Ginny Moon

by Benjamin Ludwig

Overview

READ THE BOOK CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT!

“A brilliant debut.” —Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project

“A heartwarming and unforgettable page-turner.” —Booklist, starred review

“A powerful affirmation of the fragility and strength of families.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“At once captivating and heart-wrenching…. Ginny's is a unique and compelling voice…. Ginny Moon is original, revealing and timely. And, with any luck, it will spark much-needed conversations around foster care, adoption and autism. ” —The Toronto Star

Full of great big heart and unexpected humor, Ludwig's debut introduces the lovable, wholly original Ginny Moon who discovers a new meaning of family on her unconventional journey home.

Ginny Moon is exceptional. Everyone knows it—her friends at school, teammates on the basketball team, and especially her new adoptive parents. They all love her, even if they don't quite understand her. They want her to feel like she belongs.

What they don't know is that Ginny has no intention of belonging. She's found her birth-mother on Facebook, and is determined to get back to her—even if it means going back to a place that was extremely dangerous. Because Ginny left something behind and she's desperate to get it back, to make things right.

But no one listens. No one understands. So Ginny takes matters into her own hands…

Benjamin Ludwig's whip-smart, unforgettable novel is an illuminating look at one girl's journey to find her way home and one of the freshest debuts in years.

Note from the Publisher: The original printing of this book features a creative distressed-look on the cover design.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780778330165
Publisher:	Park Row Books
Publication date:	05/02/2017
Edition description:	Original ed.
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

A life-long teacher of English and writing, Benjamin Ludwig lives in New Hampshire with his family. He holds an MAT in English Education and an MFA in Writing. Shortly after he and his wife married they became foster parents and adopted a teenager with autism. The Original Ginny Moon is his first novel, which was inspired in part by his conversations with other parents at Special Olympics basketball practices. His website is available at www.benjaminludwig.com.

Editorial Reviews

Ludwig's novel recalls Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in the singular way it filters domestic tensions through the hyper-alert yet skewed viewpoint of a special-needs child…[Ludwig] displays an acute sensitivity to his protagonist's deliberate thought processes. He also succeeds in locating a plangent, unpatronizing humor in Ginny's literalness and deadpan certitude. ("When you hide a dead cat you should never put it under your mattress.") And that's no small miracle.

The New York Times Book Review - Jan Stuart

★ 02/06/2017
Ludwig’s excellent debut is both a unique coming-of-age tale and a powerful affirmation of the fragility and strength of families. We meet 14-year-old Ginny, who has autism, as she settles into life with a new “forever family” and unexpectedly reconnects with Gloria, the abusive, drug-addicted mother from whom she was taken away at the age of nine—and Rick, the father she never knew. The rediscovery unsettles the tentative bond Ginny’s forged with adoptive parents Maura and Brian, exacerbates the teen’s heartbreaking fears for the “baby doll” she left behind, and ultimately triggers a wildly heroic, secret plan to run away to Canada with Gloria and Rick. Ludwig brilliantly depicts the literal-minded and inventive Ginny—whose horrifying past and valiant hope for the future are slowly unveiled—and the alternately selfish, sympathetic, and compassionate adults who would do anything to get Ginny to choose their love. “I just wish someone would talk about what a delightful young lady she is,” a frustrated Rick says. “We’re trying to keep her apart from everything... but I think what she needs is to be closer to people.” (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Ludwig's novel recalls Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in the singular way it filters domestic tensions through the hyper-alert yet skewed viewpoint of a special-needs child.... He also succeeds in locating a plangent, unpatronizing humor in Ginny's literalness and deadpan certitude."-The New York Times Book Review

"Ginny Moon is a brilliant debut. In asking us to identify with a developmentally delayed, autistic teenage girl and her peculiar obsession, Ben Ludwig set himself an Olympic degree of difficulty, but he succeeds with the extraordinary Ginny Moon. I was unable to put the book down as I willed her to overcome the obstacles within and around her. Ben Ludwig is a fine observer of human dynamics, and his sometimes dark sense of humor means that the emotional journey, challenging as it is, never becomes wearing. I was mightily impressed—this novel has all the elements for critical and popular success!" -Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project

"Ludwig's excellent debut is both a unique coming-of-age tale and a powerful affirmation of the fragility and strength of families.... Ludwig brilliantly depicts the literal-minded and inventive Ginny." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

In Ginny Moon, Benjamin Ludwig captures the singular voice of his heroine, a brilliant girl you won't soon forget. -Real Simple

"[E]nlightening...compelling...remarkably engaging...A heartwarming and unforgettable page-turner."-Booklist, starred review

"This stunning debut novel grabs readers by the heart and doesn't let go. Fourteen-year-old Ginny Moon chronicles her increasingly harrowing life with her Forever Parents with one of the truest voices in modern literature.... Ludwig's triumphant achievement is borne from his own experience as the adoptive parent of a teen with autism, and his gorgeous, wrenching portrayal of Ginny's ability to communicate what she needs is ¬perfection."-Library Journal, starred review

"Fresh, funny, heartbreaking and real, you will love this novel. Sometimes an author comes along who captures the moment in its complexity and fierce detail, illuminating the world in a way that changes readers perceptions and opens our hearts to understanding. Ginny Moon brings you inside the experience of autism, revealing the experience of it, not only what it must be like from the outside, but how it must feel from within. Benjamin Ludwig paints in every color with ferocity and ultimately, joy. I was galvanized by this read. You will be too. This is a book to savor and share with everyone you know. I did and I will." -Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife 

"Benjamin Ludwig gives us a remarkable heroine in Ginny Moon.Writing poignantly and yet starkly believably from an autistic girl's point of view, he allows us to see the world in all its glorious mess, full of people trying to do their best and often failing, but heroically so."-Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue

"There is no guessing where Ginny Moon is going to take us in this page-turning, surprising, funny, heartbreaking, at times disturbing, and ultimately morally complex story. In Ginny's logical yet perplexing mind, it makes sense to try to get kidnapped by her dangerous birth mother. But something much larger is at stake, and we are left with the question-is love unconditional? What makes a good parent? A moving and thought-provoking debut."-Eowyn Ivey, Pulitzer Prize Finalist and national bestselling author of The Snow Child

"In telling the tale from Ginny's perspective, Ludwig captures the carefully constructed, sometimes-claustrophobic world Ginny inhabits.... By turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, Ginny's quest for a safe home leads her to discover her own strong voice."-Kirkus Review

"Compassionate, evocative and heartwarming."-InStyle, UK

Benjamin Ludwig's novel is a genuine and touching debut; Ginny Moon is a wonderful and memorable heroine." -Dan Chaon, National Book Award Finalist and bestselling author of Await Your Reply and Ill Will

"A heartwarming but refreshingly honest story about the making of an American family, told by a character who is, indeed, original-and impossible not to love." -Rumaan Alam, author of Rich and Pretty

"If I could ask Ginny Moon one question-and she only does allow one question at a time-it would be what does it feel like to be the heroine of a compulsively readable novel? Benjamin Ludwig does such a wonderful job of conjuring Ginny onto the page and of making us turn those pages at breathless speed. Ginny Moon is a sparkling debut." -Margot Livesey, New York Times bestselling author of Mercury and The Flight of Gemma Hardy

"It is the rare debut novel that reveals a writer of such immense talent as to achieve a dazzling lit¬erary home run the first time up to bat. Such is the case with Benjamin Ludwig's Ginny Moon, an extraor¬dinary coming-of-age story told from the perspective of a 14-year-old protagonist with autism.... Ludwig has interjected his often-heart¬breaking narrative with laugh-out-loud observations from Ginny, who loves Michael Jackson and displays a wicked sense of humor.... Tremendous."-Bookpage

"Ludwig creates a startling, powerful voice in Ginny Moon, a character who lingers well beyond the pages. This is gripping work." -Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation

"Artfully rendered, heartbreaking, funny and suspenseful, Ginny Moon is a veritable smorgasbord of a read that will stay with you long after you've consumed the final page. Excellent!"-John Lescroart, New York Times-bestselling author

"At once captivating and heart-wrenching.... Ginny's is a unique and compelling voice.... Ginny Moon is original, revealing and timely. And, with any luck, it will spark much-needed conversations around foster care, adoption and autism."-The Toronto Star

"In his riveting debut novel, Benjamin Ludwig has given life to the unforgettable Ginny Moon. With a compassionate and insightful voice, Ludwig shares a story that will have readers cheering for Ginny, fearing for her and wanting to reach inside the pages of this poignant novel to guide and protect her. Ginny Moon will live on well past the last page and will forever change those who spend a little time with her."-Lori Roy, Edgar Award-winning author

"Ginny Moon had me wrapped around her little finger from the first page, and I'd have stayed under her spell for a book twice as long; it made me late for many appointments, and I was never sorry. This is a thrilling, often hilarious story, as heart-pounding as it is big-hearted." -Rebecca Makkai, author of The Borrower and The Hundred-Year House

"Funny and wildly moving."-Daily Mail

"Benjamin Ludwig's Ginny Moon is both honest and raw. Ludwig gives voice to the voiceless. You might not know that the book is partially inspired by Ludwig's adoption of a teenager with autism, but you should be among the first to get to know Ginny Moon."-Alexi Zentner, author of The Lobster Kings and Touch

From the Publisher

★ 03/15/2017
This stunning debut novel grabs readers by the heart and doesn't let go. Fourteen-year-old Ginny Moon chronicles her increasingly harrowing life with her Forever Parents with one of the truest voices in modern literature. On the surface, Ginny is a typical teen, her days filled with friends, sports, and music. But Ginny is autistic, and her obsessive need to retrieve her Baby Doll from her past brutal life with a dangerous mother puts her on a collision course with her adoptive parents, their new baby, a legal system that has struggled to protect Ginny for five years, and her birth mother. Ginny's brilliant therapist unlocks one mystery, but the tension never lets up as the girl's focus on finding her Baby Doll moves them all into ever more perilous territory. Clearly, the barriers in Ginny's life are not just autism; the people on her support team, while dedicated, loving, and determined, must learn a powerful lesson about really listening to what she is saying. VERDICT Ludwig's triumphant achievement is borne from his own experience as the adoptive parent of a teen with autism, and his gorgeous, wrenching portrayal of Ginny's ability to communicate what she needs is perfection.—Beth E. Andersen, Ann Arbor, MI

Library Journal

10/01/2017
When Ginny Moon was nine, she was removed from her abusive mother Gloria's custody and placed in foster care. Before she left, however, she put Baby Doll in a suitcase located in Gloria's apartment to keep her toy safe. Now Ginny is 14 and has been adopted by a loving couple who help her deal with her autism. But she is tormented by concern for Baby Doll. Is Ginny's cherished possession still in the suitcase? Her well-meaning parents have repeatedly offered to get her a new doll, which only exacerbates the teen's isolation and despair. Ginny's first-person narration reveals the gulf between her rich internal life and her ability to communicate with the outside world. Misunderstood and at odds with those around her, Ginny begins her quest to rescue Baby Doll while seemingly oblivious to the protections in place that prevent her from returning to Gloria, creating turmoil within her new family. Like any tale with an unreliable narrator, the book relies on details that gradually coalesce and make sense. Ludwig's debut novel incorporates his personal experience as the adoptive father of a teen with autism. The result is an enthralling, suspenseful, and heartfelt work. VERDICT A go-to choice for those seeking fresh, compelling storytelling, particularly those fascinated by Mark Haddon's now-classic The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.—Diane Colson, formerly at City College, Gainesville, FL

School Library Journal

2017-02-21
Ginny Moon, who has autism, needs to get back to her birth mother by any means necessary. That's a problem, because that mother, Gloria, abused her.The narrator of Ludwig's debut novel, Ginny was taken from Gloria when she was 9 years old. Three adoptive homes later, Ginny is 14, and her Forever Parents, Maura and Brian, are expecting their first biological child. But just when they most need Ginny to be dependably gentle, she begins manifesting increasingly difficult behavior. It all stems from Ginny's desperate need to take care of her Baby Doll, whom she promised to protect and whom she hid in a suitcase just as the police arrived to rescue her from Gloria five years ago. Using a classmate's computer and various people's cellphones, Ginny begins to communicate with Gloria, hoping to reunite with Baby Doll but inadvertently putting herself and the Moon family in danger by revealing her home address. Tensions escalate as Ginny arranges her own kidnapping, forcing the Moons to decide whether to give up and send Ginny to St. Genevieve's Facility for Girls Who Aren't Safe or to continue Ginny's therapy sessions in the hope that she will gain some emotional attachment skills before the baby arrives. Along the way, surprising truths about Baby Doll emerge. In telling the tale from Ginny's perspective, Ludwig captures the carefully constructed, sometimes-claustrophobic world Ginny inhabits. Ginny protects herself from a confusing world by going down deep into her brain, closing her mouth so no one can see the ideas in her head. While it's an interesting perspective to inhabit, the staccato rhythm of the sentences can get a little tedious, as Ginny would say. By turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, Ginny's quest for a safe home leads her to discover her own strong voice.

Kirkus Reviews

'Reconfortante'.

Rumaan Alam

'Conmovedor'.

Dan Chaon

'Sorprendente'.

Eowyn Ivey

'Extraordinario'.

Melanie Benjamin

'Revelador'.

Adriana Trigiani

'Brillante'.

Graeme Simsion

'Ginny Moon es un debut brillante... No podia dejar de leer... Esta novela tiene todos los elementos para el crítico éxito popular'.

autor best seller New York Times The Rosie Project Graeme Simsion

Narrator Em Eldridge's clear, sincere tones comfort listeners as this story rife with pain and hope unfolds. Ginny Moon has spent the last five years in the care of various "forever" families after being taken from her unstable mother at age 9. She's still willing to risk considerable odds to get back to her mother and take care of her little sister. Ludwig’s bright and determined protagonist is navigating a world full of people who are fighting their own demons. Eldridge brings them to life with warmth and honesty that treat even the most difficult characters fairly. The complex and intense story is enhanced by Eldridge’s measured pacing and buoyant tones. Recommended for fans of Kathryn Erskine's MOCKINGBIRD. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2017 - AudioFile