{"product_id":"blood-moon-isbn-9781536215038","title":"Blood Moon","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis powerful, timely novel in verse exposes provocative truths about periods, sex, shame, and going viral for all the wrong reasons.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter school one day, Frankie, a lover of physics and astronomy, has her first sexual experience with quiet and gorgeous Benjamin—and gets her period. It’s only blood, they agree. But soon a gruesome meme goes viral, turning an intimate, affectionate afternoon into something sordid, mortifying, and damaging. In the time it takes to swipe a screen, Frankie’s universe implodes. Who can she trust? Not Harriet, her suddenly cruel best friend, and certainly not Benjamin, the only one who knows about the incident. As the online shaming takes on a horrifying life of its own, Frankie begins to wonder: is her real life over? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAuthor Lucy Cuthew vividly portrays what it is to be a teen today with this fearless and ultimately uplifting novel in verse. Brimming with emotion, the story captures the intensity of friendships, first love, and female desire, while unflinchingly exploring the culture of online and menstrual shaming. Sure to be a conversation starter, \u003ci\u003eBlood Moon\u003c\/i\u003e is the unforgettable portrait of one girl’s fight to reclaim her reputation and to stand up against a culture that says periods are dirty.This beautifully written novel in verse is equal parts tender and tough, covering a broad swath of adolescent concerns, from orgasms to the dark side of the internet. Cuthew’s depiction of online bullying and harassment is graphic and spot-on; funny dialogue helps to lighten the intensity...A powerful, fiercely feminist novel that normalizes menstruation and confronts destructive cyberculture.\u003cbr\u003e—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten in verse with bits of concrete poetry, this book captures the joy of a crush, the despair of a lost friend, and the humiliation of being “that girl” on the internet. The need to normalize young women’s body functions and desires is woven throughout. An excellent examination of young women’s friendships and desires set against the misogyny of their society. A great first purchase.\u003cbr\u003e—School Library Journal (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany important issues are addressed in this novel-in-verse, and each is tackled with honesty and without sensationalism: the complexities of friendships, maturity, and solid parental support; the painful toxicity of cyberbullying and slut shaming; the thrill of one’s first boyfriend and first sexual experience. This is, at its core, a must-read novel of empowerment that attempts to normalize periods and offer strength to the innocent who find themselves the center of viral humiliation.\u003cbr\u003e—Booklist (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrankie’s story is piercing, raw, and true—not to mention relentlessly gripping. It’s also suffused with the sweetness and joy of being young and soaking up the marvels of our wondrous universe. This is female adolescence, crystallized. And it’s astounding.\u003cbr\u003e—Lauren Myracle, New York Times best-selling author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn her debut novel, Cuthew flips a horror story about toxic masculinity and internet-enabled misogyny into a tale of empowerment as Frankie begins to see she’s not in the wrong, and she and her friends reclaim each other and the narrative...Cuthew’s verse is sensitively written, enlivened by hashtags and typographical flourishes that successfully convey Frankie’s feelings.\u003cbr\u003e—Publishers Weekly Online\u003cb\u003eLucy Cuthew\u003c\/b\u003e has published more than thirty children’s books, including picture books, educational titles, and nonfiction, and she regularly speaks on the subject of children’s books for the BBC. She was a children’s editor for more than ten years and recently graduated with a master’s in writing for young people from Bath Spa University. Lucy Cuthew lives in Cardiff, Wales, with her husband and young twins.SATURDAY \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Slice of Night\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I perch on the bench in\u003cbr\u003e the planetarium staff room\u003cbr\u003e and take out my phone,\u003cbr\u003e with its smooth black-and-gold\u003cbr\u003e star-spangled case, and\u003cbr\u003e read all the messages\u003cbr\u003e from today while I wait\u003cbr\u003e listening to the silent room,\u003cbr\u003e checking it’s empty\u003cbr\u003e before I get changed.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e There’s a message from Dad\u003cbr\u003e and a ton in the chat\u003cbr\u003e with the girls called\u003cbr\u003e PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY\u003cbr\u003e (the only thing\u003cbr\u003e any of us can make).\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eDad\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I will be the one in the\u003cbr\u003e white ford behind the trees\u003cbr\u003e at five past zero\u003cbr\u003e hundred hours. D x\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I think he’s being \u003ci\u003efunny\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003cbr\u003e but I don’t get it.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e He’s on another planet.\u003cbr\u003e At least he’s agreed\u003cbr\u003e to pick me and Harriet up\u003cbr\u003e out back,\u003cbr\u003e and not INSIDE\u003cbr\u003e the ice rink,\u003cbr\u003e like he wanted to.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I open PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eHarriet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Just getting ready!!\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eBethany\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Remind me why we’re going\u003cbr\u003e to an *ICE-RINK* birthday party.\u003cbr\u003e Are we ten again?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eLeylah\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Apparently it’s free cuz \u003cbr\u003e Jackson’s on the ice hockey team,\u003cbr\u003e but it’s totally so he can show\u003cbr\u003e off to everybody.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Harriet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He can show off to me.\u003cbr\u003e Apparently he’s amazing.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eBethany\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I thought you liked Lee?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eHarriet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I can multitask.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eBethany\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ha.\u003cbr\u003e I’m secretly into it.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eMarie\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I’m openly into it.\u003cbr\u003e It’ll be fun.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eHarriet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What you all wearing?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eLeylah\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Shorts and a crop top . . .\u003cbr\u003e And a giant hoodie,\u003cbr\u003e to get past the parental police.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eMarie\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Erm . . . Ley, *ICE* skating . . .\u003cbr\u003e I’m wearing two pairs of leggings\u003cbr\u003e and three shirts\u003cbr\u003e under my sweater. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eLeylah\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ugh. Changing now.\u003cbr\u003e Warm clothes are so\u003cbr\u003e unflattering on me.\u003cbr\u003e At least I’ll be allowed out.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eHarriet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You always look lovely.\u003cbr\u003e Has anyone heard\u003cbr\u003e from Frankie today?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eMe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I’m here!\u003cbr\u003e Just finishing work.\u003cbr\u003e Tell me when\u003cbr\u003e you’re there. XX\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I finish typing,\u003cbr\u003e then take off my uniform\u003cbr\u003e and let my dress\u003cbr\u003e slink down over my\u003cbr\u003e not-completely-flat\u003cbr\u003e (but also not-yet-\u003cbr\u003e satisfactory) chest.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e A dab of concealer,\u003cbr\u003e a pump of face mist:\u003cbr\u003e I’m good to go.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eJackson Twigger’s\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eSweet Sixteenth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eat the ice rink.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e (Although . . .\u003cbr\u003e Jackson Twigger.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eSweet\u003c\/i\u003e?\u003cbr\u003e LOL.)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e While I wait for the girls,\u003cbr\u003e I scroll through my phone.\u003cbr\u003e Harriet’s posted a photo\u003cbr\u003e of herself in our tree house.\u003cbr\u003e #GettingReady #InstaMakeup\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e #Starlight #StarGazing #NightsOut\u003cbr\u003e She looks really pretty,\u003cbr\u003e her eyes all smoky,\u003cbr\u003e but I know\u003cbr\u003e the photo\u003cbr\u003e is from\u003cbr\u003e ages ago.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e It shouldn’t annoy me,\u003cbr\u003e but we’re \u003ci\u003enot \u003c\/i\u003egetting ready\u003cbr\u003e in our tree house tonight,\u003cbr\u003e and I hate when\u003cbr\u003e she’s being fake.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Under the photo\u003cbr\u003e Jackson’s replied,\u003cbr\u003e “ur hot.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Harriet’s written\u003cbr\u003e “thanks babe” and\u003cbr\u003e added a winky face.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e (Does she actually \u003ci\u003elike \u003c\/i\u003ehim\u003cbr\u003e or does she just like flirting?)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eHarriet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e We’re here!\u003cbr\u003e Bring it, beeatch.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I pull on my sneakers,\u003cbr\u003e then open the door\u003cbr\u003e to the atrium,\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e where Vidhi is\u003cbr\u003e putting away a wooden box\u003cbr\u003e of sparkling meteor rocks.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I wish I’d waited here\u003cbr\u003e talking to her\u003cbr\u003e about astronomy\u003cbr\u003e instead of looking\u003cbr\u003e at what Harriet’s posting.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Have a good time,”\u003cbr\u003e Vidhi says.\u003cbr\u003e “You were great today.\u003cbr\u003e You’re clearly\u003cbr\u003e really\u003cbr\u003e into this.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e“Thanks,” I say,\u003cbr\u003e her compliment\u003cbr\u003e blazing inside me\u003cbr\u003e incandescently.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Don’t forget to send me\u003cbr\u003e your application for the\u003cbr\u003e summer program.\u003cbr\u003e Or you can\u003cbr\u003e just bring it\u003cbr\u003e next Saturday.\u003cbr\u003e I’ll make sure\u003cbr\u003e Elaine gets it.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “I won’t forget,” I say,\u003cbr\u003e a flutter of nerves\u003cbr\u003e at the thought of her\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e and the director\u003cbr\u003e of this whole place\u003cbr\u003e reading my essay.\u003cbr\u003e “Thanks, Vidhi,\u003cbr\u003e see you Saturday.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “I’ll be rooting for you!”\u003cbr\u003e she says,\u003cbr\u003e                                 which means\u003cbr\u003e                                 the world\u003cbr\u003e to me.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e (Vidhi did the exact same\u003cbr\u003e summer program when\u003cbr\u003e she was sixteen,\u003cbr\u003e and now she’s got a\u003cbr\u003e PhD in Astronomy.\u003cbr\u003e #LifeGoals)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I push open\u003cbr\u003e the double doors\u003cbr\u003e and breathe in\u003cbr\u003e the streetlight night.\u003cbr\u003e Over the buildings,\u003cbr\u003e the crescent moon\u003cbr\u003e is a sharp, bright slice\u003cbr\u003e of otherworldly light.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I snap a quick picture.\u003cbr\u003e The moon comes out tiny,\u003cbr\u003e all of its majesty\u003cbr\u003e lost by my phone’s\u003cbr\u003e complete inability\u003cbr\u003e to take a picture of something\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e so far from me.\u003cbr\u003e I know Harriet\u003cbr\u003e will find it funny.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eMe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Took this and thought of you.\u003cbr\u003e #ShitPicturesOfTheMoon\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eHarriet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e LOL. Get your ass in here.\u003cbr\u003e Skating’s starting soon. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eSweet Sixteen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Frankie!” Harriet screams,\u003cbr\u003e waving at me,\u003cbr\u003e bracelets jangling,\u003cbr\u003e as I walk into the chilly\u003cbr\u003e and unnecessarily\u003cbr\u003e brightly lit room.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e The music is loud,\u003cbr\u003e and our crowd\u003cbr\u003e spills out of a booth\u003cbr\u003e near the rental skates.\u003cbr\u003e I climb over the back\u003cbr\u003e of the seats\u003cbr\u003e and slide in \u003cbr\u003e between Harriet and Marie.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Jackson is already strutting\u003cbr\u003e in front of the group,\u003cbr\u003e talking loudly,\u003cbr\u003e as though we’re\u003cbr\u003e his own personal audience.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e There’s Bethany,\u003cbr\u003e                                 Leylah,\u003cbr\u003e                                   Marie,\u003cbr\u003e                                   Me,\u003cbr\u003e                                   Harriet (laughing loudly),\u003cbr\u003e                                 Dev,\u003cbr\u003e                           Lee,\u003cbr\u003e and Charlie.        \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Jackson is telling everyone\u003cbr\u003e how last weekend\u003cbr\u003e he got a new mountain bike\u003cbr\u003e on his actual birthday.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Then went out riding\u003cbr\u003e and met two girls\u003cbr\u003e who were all over him\u003cbr\u003e because\u003cbr\u003e             \u003ci\u003ebabes love bikes.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Then he tells us how\u003cbr\u003e he ended up banging\u003cbr\u003e them both\u003cbr\u003e as a birthday present.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e (Yeah, right.)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e He shows us all\u003cbr\u003e a picture of him\u003cbr\u003e straddling his bike,\u003cbr\u003e with two girls kissing him,\u003cbr\u003e one on each cheek.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “How long do we\u003cbr\u003e have to listen to this?”\u003cbr\u003e I mutter to Harriet,\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e but she doesn’t\u003cbr\u003e answer me,\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e and Jackson is still going,\u003cbr\u003e gesticulating grotesquely\u003cbr\u003e with his overmobile groin.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Harriet grins at me\u003cbr\u003e and fans her crotch,\u003cbr\u003e then rolls her eyes\u003cbr\u003e like she’s about to faint.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e I whisper to Marie,\u003cbr\u003e “Is it just me,\u003cbr\u003e or is Jackson disgusting?”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e but Marie’s not listening.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Then Jackson looks at me,\u003cbr\u003e scathingly.\u003cbr\u003e Maybe he heard me.\u003cbr\u003e I hope he did.\u003cbr\u003e I don’t care if he hates me.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Harriet’s eyes stay\u003cbr\u003e fixed on him.\u003cbr\u003e Then she laughs\u003cbr\u003e at something he says,\u003cbr\u003e and throws back her head,\u003cbr\u003e like a wolf howling at the moon.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e As she does,\u003cbr\u003e her tilted-up chin\u003cbr\u003e leaves a gap and\u003cbr\u003e I notice someone I hadn’t\u003cbr\u003e previously seen:\u003cbr\u003e                 Benjamin Jones.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e He’s sitting between\u003cbr\u003e Dev and Lee\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e in a leather jacket,\u003cbr\u003e looking explosively hot.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003ci\u003e           \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e                 He turns his eyes to me,\u003cbr\u003e                 and right then\u003cbr\u003e                                 \u003ci\u003esomething physical\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e                                                 happens\u003cbr\u003e                                                                 down below.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e He’s so good-looking\u003cbr\u003e I can feel the photons\u003cbr\u003e bouncing off him\u003cbr\u003e and colliding\u003cbr\u003e with me.\u003cbr\u003e #InstantCrush","brand":"Walker Books US","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301505552613,"sku":"NP9781536215038","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781536215038.jpg?v=1767722792","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/blood-moon-isbn-9781536215038","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}