Review: WEST OF THE MOON by Margi Preus

3.84 STARS from 51 GoodReaders

**Starred Review** Kirkus

**Starred Review** ALA BookList

**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal

WEST OF THE MOON is a wonderful book set in Norway in the 1800s.

The story was inspired by a curious entry in the author's great-great grandmother's diary. Linka Preus, it seems, was on-board a ship coming to America when she saw a farm girl sitting all alone. There's really not more that is said than that, but that brief description was all it took to stir up Margi Preus' imagination. 

Backstory

As the book begins Astri (13 yo) is living with her little sister, Greta, in her aunt's and uncle's home.  Their mother died in childbirth some years before, and her father is now absent because he has ventured off to America hoping to find a better life, with the expectation that they will later join him.

But what a terrible mistake this plan is.  The aunt and uncle care little for the children and it isn't long before Astri is being sold-off to a hermit. In exchange for some coins and a haunch of goat, she is sent to be his housekeeper, goatherd and heaven knows what else.  **highlight text to read spoiler. (There is one scene where he tries to pull her into bed with him, but she fights him off. His response is that in the spring he will see the two of them properly married, at which point he can do as he will.) **

Mr. Svaalberd, who Astri calls "Goatbeard" is a harsh master and it isn't long before Astri dreams of escaping.  But how to work it all out. She refuses to leave without her little sister. And they can't just escape without money and a place to go.

There are a number of elements I really liked about WEST OF THE MOON.  First, I love the language that Margi Preus chose, and how she wove the folktales into the story. [sample pages available] Astri uses them to calm her sister Greta, and as a means to try to understand her life. It worked so very well to keep the momentum going.

And then there were the little mysteries that arose.  Who was the mysterious girl in the back shed and how did she get there? And where was Mr. Svaalberd as they were trying to escape?  And exactly what kind of book is it that their father left them?

And of course, none of this would have worked however without good characters.  I thought that Greta acted as a perfect foil to Astri's hard ways.  She was sweet and generous which contrasted with how hard and serious Astri was.  Then again, Astri couldn't afford to be as innocent as her sister or they would have both perished.

WEST OF THE MOON is a fascinating book that is going to appeal to Adults as well as Adults as well as Young Adults and even some Middle-graders.  

RECOMMEND, with a few caveats. (see below**)

Pam~

**What you should know is that while Preus uses fairytales that this book contains a good bit that is realistic.  There is hardship, hunger, some violence, and an attempted rape. I don't mean to indicate that the book is a gore fest, only that it might not be for more sensitive readers.

WEST OF THE MOON
by Margi Preus

Reading Information:
Word Count: 42,852
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader: 5.2 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 165209
--sample pages and reviews available