. I was fully expecting everything to all blow up at the last meal. So relieved it didn’t.
Like, I get it. I’ve seen the TikToks of girls saying that, at age like 7, they thought the 17+ lifeguard would fall hopelessly in love with them. I know this isn’t uncommon. But hearing Norah’s POV mooning over Andrew was so hard to read.
Very surprised they weren’t busted from the party. Usually those secret party storylines never go well. Something terrible always happens.
Like, I get it. I’ve seen the TikToks of girls saying that, at age like 7, they thought the 17+ lifeguard would fall hopelessly in love with them. I know this isn’t uncommon. But hearing Norah’s POV mooning over Andrew was so hard to read.
rebeccaehockin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
beccadavies's review against another edition
5.0
I always rave and rave about this author but I do it for good reason- the woman understands the emotions of children.
In this case it was Norah, the english "war guest" staying with a rich lady in toronto while war rages in her homeland. This book in the trilogy was set in Norah's favourite island of Gairloch in the Muskoka cottage country. There she can be herself, there she can fall in love.
Although only 13, she's convinced she loves Andrew, the nephew of her "aunt" florence. The story is a very simple one but one that is so chalk-a-block with teenage angst and emotion it was a constant ride.
I would reccomend it to any young girl as it might help them understand that difficult time in life when your not quite a girl and not yet a woman either. I know if I had read this book at that age I would have identified with Norah's shyness, desires and dreams.
In this case it was Norah, the english "war guest" staying with a rich lady in toronto while war rages in her homeland. This book in the trilogy was set in Norah's favourite island of Gairloch in the Muskoka cottage country. There she can be herself, there she can fall in love.
Although only 13, she's convinced she loves Andrew, the nephew of her "aunt" florence. The story is a very simple one but one that is so chalk-a-block with teenage angst and emotion it was a constant ride.
I would reccomend it to any young girl as it might help them understand that difficult time in life when your not quite a girl and not yet a woman either. I know if I had read this book at that age I would have identified with Norah's shyness, desires and dreams.
jessewatt24's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
finesilkflower's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Three years after the events of 'The Sky Is Falling,' Norah Stoakes is still a war guest living in Canada; now 13, she's going through puberty, struggling with first love and other everyday occurrences made more awkward by living away from home. This book takes place entirely at her host family's cottage in Muskoka; it wasn't until I visited my Canadian family's cottage for the first time as an adult that I realized how deeply Canadian this content was.
This was my favourite of the 'Guests of War' trilogy when I was 9 or so. As an adult I think 'The Sky Is Falling' is a better standalone book objectively (stronger premise, better character development), but the lower tension of 'Looking at the Moon' is an extremely welcome follow up. This is the book that least relies on the War Guest premise, but Norah's status as a family outsider and the WW2 home front setting are integral to the plot. Although Canada in general and the cottage in specific serve the role of safe places to escape to, the ongoing war is beginning to touch them in larger ways, as cousins consider enlisting, young men disappear from teen parties, and gas and food rationing place limits on the family's usual vacation traditions. Pearson effectively weaves in global and personal stories as Norah not only changes in the usual 13-year-old ways (i.e. suddenly becoming interested in boys) but also in her values as she sheds her childlike black-and-white thinking for more nuanced adult perspectives on war, honour, and cowardice.
This is a great vacation book because it so joyously captures what is wonderful about a family cottage while also not shying away from the more downbeat aspects of teen drama, family conflict, and global events.
Nitpicks: Norah's changes of heart feel a bit too extreme; while I enjoyed her discussions about the meaning of war with both Andrew and her elderly aunt Catherine, it does kind of come across that she decides war is wrong only because a cute boy is shipping off. It would have been interesting to see her grapple more with the philosophy here.
Nice Touches: It's alluded to in the first book, but I particularly like seeing how the characters have more relaxed "cottage" personalities. Aunt Florence is still a stuffy blowhard, but she also gets in the lake in an elaborate bathing costume. Aunt Mary is still quiet and unassuming, but also has an adventurous streak and takes Norah for a spontaneous midnight paddle. Even Gavin is different at the cottage, quietly assuming a leadership role with his "cousins". Although the book is told from the POV of a teen who's too old for it, a side plot about the younger kids forming a detective agency was especially interesting to me as a younger child reading the book.
This was my favourite of the 'Guests of War' trilogy when I was 9 or so. As an adult I think 'The Sky Is Falling' is a better standalone book objectively (stronger premise, better character development), but the lower tension of 'Looking at the Moon' is an extremely welcome follow up. This is the book that least relies on the War Guest premise, but Norah's status as a family outsider and the WW2 home front setting are integral to the plot. Although Canada in general and the cottage in specific serve the role of safe places to escape to, the ongoing war is beginning to touch them in larger ways, as cousins consider enlisting, young men disappear from teen parties, and gas and food rationing place limits on the family's usual vacation traditions. Pearson effectively weaves in global and personal stories as Norah not only changes in the usual 13-year-old ways (i.e. suddenly becoming interested in boys) but also in her values as she sheds her childlike black-and-white thinking for more nuanced adult perspectives on war, honour, and cowardice.
This is a great vacation book because it so joyously captures what is wonderful about a family cottage while also not shying away from the more downbeat aspects of teen drama, family conflict, and global events.
Nitpicks: Norah's changes of heart feel a bit too extreme; while I enjoyed her discussions about the meaning of war with both Andrew and her elderly aunt Catherine, it does kind of come across that she decides war is wrong only because a cute boy is shipping off. It would have been interesting to see her grapple more with the philosophy here.
Nice Touches: It's alluded to in the first book, but I particularly like seeing how the characters have more relaxed "cottage" personalities. Aunt Florence is still a stuffy blowhard, but she also gets in the lake in an elaborate bathing costume. Aunt Mary is still quiet and unassuming, but also has an adventurous streak and takes Norah for a spontaneous midnight paddle. Even Gavin is different at the cottage, quietly assuming a leadership role with his "cousins". Although the book is told from the POV of a teen who's too old for it, a side plot about the younger kids forming a detective agency was especially interesting to me as a younger child reading the book.
caiterlenbachreads's review against another edition
5.0
While not quite as good as the Sky is Falling, this one perfectly covers the coming of age, your first taste of "love", and the scares of growing up. It is just as beautifully written as the Sky is Falling and of course, just as easily relate-able.
kaitlynpalmer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
marathonofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/looking-at-the-moon/
sarahthornton's review against another edition
5.0
Unlike most of the middle books in a trilogy it stands alone well, and continues the story in an interesting way. The loneliness of being seperate from your country stands true.