Full Cicada Moon

by Marilyn Hilton

Inside Out and Back Again meets One Crazy Summer and Brown Girl Dreaming in this novel-in-verse about fitting in and standing up for what’s right

It's 1969, and the Apollo 11 mission is getting ready to go to the moon. But for half-black, half-Japanese Mimi, moving to a predominantly white Vermont town is enough to make her feel alien. Suddenly, Mimi's appearance is all anyone notices. She struggles to fit in with her classmates, even as she fights for her right to stand out by entering science competitions and joining Shop Class instead of Home Ec. And even though teachers and neighbors balk at her mixed-race family and her refusals to conform, Mimi’s dreams of becoming an astronaut never fade—no matter how many times she’s told no.

This historical middle-grade novel is told in poems from Mimi's perspective over the course of one year in her new town, and shows readers that positive change can start with just one person speaking up.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Poetry, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Novel In Verse, Fiction, Historical

400 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2015

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethereal coming of age story also... THE COVER REALISTICALLY PORTRAYS THE PROTAGONIST

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Mimi Oliver lived in Berkeley, Calif., being half-black, half-Japanese wasn’t a big deal, but on New Year’s Day 1969 she and her mother head to Hillsborough, Vermont, a White town where her father’s now a college professor.

The blurb compares Full Cicada Moon to Inside Out & Back Again, One Crazy Summer and Brown Girl Dreaming. I haven’t read Inside Out and Back Again, but other than being a series of poems, this book doesn’t resemble the memoir Brown Girl Dreaming much, nor is this middle-grade novel anything like One Crazy Summer. Which is a pity, as Full Cicada Moon would not suffer in comparison if the publisher hadn’t set up those expectations. This book doesn’t rise to the level of either Brown Girl Dreaming or One Crazy Summer, but the poetic novel grew and grew on me until it turned into a five-star read. Highly recommended anyway.

[This Kooky Wildflower Loves a Little Tea and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marilyn Hilton's Full Cicada Moon draws comparison to Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming and we are the wiser and fulfilled for having more to enjoy.

(Check out my full review at http://www.craftyscribbles.com)

[Yusra ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was REALLY good 👏🏼👏🏼
the protagonist was super relatable and likeable. def reccomend! Marilyn Hilton really created a diverse character with this novel in verse, and some things will really pull at your heartstrings 😪

[mytaakeonit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Set in 1969, but so relevant to our world today.

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was absolutely fantastic, lovely and wonderful. It was one of those books when afterward, I wanted to reach my hands through the pages and give the main character a nice hug because she was a joy to read about. Mimi, the main character, was a strong, determined, young female character that I hope that I can emulate. I loved her spirit. I loved her courage. I love her. She is determined. She is intelligent. She is courageous. She is the absolute best, and I think that this book is going to be one that I'll fangirl over for a long time.
The main reason why I love this book and Mimi so much is because I resonate with Mimi. She's a young biracial girl growing up in 1969, and she wants to be an astronaut. And she won't let anybody or anything stand in her way of becoming an astronaut. Her biracial identity of being half Japanese and half Black is so cool to me because a) I'm biracial myself and b) her struggles and her thoughts with that, especially in 1969, made me cry three different times. I loved her character arc so much.
And the fact that this story is set in free verse made it even better. Marilyn Hilton brought Mimi and her story to life in an amazing way so I'd highly recommend this book.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel sorry for the book I read after this....
Beautiful.

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

FULL CICADA MOON is about a young seventh grade girl named Mimi Yoshiko Oliver. She is judged by her race because she is black, but also Japanese; she’s misunderstood because she wants to be different. But she won’t let that get her down, and she soars high to pursue her dream of being an astronaut. Her courage, strength, and determination will make you fall in love with her, her family, and friends.
I fell in love with this story because of the way Hilton wrote each page to be like a poem. It encouraged me to do my best and not care what other people think being a seventh grader myself. I recommend this story because it will give girls and boys of middle school another look on life of making friends, moving from family, and dealing with being different. And soaring high to pursue their own dream.

Daijah Newhouse
AAMBC Reviewer

[JumbleofJargon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! This is written in the same almost prose like style as Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming. Full Cicada Moon touches on topics similar to those brought out in Brown Girl Dreaming as well; so if you liked that, may like this.

It's a bit shocking to see how similar 1969 is to 2016. I think my main critique is that everything ends so happily and smoothly. I understand that the author is trying to convey a positive message, but in real life people don't always eradicate their prejudices over time. And nothing you do will change their mind. Fortunately not everyone is like this but to deny it's existence in this narrative feels unrealistic.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked many things about this novel in verse. First of all, I attended college in Burlington Vt, and besides the skiing, I was in love with the weather, which Marilyn Hilton describes perfectly. She also describes the racial ignorance of the time in such a way that these lines became the underlying theme:

"Like raindrops on granite." I say,
because we know that's how I persist---
drip, drip, drip
until the granite cracks."

This book is character and plot driven, but the craftsmanship in creating the poetry is incredible. Not to be missed.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A “tuck into your heart “ gem.

Coming of age books are one of my favorites. This is
one of the most beautifully written I have ever read with moments we can all relate to.

I cannot find the words to do this book justice,but if you look at the other reviews you will begin to understand . And if you find the time to read with your heart, you will find some magic to savor.

[Shayne Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing read. Hilton does an amazing job bringing Mimi to life with the believable innocence of a pre-teen child. Mimi is such an intriguing little girl who draws the reader in through heart wrenching situations, yet she perseveres with admirable courage that teaches a memorable lesson. I love the simplicity of this book, as the story unfolds through verse told in the child's voice. I could hear and feel Mimi's emotions in her words. I typically don't read historical fiction, but I was hooked on this one from the very start. I will definitely recommend it to all age groups.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read some really good historical fiction this year, and Full Cicada Moon ranks right up there among my favorites. YA set in the 1960's and the Civil Rights movement generally focuses on African Americans, and while this story does that, we also get the added issues that being Japanese American post-WWII could cause. Mimi is both (and female--another set of issues), and when her family moves from melting-pot Berkeley to the more homogeneous Northeast, she experiences prejudice and mistrust in multiple forms. I found myself angry and frustrated for kind, intelligent Mimi, who managed to remain poised and courageous throughout. (Her parents also handled things far better than I probably ever could have.) I love that Mimi makes wonderful friends and finds (no MAKES) herself a place in her new world.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this entire novel, written beautifully in verse, all today. I can definitely understand where the Brown Girl Dreaming comparisons are coming from because both are genuinely outstanding and I feel should seriously be considered as required reading for schools. (or at least an option!!) Full Cicada Moon is a story about growing up, pursuing your dreams, race in the late 1960's, the questioning of gender roles and much more infused into a lovely story about a thirteen year old girl named Mimi living in Vermont with her Japanese mother and Black father.

"It's funny how people can take up so much room in your heart but you still have plenty left for someone else."

Thanks for taking a place in my heart Mimi. <3

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Mimi Yoshiko Oliver is moving to Vermont with her family and the year is 1969. Because she is half Black, half Japanese, and is interested in some classes usually reserved for boys, she struggles to fit in to this mostly white community where she is constantly dealing with subtle and not so subtle bigotry from classmates, teachers, and neighbors. This book, written in verse, tells how Mimi is able to make friends and how she and her family maintain their unique identities while helping to change their community for the better.
Highly recommended for children in grades 4 through 8 who like character driven books.

[Jaimi Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written! The writing is fairly simple, but perfectly suited to the story.

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a beautifully written book! The language is breath-taking. Mimi is a main character that is easy to love as she deals with the realities of her life in Vermont in 1969.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inside Out and Back Again meets One Crazy Summer and Brown Girl Dreaming in this novel-in-verse about fitting in and standing up for what’s right

It's 1969, and the Apollo 11 mission is getting ready to go to the moon. But for half-black, half-Japanese Mimi, moving to a predominantly white Vermont town is enough to make her feel alien. Suddenly, Mimi's appearance is all anyone notices. She struggles to fit in with her classmates, even as she fights for her right to stand out by entering science competitions and joining Shop Class instead of Home Ec. And even though teachers and neighbors balk at her mixed-race family and her refusals to conform, Mimi’s dreams of becoming an astronaut never fade—no matter how many times she’s told no.

This historical middle-grade novel is told in poems from Mimi's perspective over the course of one year in her new town, and shows readers that positive change can start with just one person speaking up.

[Sundai Valcich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most beautiful book I have read in a long time. It depicts a young girl’s struggle to find her place in a new town. She is depicted so simply yet beautifully by the the author. My son was reading this book for a class and I like to read the literature my kids read along with them. This book moved me so much- I want everyone I know to read it. Don’t pass this one up.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this with some skepticism, as it's about a mixed-race girl and written by a white lady (and published like 5 years ago, so it's not an artifact of a different time). It definitely made an interesting read when paired with "Craft in the Real World" by Matthew Salesses. I suspect Hilton would say she wrote this at least in part so mixed-race kids could see themselves reflected in literature. But Salesses's ideas about the implied reader and implied author. The way the narrator describes elements of her Japanese heritage make it clear that the implied reader is an outsider to this culture. But also the way the narrator describes ALL of her experiences of being outside mainstream culture suggests an implied reader that doesn't know what it means to be an outsider. In other words, a white reader. This is yet another book that teaches white kids empathy by having a person of color explain their lives to them. I'm not sure I'm mad at it for that? But I guess I still question why a white woman felt compelled to write this book in particular, and why a publisher--in this day of #ownvoices--was like "yeah let's do it!" And the acknowledgments at the end suggest Hilton is at least somewhat aware of the potential conflicts here. But her craft tips her hand, showing she wasn't aware enough to really write in the voice of someone whose cultural background so differs from her own. The white worldview of the implied author leaks through all over.

As a dumb aside, I returned this book the day it was due. And then later in the day realized I had gone to bed with 20 pages left unread! So I had to wait for the book to finish quarantining for a couple days and go back to the library to finish it. So ridiculous. But my corner was still turned down when I got there, and it took about 10 minutes on the couch in teh children's section to *actually* finish the book. Gah.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous. Stunning. Important.

This book is told from such a unique point of view, a mixed race middle schooler (black/Japanese), living in a post internment camp/current civil rights movement/cusp of women's revolution (1969) rural America. But....even so....I connected with her so much.

This story is about identity and forgiveness and intolerance and prejudice and tradition and fortitude. The characters are so rich, I especially loved Timothy, the next door neighbor and friend to Mimi.

And Mimi, well she's brave and beautiful beyond words. And she doesn't even realize how much...but this story makes it very clear for the reader.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
I really loved this book. It took me a while to read this book because it was long, but I finally made through it to the end. It was really good. It was different for what I have ever read before, but I liked it for many reasons. The writing of this book was really good. I would read this book again. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this a 4.5. This was a beautifully crafted read. And the story? A great story. It ends a little too tidy...but honestly, I needed that after a few of the YA books I've been reading lately.

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

:) <3

[Mary Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a heart print book for me. Incredible and beautiful writing. A female lead that kicks total ass. Great historical fiction. HIGHLY recommend for grades 5 & up

[Jenna Idenward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. So good. Perfect middle grade book in verse.

(Maybe I'll rewrite this as a real review someday. Or maybe I'll just leave my honest reaction.)

[Kim Clifton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mimi, whose father saw Dr. King speak at the March on Washington and whose aunt tells stories of Japanese internment camps, knows a thing or two about discrimination. But she doesn't really experience it for herself until her biracial family moves to all-white Vermont in the late 1960s. Luckily, Mimi is fierce, becomes friends with a few other outsiders, and is able to resist, but it's exhausting. The way she talks about being an outsider sounds identical to the immigrant experience today:

I feel like I have to be
twice as smart and funny at school
and twice and nice and forgiving in my neighborhood
than everyone else
to be acceptable.
But everyone else can be
only half of that
to fit in.

The story and style of this book felt similar to Brown Girl Dreaming, but I think it will be an easier sell. There's more of a plot, and the "poetry" is more like sentences with random line breaks. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot, and I think if students can get past the weird cover, they'll like it too.

[Gabriella Bishop-Schiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a woman who identifies as mixed, I am astonished at how well the author captures the emotions and experiences that I have known. I was disappointed to find out the author was a white woman. I read her bio and her husband is Brown/POC. The book is fantastic but I'm left wondering why I can't find more books about biracial kids by biracial authors. There is a certain level of pain and grasping for identity that comes with my life. I didn't feel those in this book. The book concluded with the protagonist having reached what seems like complete self-belief and confidence. That's something I still struggle with as a 25 year-old woman. Did the author fill-in where she wanted things to fit neatly? I wanted to give this book as a present to a biracial student of mine, but now I'm unsure. How authentic is this story? I loved the poetry and the voice. The problem is that the voice did not come from someone who shares my experience. It's two very different things: to speculate about someone's lived experience and to actually be living it.

[Gabrielle Schwabauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent characterization, and I appreciated that this book-in-verse actually read like, you know, verse, instead of just regular paragraphs arbitrarily separated into poetic lines and stanzas. Lots of memorable situations. Lots of lessons about subtler, everyday forms of racism and sexism.

I did want some of the victories in this book to be harder. I thought it would have done better service to the protagonist's challenges if every single person who was unkind to her or her family hadn't thawed in some capacity by the end. In real life, racist/sexist people don't always abandon their convictions after a few interactions with someone from the marginalized group. I don't want to overstate this point; it's still a messy and imperfect world when the book concludes, and you're left feeling bittersweet. But a little more acknowledgement of the limitations of the protagonist's position might have made the story even stronger.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1969, this is a thoughtful verse novel about a biracial girl adjusting to a move in a predominately white community. Mimi's father is African American and her mother is Japanese born and unfortunately because of her heritage is confronted with both rude curiosity and outright racism on a daily basis. Another complication is that Mimi is bright and independent and will not tolerate sexism any more than racism.

Beautifully written and deeply engaging, Hilton does a solid job in being true to the time period yet making the plot feel both fresh and relevant. I especially appreciated the act of civil disobedience; it makes sense in the context of Mimi's personal history and accurately reflected the time period. The resolutions at the end may appear simplistic, yet this is a story that will stay with readers long after they close the book.