Cover Image: Lumberjanes: The Moon Is Up (Lumberjanes #2)

Lumberjanes: The Moon Is Up (Lumberjanes #2)

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Fun, and engaging! Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this title.

Was this review helpful?

I recived a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was another super fun jaunt with the Lumberjanes, this time focused very much on Jo where the other book was focused very much on April. Jo recieves a letter from home and then has to decide what she wants out of the summer and what path she wants to take.

Again I found this enjoyable and satisfying, especially as it starts out with a competition which Roanoke cabin, in true Roanoke style, sets out to WIN. And then along the way they realise that WINNING is less important than spending time with your friends while you try your best. Lovely.

My one quibble with this book is that, despite being mainly about Jo, if you only read this book and had no prior knowledge of the series, you wouldn't know she's trans. Trans girl protagonists aren't a common thing in middle grade fiction and Jo is one of the more high profile ones; so it seems an oversight to not even pay it lip service, especially considering her parents are consistently referred to as "Jo's two gay dads" when just saying "Jo's two dads" achieves the same. I'm not suggesting Jo be consistently referred to as "Trans Lumberjane Jo", but if we can call her gay dads gay every time, why can't we mention it once? Even just a mention that she chose her own name would do it, or maybe talk about how being a Lumberjane is a source of gender euphoria for her, assuming it is.

This is pointless now because this book has been out for years and the Lumberjanes comic series is finished, but I had to google "Is Jo Lumberjanes trans?" because the complete lack of mention or even implication made me second guess myself about it. And while we're on this topic, it also doesn't mention that she's Navajo. You have to go to the wiki for both of these.

Anyway. It was a fun time and I enjoyed it! Just, maybe we can say things out loud on paper more moving forward.

My thanks to Abrams Books for the early copy.

Was this review helpful?

I thought the storyline was great. I appreciated the fact that this book went into more detail of the girls’ friendships. Fun read and a great adventure!

Was this review helpful?

In the second chapter book of the Lumberjanes series, the bunk mates of Roanoke are off on an adventure to solve the riddles posed in teh Galaxy War created by their camp counselor, Jen. Along the way, they will also have to decorate their cabin as well as deal with space mice and moon moles. Jo has a decision to make when her acceptance to a prestigious science camp arrives. Should she stay or should she go?
As madcap as the comics, the chapter books are just not as good. They continue the stories well but something about having the pictures just make the Lumberjanes a little bit better.

Was this review helpful?

This title expired before I had the chance to read it, however based on how amazing the first trade paperback was, I will offer it a middling range despite having not open it on this occasion.

Was this review helpful?

Lumberjanes: The Moon is Up is more fun and adventure with the ever-popular and ever-unique Lumberjane scouts of Roanoke cabin.

While the books are about everyone, all 5 girls get their moments, there's a little more focus on Jo this time around, like there was with April in the previous book. Jo's the quiet thinker, the practical scientific one in their group with a love of math and science. She's smart and resourceful. She knows who she is, even when some thought she was someone else when she was younger (Jo is transgender). Her days are spent having adventure after adventure with her friends, but then a letter arrives. A serious one. A letter that could mean great opportunities for her. But it would mean leaving camp. Leaving adventure and fun behind. Plus, there's the whole missing cheese and a sudden appearance by a Moon Pirate to deal with.

As with the previous book, I love the idea of this, of more stories about the girls of Roanoke cabin and the bizarre situations they often fall into, of little prose adventures that work alongside the comics. It's certainly not a series you can go into without at least reading a couple of the collected trade volumes of the comics, but the tone is the same. The adventure and the friendships, the awesomeness of young girls supporting other young girls. The worry if you're doing the right thing. The puns when it comes to badge names and the references to famous women. A must-read for the middle grade crowd of Lumberjanes fans.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

Was this review helpful?

I love these characters and they are just as much fun in this series! Their adventures and relationships and hijinks are so enjoyable, I'm eager to share this with other readers.

Was this review helpful?

We're massive Lumberjanes fangirls, so our opinions might be a little biased. That being said, we can't get enough of the middle grade Lumberjanes novels. Being able to hang out with our favorite hardcore ladytypes on all new adventures is simply the best and Mariko Tamaki and Brooklyn Allen consistently knock it out of the park, bring the girl power, and make us wish we were back in Girl Scouts or summer camp having adventures with our best friends. We love that the Lumberjanes are inclusive and teach girls the power of friendship and that they can do anything they put their minds to! Bring on Book 3!

Was this review helpful?

What could top smelly unicorns and cloud people? Holy Carrie Fisher, its got to be pirate space mice! The Moon is Up was a fantastic continuation of both the Lumberjanes graphic novels and the Unicorn Power novel. I personally love that at this point they expect readers to be reading both formats and be familiar with Mal, Molly, Jo, April and RIPLEY! If you are not familiar with the Lumberjanes of Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for for Hardcore Lady-Types than you need to go read everything you can in the series!

The Moon is Up is not just about space pirate mice; It is really a story about realizing you can do things just because they are fun. You don't have to do serious things that are expected of you just because you should. You can take time for fun. The message is that fun and friends are an important part of life.

My takeaway from this series is that we should always swear and count in hard-core lady types/feminist icons. I am sure I am not the only one who writes down the names of the people I don't know to google later. Am I right?

Was this review helpful?

Now that I've read two volumes of this series, I can definitively say that I like the graphic novels better. Both versions are weird and funny. It's just that the art really adds to the appeal. While a fully text novel allows us more access to the inner lives of the characters, the graphic novels give more strength to the interpersonal relationships.

Was this review helpful?

"Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin—Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley—love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen...and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella’s, where the woods contain endless mysteries.

As the camp gears up for the big Galaxy Wars competition, Jo and the gang get some help from an unexpected visitor—a Moon Pirate!

Book Two will focus on Jo, the ingenious inventor of the group who also happens to be trans."

Does anyone else find the labeling of Jo a little against the vibe of the comics. They are what they are and that's why we love them... perhaps it was the marketing department trying to be woke.

Was this review helpful?

Lumberjanes: The Moon Is Up captures the feel of the series well for fans. (Particularly with the few but significant illustrations by Brooklyn Allen.) The camp is preparing for Galaxy Wars, a week-long contest involving a scavenger hunt, trivia contest, and obstacle course, all about the planets.

Note that the promo for the book made mention of its “focus on Jo, the ingenious inventor of the group who also happens to be trans.” I loved seeing more inside her head, since she’s usually the stable, quiet one, but it’s disappointing to see that there’s nothing in the book itself that makes it clear she’s trans. There are gender-non-specific pronouns and a bit of attention on Mal and Molly together, though.

Instead, Jo’s plot is about being conflicted between further scientific study and staying with her friends at camp. Her best friend April is caught up in the contest, Mal and Molly are working on a music badge, and Ripley is eating tons of pancakes. Plus, cheese is going missing. That’s where the fantasy aspect (required for Lumberjanes) comes in, as an unusual creature (with a science fiction twist) is responsible.

The descriptions create mental pictures of a magical place. There are various statements throughout about how “every day is a great day to be a Lumberjane” and “obstacles do not stand in the way of being an awesome scout” and an emphasis on being well-rounded and having fun. Combined with the dry humor, that makes for an encouraging read.

Was this review helpful?

I love Lumberjanes! I read the comics and devoured Unicorn Power in one sitting. While this one took me longer to read, it still has all the hallmarks that we've come to know and love from the comic books and the first novelization.

Was this review helpful?

Having read a Lumberjane graphic novel before, this is much the same and I really enjoyed reading this! It's full of fun and adventure, perfect for young girls who will love these young role models and their adventures.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, this book wasn't as good as the previous installment. There was just something missing that I can't quite name. Despite this book being under 200 pages and containing frequent illustrations, I feel like it was longer than it was and dragged too much for me to enjoy it. The storyline also wasn't my favorite. It is one that I think would have worked better in graphic novel form. I understand that the author was trying to connect Jo's inner struggles to the plot but I feel like it could have been done better with a different storyline. I still love the characters and their friendship is one of my favorite fictional friendships. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Was this review helpful?

I love the Lumberjanes! I enjoy these books much more than the graphic novels because they take longer to read.

This story is a great follow up to the first novel. But it is hard to follow the stinky unicorns from the first story. This one had a bit too many references to space for me, though it was pretty entertaining. The tasks that the Lumberjanes had to do were all space related, and it ended with a Moon Pirate mouse visiting the planet! You never know what you’re going to get at the camp!

I wish there were more illustrations. I love the pictures of the girls, which really tie the novel into the graphic novels. Also, I keep getting some of the girls mixed up in my head, like April and Molly, so seeing their pictures often would have helped me keep track of the girls.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s must read for fans of the Lumberjanes!

Was this review helpful?

If you're new here, I love the Lumberjanes. I'll take these girls in comics and novels, any way i can get them to be honest. This one fell a little short for me, it was just missing something I can't quite pinpoint, but I still liked it a lot. Full disclosure, i've been in a major slump lately, so it could also be that.

Was this review helpful?

It was all a little frantic and silly for me – but then, I'm not really the target audience. Top marks for LGBT representation, which is always nice to see. Although I didn't like this for myself, I'd buy it for a young reader.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun take on the Lumberjanes universe, and is a good bridge from comics to prose. That said, I do think that reading the comics is a must before reading the middle grades novels.

Was this review helpful?