The Moon Without Stars by Newbery Honoree Chanel Miller (Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All) is an exemplary work of middle-grade realism that is both immediately relatable and intensely kind, accessible to any child reader no matter their (perceived) place in their social hierarchy.
Twelve-year-old Luna and Scott have been friends since they were little. They eat lunch together at the redwood tree, silently building their complementing talents of writing (Luna) and art (Scott). Luna, whose father is white and mother is Chinese, recognizes that she and Scott are "pretty invisible, under-the-radar people," but this doesn't worry her--Scott's friendship is "as obvious as the sun in the sky." This changes, though, when Luna and Scott create a zine to boost a classmate's confidence. Soon, they are making zines to help everyone: a popular boy upset about his bacne, a girl whose boobs are "uneven sizes," and one kid whose deodorant makes them smell like "sour weeds." As Scott and Luna become known for uplifting those around them, Luna is befriended by popular June and leaves Scott behind.
Miller succeeds marvelously at developing each child into a fully formed character--there is no Regina George here, just a bunch of adolescents figuring it out. Her plot appears effortless; every small interaction influences Luna's friendships and self-esteem. And, when things go terribly wrong, Miller is honest with her readers: "to be a seventh grader was to be stuck inside your circumstances.... Everything you did followed you." Miller's realism is enhanced by the kindness, need, and hope her characters exude. This is an excellent reading choice for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly or Kate Messner. --Shaina Gates