Blow Out the Moon

Harry Potter may have piqued kids' interest in boarding schools, but this exuberant coming-of-age story is just the book to provide all of the juicy details about what a real boarding school is like. Blow Out the Moon follows a feisty young heroine in the 1950s on an ocean liner from the United States to London, and then to a boarding school in the English countryside. In her struggle to become a proper lady—whether learning to ride horses or learning to eat the 'right' way—she finds herself maturing from a reckless little girl into a young lady, without sacrificing her vivacity. First-time novelist Libby Koponen writes with a humorous, girlish honesty, and includes actual letters, documents, and photographs from her own youth. Fans of Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and even the contemporary Ramona series will love and treasure this book for years to come.