Jacqueline Woodson mixes two realities in Beneath A Meth
Moon (2012): Hurricane Katrina and drug abuse and addiction.
Laurel loses her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina. She has her father and younger brother, but they don’t they make her feel better or happy the way the moon does. From the moment she tried meth, she was hooked; it placed a blanket over her losses and worries, and just makes life good. The only way she can make this feeling last is to be on her own – and with the moon. Homeless and soon helpless, Laurel walks several journeys until she bottoms out, but not without someone to be there save her life.
Laurel loses her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina. She has her father and younger brother, but they don’t they make her feel better or happy the way the moon does. From the moment she tried meth, she was hooked; it placed a blanket over her losses and worries, and just makes life good. The only way she can make this feeling last is to be on her own – and with the moon. Homeless and soon helpless, Laurel walks several journeys until she bottoms out, but not without someone to be there save her life.
While this
book has some strong reviews, I thought it was a bit disjointed. The story
moves forward and backwards in time, but the distinctions are not always clear,
and I had a hard time determining where Laurel was in time and space and her
emotions.
The impact
of drug addiction is clear; however, I thought a lot of details were missing
that could have added substance and depth to the story and characters. I was hoping for something riveting that
could serve as an engaging fiction story representing real and intense social
issues.
Not only are these types of stories needed, Woodson does exactly this kind of work in If You Come Softly.
Not only are these types of stories needed, Woodson does exactly this kind of work in If You Come Softly.
