Little Moons
by Jen Storm
illustrated by Ryan Howe
Highwater Press, 2024
ISBN 978-1-77492-107-4
$22.95, 60 pp, ages 12 – 16
highwaterpress.com
Thirteen-year-old Reanna is the focus of this story, which explores how losing her sister, Chelsea, affected the members of her family in different ways. Reanna dives into beading and participating in cultural practices her sister would be proud of, whereas her mom takes the opposite approach. She drives to a big city, starts dating a car salesman, finds a new job, and tries everything to remove the influence of Chelsea and her Indigenous culture from her life. Only Reanna’s brother Theo can still contact Chelsea, as he can see her ghost through little moons decorated throughout the graphic novel. This story beautifully captures how people manage grief and sheds light on the subject of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).
Classroom Connections: Grief plays a pivotal role in this graphic novel, and many teenagers can relate to having a loved one pass away and becoming disconnected from family members. Connections to global, literary, and personal issues are prominent in the book and could be explored further with students. A lesson could focus on other stories and truths about MMIWG2S or examine other Indigenous authors that expand on this topic.
Review by Katherine West-Sells.
This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2025 issue.
