Moonflower follows 12-year-old Moon who severely struggles with depression. Therapy doesn’t help and they’re afraid that their mom hates them because they’re always sad and unable to articulate what they’re feeling. Their only escape is traveling to the spirit realms every night where they hope that they will never have to return to the world of the living again. The spirit realm is also where Moon’s only friend, Wolf, resides and where they get to experience adventures. But when the realm is threatened, it’s up to Moon to save the spirit world. Slowly, as Moon grows into their role as protector of the realm, they also move toward hope and self-love, learning to accept themselves just as they are.
Well, Kacen Callender has done it again. And by that, I mean they left me in tears due to a way too relatable story I was not expecting. Moonflower isn’t an easy book to read, especially if you’re young and have ever felt as overwhelmed with depression as Moon does. But in my opinion, that’s what makes this book so important—we rarely get to see the extent of mental health issues in young individuals and Callender doesn’t shy away from the utter devastation, anguish and mortal peril this illness can cause—especially when you feel like no one understands what you’re going through and isn’t really trying to, either.
It’s almost a scarring experience reading this book because it so viscerally depicts what it’s like to live with a mental illness. While Moon’s mother is trying her best to understand what Moon is going through, she remains somewhat clueless about the severity of her child’s inner struggles and it’s so harrowing to read because this is the sad reality of mental illnesses—sometimes, you just can’t put into words what you’re going through or what you need to get better. And that often causes the rift between you and the people you love to grow bigger even when you want the exact opposite.
In tandem, however, Moonflower is also an incredibly cathartic story. In the spirit realm, we get to see Moon having to make choices to save it and in turn, how they learn more about themselves. It’s an incredibly clever analogy to have Moon’s struggle to stay among the living mirrored in this spirit realm that they don’t want to leave—essentially never wanting to wake up again. Yet as their beloved spirit realm is threatened, they team up with their best friend Wolf to save the only refuge they’ve ever had and suffering slowly morphs into healing and recovery. Watching Moon find a way out of the darkness is the kind of tale young readers need and as much heartbreak as this story entails, the important message is that self-love is the most important of all and it is worth pursuing. I’m forever thankful that young kids struggling with their mental health will have this book to escape from their own minds for a bit and find themselves represented in fiction—and hopefully, also find that they’re loved, always.
Ultimately a magical adventure infused with hope, Callender’s Moonflower is an immersive, poetic and haunting depiction of a child’s struggle with depression and their journey to self-love.
Moonflower is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 6th 2022.
Will you be picking up Moonflower? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Moon has been plunged into a swill of uncertainty and confusion. They travel to the spirit realms every night, hoping never to return to the world of the living. But when the realm is threatened, it’s up to Moon to save the spirit world, which sparks their own healing journey through the powerful, baffling, landscape that depression can cause.
Moon’s mom is trying her best, but is clueless about what to do to reach the ugly roiling of her child’s inner struggles. At the same time, though, there are those who see Moon for who they are – Blue, the Keeper, the Magician, Wolf. These creature-guides help Moon find a way out of darkness. The ethereal aspects of the story are brilliantly blended with real-world glimmers of light. Slowly, Moon grows toward hope and wholeness, showing all children that each and every one of us has a tree growing inside. That our souls emerge when we discover, and fully accept, ourselves.
