BOOK REVIEWS Courtesy of Beaverdale Books
Courtesy of Beaverdale Books
‘How High the Moon: A Novel’
By Sandra Kring
Bantam
4/06/2010
356 pp
$15
Isabella “Teaspoon” Marlene is a 10-year-old spitfire with far too much talent and energy for sleepy Mill Town, Wisc. After her mother takes off for Hollywood, leaving her in the care of her estranged boyfriend, Teddy, Teaspoon settles into life in 1950’s suburban America, but of course never quite fits in. Her nonstop observations and near-constant singing both annoy and astonish the small town residents. She is brutally honest, often embarrassingly funny and witty in the way only a child can be. Sandra Kring manages to bring Teaspoon’s voice out in every page of the book, so much so it nearly drowns out the secondary characters, all with their own stories that cross into Teaspoon’s, sometimes hilariously, sometimes painfully, but always with an important lesson.
These secondary characters are what really make the story: the shy boy next door, the small town beauty queen with the world on her shoulders, the bratty neighbor kids and, of course, the loving but bumbling Teddy. They have their own adventures, all seen through the unflinching eyes of Teaspoon. They all learn from each other, building their lives and learning what family really means. The writing is lovely, the language caught somewhere between child and adult, much like Teaspoon herself, without falling into many of the pitfalls that can occur when adults write as children. The story isn’t flashy or action-packed, but sweet and charming and filled with characters who jump off the page. It’s a great pick for a lazy summer afternoon. CV
