Moo - Sharon Creech

This uplifting tale reminds us that if we’re open to new experiences, life is full of surprises. Following one family’s momentous move from the city to rural Maine, an unexpected bond develops between twelve-year-old Reena and one very ornery cow.

When Reena, her little brother, Luke, and their parents first move to Maine, Reena doesn’t know what to expect. She’s ready for beaches, blueberries, and all the lobster she can eat. Instead, her parents “volunteer” Reena and Luke to work for an eccentric neighbor named Mrs. Falala, who has a pig named Paulie, a cat named China, a snake named Edna—and that stubborn cow, Zora.

This heartwarming story, told in a blend of poetry and prose, reveals the bonds that emerge when we let others into our lives.

I didn't read the synopsis prior to reading the book. I picked up the ARC because of the cover and because of some great buzz I heard around the HarperCollins booth at the ALA Annual Convention this June (2016). I was pleasantly surprised by what I read, and I think the quietness and simplicity of the cover perfectly conveys the narrative.

I really like the combination of poetry and prose, and I think Creech uses both forms to their full potential. The use of various forms and fonts to emphasize actions, feelings, and the flow of time is inventive. The connections between the various characters and the animals that they bond with are heartwarming, too. Zora the cow is hilarious and a fully rounded character in her own right, even though she's a cow. One of the most complex characters is Mrs. Falala, whom I found to be both infuriating and charming.

Overall, Moo is a beautifully rendered tale of maturation and development that will delight young readers. A tender and heartfelt novel all in all, and one that I would Recommend for families to read together, for younger readers to engage with on their own, and for teachers to have in their classrooms and school libraries.

(NOTE: This review is from an Advance Reading Copy - Out Aug. 30, 2016)