Stargazing

“That’s the lady I saw singing to her plants once. Of course she would name her kid ‘Moon.’”

Christine’s friend illustrates how society can be judgmental and shaming. He makes fun of Moon’s mother and casts her and Moon’s uniqueness in a negative light. This leads Christine to develop immediate preconceived notions about the Lins.

“But we don’t KNOW these people! What if they don’t like us? What if we don’t like THEM?”

Christine doesn’t know anything about Moon other than the fact that her mother sounds strange, Moon is apparently prone to violence, and her family is struggling financially. When Christine hears that Moon will be moving into the spare unit, she is struck with fear and apprehension. As part of her narrative arc, Christine will move from judgment to acceptance and love.

“Why don’t you eat meat? Are you allergic?”

When Christine first visits Moon, she is naive about the Lin’s culture. She is shocked to find out there is no pork in the meal. She doesn’t consider the fact that Moon might be Buddhist, as she has never learned about Buddhism before. Being around Moon opens Christine up to a world that she didn’t know, her curiosity Bridging the Cultural Divide between them.

“Another girl is probably going to sign up and she’s just better.”

Christine believes that she is not special or good enough to risk performing at the school talent show. This begins to change when Moon shows Christine how to dance and helps Christine be less self-conscious and concerned about what other people think. In this way, Wang illustrates The Transformative Power of Friendship.

“I think she’s gonna knock everyone’s socks off at the talent show!”

This quote also highlights The Transformative Power of Friendship. Moon has only just met Christine, but already has confidence in her. This confidence is contagious and quickly rubs off on Christine the more time that they spend together. Christine does not believe in herself, but Moon does and shows Christine how to do the same.

“Everyone’s been really nice so far, and now I get to eat lunch.”

Moon’s family is in the midst of financial difficulties. She is first shown coming into the church to get free food, illustrating how she is different from the other members of the community, who are financially comfortable.

“Really? Your mom doesn’t speak Chinese to you?”

Moon and her mother do not speak Chinese at home, which Christine’s mother finds unusual. Christine’s mom is judgmental and, in the quote above, shames Moon for not being like the other members of their Asian American community. She has a forceful personality, insisting that Moon come to the Chinese lesson.

“I’m really glad you and Moon are becoming friends.”

Christine’s father is a foil to Christine’s mother. Unlike Mrs. Hong, Mr. Hong is loving and nurturing. Ironically, he tells Christine that he is happy about her new friendship right after Christine secretly paints her toenails knowing that he would not approve. After initially resisting her new maturity, he accepts her.

“That’s not my desire. This girl too fire.”

Chara is a symbol of power, confidence, and a lack of shame in being oneself. Moon embodies all of these traits as well, which is why she admires Chara so much. Listening to Chara with Moon helps Christine come out of her shell and find her own confidence, illustrating The Transformative Power of Friendship.

“That’s where my real home is. Up there.”

During a field trip to the planetarium, Moon tells Christine that she believes her home is in the stars. Christine starts to the connect the dots between Moon’s visions and her belief in being from outer space, but, like Moon, has no idea where it all comes from. Wang explains that when she herself was a child and had a brain tumor, she was too young to understand that her hallucinations were a problem and not just something fun she was experiencing.

“He said stupid kids grow up to be homeless! I don’t wanna be homeless!”

Vivian sees Moon and her mother as unhoused after a boy taunts her, and she voices her concern over ending up the same way. This evokes a sense of shame and embarrassment in Moon, prompting violence against the boy. Moon is a complex character with both good and bad elements; she is fun, imaginative, and daring, but can also lash out.

“He was crazy. That’s what my mom liked about him. It’s what she says she likes about me, too.”

Wang portrays The Challenge of Forming an Identity. Moon likes feeling different from the world, but at the same time, she wants to fit in and be accepted. She hopes that she can be herself and be accepted at the same time—something that Christine also struggles with. Moon’s desire to form an identity despite the pressures around her exemplifies her strength and resilience.

“Lift my head and see the moon.

Lower my head and pine for home.”

The poem about the lonely scholar symbolizes both Moon and Christine’s feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Both girls struggle to reconcile their own identities with the world around them, and this is part of what draws them toward one another.

“You’re different girls with different paths. Remember who YOU are.”

Christine’s father warns Christine not to imitate Moon or become like her. Although he often expresses joy over Christine and Moon’s friendship, it is clear he also harbors some bias toward Moon and doesn’t want his daughter to become like her. There is a cultural divide between the families that Moon and Christine must bridge.

“I can’t rehearse today. I just started this after-school study, I have violin practice, there’s the book report….”

Christine starts making excuses to avoid Moon and spends all her time studying after getting a C on a math test. She doesn’t blame Moon, exactly, but knows that by spending all her free time with Moon, she is risking her grades. Christine is hard-working and cares about her reputation, and the thought of a C is difficult for her to bear. Christine’s avoidance of Moon illuminates her character. It also introduces tension: Moon will begin to spend time with Madison, provoking Christine’s jealousy.

“Moon, can you hear me? Answer me!”

When Moon has a seizure at Madison’s birthday party, it is a terrifying moment for everyone involved, but also a blessing in disguise. Moon is found to have a brain tumor putting pressure on her visual cortex, which may not have been discovered had this incident not occurred.

“The tumor has been growing and pressing down on her brain. When that happens there’s a seizure.”

Wang does not shy away from difficult topics. Christine’s father explains the nature of Moon’s tumor to both Christine and the reader. His language is simple and easy-to-understand, fitting the book’s young audience.

“Okay, Moon, you’re going to take some deep breaths. Just relax!”

Moon is told to relax before going under anesthesia. She is scared and did not get to see Christine before the surgery; all that she is left with is a fading vision of her celestial friends and the knowledge that she will likely never see them again.

“Baba. Is Moon going to be…different?”

Christine worries about what might happen to Moon after her surgery. Ironically, Moon worries about the same thing, but the two have not had a chance to discuss their fears since Christine has been avoiding Moon. She reveals the true nature of her fear and avoidance when she talks to her father at the restaurant.

“I try so hard to be perfect, but I just wish I could be more like Moon.”

Christine has never been confident in herself or known how to access her unique identity. Being around Moon helped her start the process. Christine remains herself but opens up around Moon, illustrating The Transformative Power of Friendship.

“We can learn from the way we hurt the ones we love, and try to do better.”

Christine’s father makes an insensitive joke about Moon learning Chinese during surgery, and Christine gets upset and leaves the restaurant. Her father comes out and apologizes, showing that he learned from his mistake. Now, he passes that lesson on to his daughter, who wrestles with her own guilt after what she did to Moon at the party. Mr. Hong’s statement is a central lesson of the book—hurtful actions can be a teaching moment and an inspiration to act more kindly in the future.

“Same ol’ me. No new superpowers.”

Moon wakes up from the surgery lamenting the loss of her visions and the idea of a home in the stars. Having felt out of place in the community, space served as a source of comfort and escapism for Moon. Now, she must find a way to accept her place in the world without the prospect of something else.

“Well, truth is you’re kinda cooler than most people here.”

Christine looks up to Moon and finds her to be the pinnacle of confidence, uniqueness, and strength. Moon is never afraid to be herself, and Christine sees this as a positive trait. Moon worries that she will no longer be the same without her visions, but Christine assures her that she is great just the way she is.