The Trouble with Half a Moon

by Danette Vigilante

Overview

“Readers cannot help but cheer for Dellie and the little boy who helps pull her family together. Rich secondary characters add depth and dimension to this fast-paced tale of bereavement, forgiveness and healing.”—Kirkus Reviews

Ever since her brother's death, Dellie's life has been quiet and sad. Her mother cries all the time, and Dellie lives with the horrible guilt that the accident that killed her brother may have been all her fault.

But Dellie's world begins to change when new neighbors move into her housing project building. Suddenly, men are fighting on the stoop and gunfire is sounding off in the night. In the middle of all that trouble is Corey, an abused five-year-old boy, who's often left home alone and hungry. Dellie strikes up a dangerous friendship with this little boy who reminds her so much of her brother. She wonders if she can do for Corey what she couldn't do for her brother—save him.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101475423
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	01/06/2011
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	196
Lexile:	600L (what's this?)
File size:	159 KB
Age Range:	10 Years

About the Author

Danette Vigilante grew up in Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn and lives in Staten Island, New York. This is her first novel.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

PRAISE FOR DANETTE VIGILANTE: 

"Readers cannot help but cheer for Dellie and the little boy who helps pull her family together. Rich secondary characters add depth and dimension to this fast-paced tale of bereavement, forgiveness and healing."—Kirkus Reviews

"What will grab readers in this first novel is realistic sense of the diverse neighborhood community, both rough and caring. With lots of fast, immediate dialouge, the characters' grief, anger, and heartbreaking coming-to-terms are realistic."—Booklist

"Vigilante has a nice way with subplots and solid daily life details that bring the book particular warmth...the story is told with considerable appeal and accessibility, and kids won't have to lead the same life as Dellie to recognize her travails."—BCCB

"Dellie's story will speak to young people who've needed a little faith to get them through tough times. Interesting scenarios, like the cloaked Jamaican woman who moves in next door, provide interest to an already well-developed story."—School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR DANETTE VIGILANTE: 

"Readers cannot help but cheer for Dellie and the little boy who helps pull her family together. Rich secondary characters add depth and dimension to this fast-paced tale of bereavement, forgiveness and healing."—Kirkus Reviews

"What will grab readers in this first novel is realistic sense of the diverse neighborhood community, both rough and caring. With lots of fast, immediate dialouge, the characters' grief, anger, and heartbreaking coming-to-terms are realistic."—Booklist

"Vigilante has a nice way with subplots and solid daily life details that bring the book particular warmth...the story is told with considerable appeal and accessibility, and kids won't have to lead the same life as Dellie to recognize her travails."—BCCB

"Dellie's story will speak to young people who've needed a little faith to get them through tough times. Interesting scenarios, like the cloaked Jamaican woman who moves in next door, provide interest to an already well-developed story."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2017
Gr 5–8—Ever since her brother's death, Dellie's life has been quiet and sad. When new neighbors move into the housing projects, Corey, an abused five-year-old boy, is often left home alone and hungry. Dellie strikes up a friendship with this little boy who reminds her so much of her brother. This debut novel authentically captures the diverse community and the characters' grief, anger, and heartbreak.

School Library Journal