Walk Two Moons
by Sharon Creech
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Book Summary Information
Author: Sharon CreechBrand: Harper Collins Publishers
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-12-23
ISBN: 0060560134
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: HarperTeen
Book Reviews of Walk Two Moons
Book Review: Hope For The Chance of Two Moons
Summary: 5 Stars
It is a rare book which is able to address the death of a child's parent as well as the realism that a parent may suffer from depression. May we bravely dare to venture even farther, delve into the realm of long lost children, given up years before and "forgotten," his very existence left unknown to the "real" family. These are real life situations; families wrestle with these conditions all the time. Some families deal with even worse. Yet Sharon Creech has skillfully managed to make all of these situations tie in together in her beautifully crafted, Newbery Award winning novel, Walk Two Moons.
The central character is a brave and centered young girl named Salamanca, or Sal, who spends ten days in a car with her grandparents as they drive from Ohio to Idaho to retrace the steps of Sal's mother, who left home with no explanation nearly a year ago. Salamanca is making this trip because she somehow believes that her answers and her mother will be found at the end of her journey. Her grandparents' reasons are not as forthcoming, but through subtle writing and carefully asked questions from Sal's Gram, we begin to believe that her grandparent's are making this trip to help Sal to grow and to heal. Her grandparents understand, as we may not, that the importance of the journey is not the destination but rather journey itself.
Throughout the journey, Sal entertains her grandparents by telling them the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also disappeared during this past year. To both Sal and the reader, Phoebe's mother's departure is no surprise. We have seen from the moment of introduction that she is a woman who bears tremendous grief. We watch as she begins to crack, questioning her existence. We are allowed to watch her heal. Phoebe is unable, or unwilling, to see any imperfection in her own family. To make herself feel as though everything is going to be fine, she spends a good deal of time seeking out imperfection in others. The appearance of her mysterious brother and the continuous philosophical messages left on Phoebe's doorstep only adds to Phoebe's delusional thoughts. As Salamanca stands beside her friend throughout her ordeal, she learns more about her own situation. As she states at the start of the book, her own story is hidden beneath Phoebe's.
Because of the great aura of spirituality within the book itself and the Native American philosophy which seduces the reader, we are not at all surprised to discover that Salamanca's mother has been killed on what was to be her own soul searching journey. We have learned, simply by getting to know Sal's mother, that her journey was to have been one of spiritual finding and not one of escape. It was only through her mother's death that kept her from returning to Salamanca. Salamanca needed to make this journey in order to learn this, not just about her mother, but about herself as well.
Woven into this story is a depiction of a loving a solid relationship between Salamanca's Grandparents. In no way could two people be more loving or more in love that they. It is their passion for life that leads to the stories greatest surprise. This is a moment in the book that stings.. We are given the opportunity to heal along with Sal.
This is, perhaps, the books strongest message: Regardless of the baggage we carry or the anger and blame we feel, it's important to be aware of our own spirituality and, perhaps more so, how our spirituality is connected to everyone and everything else. We are shown the beauty of life; the warmth of nature. We see a Grandfather who understands and respects his granddaughter. We share the beauty of a father's unquestioning love for his daughter and his never ending patience for her grief. We are given the opportunity to witness and even feel pure love. We are shown that without complete truth, there is illness and pain. Blame is for God and little children.
Not all of us are as lucky as Salamanca, despite the trauma that she suffers within the course of one year. Salamanca is not only shown the route for healing, but she is encouraged to do so. She is also lucky enough to find meaning and love within her journey. We are inspired by her courage and her ability to love; we are touched by her human kindness as well as her natural insecurities. We can relate to this young girl. So that as the old, blind lady who lives next door to Phoebe continues to slip words of wisdom into small, white envelopes for Phoebe's family, we learn that you don't need eyes to see. We learn that perhaps using the soul instead of the eyes will better allow you to walk two moons in another person's moccasins.
There is no better way to learn and to embrace tolerance.
Summary of Walk Two Moons
Young Adult Edition with Reader's Guide
"Sometimes you know in your heart you love someone, but you have to go away before your head can figure it out."
To trace the path of her missing mother, Sal embarks on a journey from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents. On the road, Sal tells the strange and exciting story of her friend Phoebe. As the miles pass, Phoebe's tale becomes more and more outrageous, while Sal's own story begins to emerge. In unraveling Phoebe's mystery, Sal comes ever closer to finding out the truth behind her own bittersweet journey. What will she find at the end of the road?
Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle's mother has disappeared. While tracing her steps on a car trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents, Salamanca tells a story to pass the time about a friend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secret messages after her disappearance. One of them read, "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins." Despite her father's warning that she is "fishing in the air," Salamanca hopes to bring her home. By drawing strength from her Native American ancestry, she is able to face the truth about her mother. Walk Two Moons won the 1995 Newbery Medal.
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