Sunday 25 December 2011

Review: Graffiti Moon

Original Title: Graffiti Moon
Author: Cath Crowley
Publisher: Knopf Books
Published Date: August 1st, 2010
Genre: Young-adult, Art, Contemporary Romance, Realistic

First, thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books (Imprint: Alfred A. Knopf BFYR) for providing the ARC of this book.

Although this is an ARC, I received a bit late.  But, I am glad, too glad, to do this review.  Its one of those books, where you wish you could be inside the pages of the book.


Graffiti Moon is the story, that takes place in one night, and changes the lives of a bunch of teens, forever. 

The book starts like this:

"Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers."

This is by Lucy, who is on hunt for a mysterious graffiti artist, Shadow, whose works are all over the city.  Although she has never met him, she loves his graffiti works and is sure that she will fall in love with the person who did those art as well (that is of course, if he is not having a girlfriend already).  The descriptions of the graffiti art, by Cath Crowley, is so vivid, that the readers get the actual feel of being in front of a graffiti.

Ed is an unemployed high-school dropout, whose life is in a complete mess.   While Ed has some problems in reading and writing words, he expresses his emotions through graffiti art.  Ed and his best friend, Leo, team up to do this work, where Ed paints and Leo writes a line of poetry about it, in the walls - together they sign themselves as 'Shadow' and 'Poet'.  The last thing Ed needs is to go out with Lucy.  This is not an exaggeration, considering their disastrous first date a few years ago, where Lucy broke Ed's nose (well, yeah, that's what happened - no exaggeration there either).

When Lucy starts her evening in search of Shadow, along with her other friends, Jazz and Daisy, they come across Ed, Leo and Dylan (Daisy's boyfriend).  They pair up - Daisy and Dylan, Jazz and Leo, and, Lucy and Ed.  Their search for Shadow and the decisions that the teens make that night, covers up the rest of the book and ends with a satisfying conclusion.

Crowley's writing is fun, vivid and satisfying.  The chapters in the book alternates between Ed and Lucy, with occasional poetry contribution from Leo.
The main and supporting characters are so endearing and honest, that there is no melodramatic or sappy stuff in the book. 

Graffiti Moon is a beautiful, emotional and a well-balanced contemporary romance, where two people connect themselves, through art and life.   Definitely a book, that's worth your money.

Awards won:
  • Winner, NSW Premier’s Literary Award (Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature)
  • Winner, Prime Minister’s Literary Award (Young Adult Fiction)
  • Honour Book, Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards (Older Readers)
Favorite quotes:

“You were right. Real is better. The truth is better. It makes you feel kind of stupid, but it's better.”

“I liked that he had hair that was growing without a plan. A grin that came out of nowhere and left the same way.”

“'I never fell in love with her so I guess the part of the brain that controls love doesn't respond to being called a dick.'
'For your sake, I'm hoping no part of your brain responds to being called a dick.'
'Fair point.'” 



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