Review and Book Blitz: Find The Moon by Beth Fehlbaum

 

 

FIND THE MOON
By Beth Fehlbaum

Young Adult / Social Issues / Family Issues
Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press
Pages: 298 pages
Expected Publication Date: January 10, 2023



For as long as she can remember, Kylie Briscoe's been searching for the moon even though she has no idea why it soothes her. Placed in an impossible situation by her mother, Kylie cries for help. It brings rescuers and a new life, but it feels more like a death sentence when she is separated from her three-year-old sister Aliza, the only person Kylie's ever really loved.

Now she's in tiny Patience, Texas, with her eccentric potty-mouthed grandmother, ever-patient stargazing grandfather, an uncle who reminds her a lot of a cop who terrified her during a drug bust, a herd of Norwegian Dwarf goats, their "guard donkeys," and three canine roommates occupying Kylie's former nursery.

When the authorities make a mistake that could cost her everything, Kylie must decide whether to tell the truth-all of it-in order to save herself and her sister.




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AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY!
Pre-order a copy of Find the Moon and enter the author's giveaway! Three lucky winners will win a $50 Amazon Gift Card, signed set of THE PATIENCE TRILOGY, and signed copy of BIG FAT DISASTER. Ends 12/30/2022. Visit Beth's website for more information and to enter!


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Kylie Jean Briscoe has a big problem: her abusive mother, and things are about to get worse. A drug addict whose mothering skills are nonexistent, she neglects her daughters, who must fend for themselves, and she places them in grave danger with her reckless choices. When her mother is arrested, Kylie Jean and her three-year-old half-sister are taken into care. Kylie is distraught, as Aliza is claimed by a father she’s never known. Kylie’s grandparents, who have lived in hope of seeing her again, are given custody of her. The separation from her sister is traumatic but Kylie tries to put her life back together in the loving environment of her grandparents’ farm. But Kylie soon learns that love alone cannot heal her unseen wounds. 

Find the Moon by Beth Fehlbaum is a gritty, raw YA story of survival, healing and forgiveness. The story explores the painful subject of child exploitation, abuse and neglect. The harshness of Kylie’s life is balanced by the loving kindness found in her grandparents and her uncle. This book is an emotional read, and the author doesn’t take the easy way out by painting Kylie’s new life as a bed of roses. Instead, she allows her to battle her personal demons, make mistakes, learn to trust and love and eventually heal. 

I highly recommend this book to readers who appreciate realistic and heartfelt stories. Be aware that it includes subjects some readers may find uncomfortable and/or painful. 

I rate this book 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trigger Warnings:
Child sexual exploitation
Child abuse
Child neglect 




Beth Fehlbaum is the author of the young adult novels Find the Moon, Big Fat Disaster (on the Spirit of Texas-High School Reading List, 2014-2015), Courage in Patience, Hope in Patience (A YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers), and Truth in Patience. With Dr. Matt E. Jaremko, Beth co-wrote the creative nonfiction book, Trauma Recovery: Sessions with Dr. Matt. She is a high school English teacher. 

Authenticity, calling out hypocrisy, and finding one's voice are frequent themes in Beth's work, and they are absolutely essential themes in her life, as well. Beth has a B.A. in English, minor in secondary education, and an M.Ed. in reading. Beth is in-demand as an author-panelist, having presented/appeared at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, the American Library Association's annual conference, YALSA, N.C.T.E./ALAN, and numerous YA book festivals. She's a member of The Author's Guild, SCBWI, Romance Writers of America, and the Texas Federation of Teachers.  She loves doing school visits and meeting teens, teachers, and librarians! 

Beth lives in the woods of East Texas in a house on a slice of family acreage. The home was built by her family over one very hot humid summer, a task she wishes never to repeat again. This sanctuary-of-sorts is lined by pine trees, and the woods are inhabited by raccoons, possums, and feral cats. All of these creatures appear to consider Beth their cat-food-providing goddess. There is no place she would rather be.



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Comments

  1. This sounds like the author really did strike that perfect balance between elements in the story. Thanks for a great review.

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  2. Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I sincerely appreciate the way you connected with Kylie's plight and the way love and acceptance from others is a healing element for her. I invite you and other readers to connect with me via Facebook or my website, bethfehlbaumbooks(dot)info
    Thanks, again!

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