Review: Graffiti Moon
Graffiti Moon
Cath Crowley
Knopf Books for Young Readers
February 14th 2012
272 pages
Amazon | Goodreads | TBD
“Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers.”
It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about.
His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.
Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls.
But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.
Review:
Every time I think of giving up YA because of the insta-love, love-triangle drama, I read a book like Graffiti Moon, and remember why I do love this genre.
Now that high school has come to an end, Lucy knows she’s ready to move on. To explore her passion for art and dreams and life. But first, she’s determined to find the one guy that she knows she’s meant to explore it all with, the elusive graffiti artist, Shadow. And though he doesn’t know it, he’s been looking for her, too.
I think the thing I connected with most while reading Graffiti Moon was the memory of that feeling you have when you’re just starting out in life and you realize anything is possible. That feeling of being young and unstoppable, of being a bit naive about the evils in life and following your heart because that’s all that matters.
For Lucy, following her heart really is all that matters. And she does it bravely, despite what her friends might think or what others might say. She searches for Shadow, desperate to make a connection with him because she believes he’s the only person who’d understand who she truly is. Then there’s Ed. Who’s is not exactly lurking in the shadows, but not seeking the spotlight either. He’s not your typical, overdone tortured artist. He’s just a guy who’s trying to deal with his shame and guilt. He doesn’t want to disappoint the people he cares about because he doesn’t want to lose them.
My heart truly ached for Ed, but not because I felt sorry for him. It was because I could feel the frustration he had for himself. And I really admired Lucy, for daring to be herself. Both Ed and Lucy are remarkable characters, and I didn’t want my night of art, and magic, and love with them to end. Plus, their slow blooming romance felt a little like getting anonymous love letters. The sweetness it carried made me giddy!
Really, all of Crowley’s characters were relatable. She truly allowed them to be teens, just trying to figure stuff out. She also included a healthy dose of subtle humor and melodrama, but the characters were also introspective and tangible, which made me want to jump into their story and share in their adventures.
Graffiti Moon is a simple, hopeful tale that shook up the girl meets boy familiarity with a few broken noses and a reminder of one of life’s best lessons, some things are just worth the trouble.
U.S. Cover:
Don't you just love the organic friendships in this book. I really adore the way Lucy's as well as Ed's friends behave towards them. So often in YA the best friend is so annoying it drives me nuts. I didn't want the night to end either!
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I absolutely adored Graffiti Moon! I loved the slow-building romance between Ed and Lucy, it was so sweet and realistic
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I just have to read this! I read raving reviews about this book and your review just encouraged me more to finally give it a go. I think I'll start hunting for a copy of this now. Great review!
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I keep seeing positive reviews for this book. Perhaps it is time to put it on the TBR list.
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Awesome review! It might be one of my 12 YA reads this year (I am determined to read one a month!)
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I absolutely love the sound of this one, Missie. You just described everything that I love about reading a really good contemporary YA novel. I can't wait to read this one and will definitely bump it up on my reading list.
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I love the cover. And based on your review – it sounds like the story is great too!
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Oh, man! This book sounds so good! I can't wait to read it. The way you describe the characters makes me want to run out and buy it right now! Thanks for the review, Missie.
- Lauren
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You cannot give up YA because then you'd miss out on our favorite authors that we both gush over.
I love that you said it made you feel like getting anonymous love letters. If that's not an instant sell for a book I don't know what is.
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This book is my next read. I have been wanting to read if for a long time. Lucy sounds like a great protagonist. I can't wait to meet her and the rest of the gang. I am glad you enjoyed it Missie.
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I'm serious, this is my next read. I have it on my Kindle all ready and rearing to go. I'm actually super pumped after you told me it showed you how amazing YA can me! I'm so excited!
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YAY MISSIE! So glad you loved this one too, I just thought it was such a beautiful story with amazing characters. I wish I was as comfortable just being me as Lucy was! And I just wanted to hug Ed. And Poet:) Really wonderful review!
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I just pre-ordered this one! Yay! Im really looking forward to reading it…:)I love it LOVE IT when Ya surprises me…..because Ive been having a love/hate with YA lately call it me getting olf or that degree Im working on……….but its happening….:(
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Ummm that should say OLD not Olf…what is an olf anyway?
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I keep hearing such great things about this one and I can't wait to get my hands on it myself! It sounds sooo good. I'm really glad you liked it! It makes me even more hopeful for some reason. Haha, I guess I trust your judgement?
Great review, Missie!
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I think I can already guess how this one ends up but the story sounds fascinating nevertheless. I love characters who act and think their age, and I'm loving that Lucy is determined to go after what she wants. It is a very ideal time in a teens life when they still believe they can conquer the world. Great review, I'm loving the concept of this one.
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I'm really looking forward to reading this one because I keep hearing amazing things about it. Thanks for the review, Missie! You've only made me more sure of reading it.
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I didn't know about this one so thank you! The characters sound very interesting and it's so nice they are relatabled. It's always nice to read a book like that. Great review.
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OOoOooO Missie… your review… *sniffles* wonderful!!! This book totally escaped my attention until I read Jenny's Review and another one.. Now you also love it? So there is apparently no reason for me to NOT pick it up asap!
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I must say that the other cover is just so much better
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Sounds like another must read contemporary for me. I've read a couple other raving reviews for Graffiti Moon and it doesn't seem to disappoint.
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*sigh* yes, some things are just worth the trouble, and not only in the book. I remember getting into a lot of troubles because of my crazy little heart
)
I am glad that you liked this one – I agree with everything that you said about it… and it's THAT feeling that makes me love reading these YA books
)
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It's all your fault I'm kicking myself because I'm behind. Na, not really. This review just made me upset that I haven't gotten to it yet! I don't mind triangles (done well) but I really don't like insta-love. Hard one for me to really enjoy. So, I'm SO happy this one isn't like that. Oh and you had me wanting to pick it up because of this: “Graffiti Moon is a simple, hopeful tale that shook up the girl meets boy familiarity with a few broken noses and a reminder of one of life's best lessons, some things are just worth the trouble. ” Best one line summation… EVAR!
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I am DYING to read this book! DYING! It sounds SO unbelievably good! So glad you enjoyed it!
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I've seen this book around. It doesn't strike me as something I'd want to read, but I have a feeling I'd love it if I did. Yeah, one of those. It's not too long, so maybe I can slip it in sometime soon.
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I've been wanting to read this book for so long, I really MUST get around to it! I've heard nothing but good things about it.
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Love.Love.Love this book! I think the whole concept of it just made me laugh and giggle so much! Nice review
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I have to read this! I too am jaded by YA lately. It's hard to find that special book with a plot that doesn't revolve around insta-love or angsty love triangles.
Love that review Missie.
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Right?!?! I completely ADORED this book sooo much, because it was so absolutely real for me! LOVED IT!
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I'm much the same as you in being seriously annoyed by the same romantic elements appearing in YA again and again. Except for me, this has driven me towards seeking out books that aren't completely ruled by romance. Happy to hear that there are still some reads out there that have romance without it being the annoying kind and where the character relationships seem real. Arg, I should really read more contemporary.
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I'm glad YA gave you a gem.
I wish that I was young and full of hope for all life's possibilities instead of this jaded thirty-something. I've been excited about this book. Just will have to make it happen this month. *crosses finger*
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