4 stars. This was such a lovely read! The author’s writing style is amazing. The only reason I am giving this novel a four stars is that I was left a little in the unknown in terms of the reveal at the end. Overall, fantastic read.

Moth feels disconnected from the world after she is the lone car crash survivor until she meets Soni. They choose to embark on a road trip that may heal them both. Me (Moth) is a heart-wrenching book on grief, loneliness, and finding yourself once again. McBride is a wizard with how she can completely absorb the reader in the intense feelings of Moth and make each emotion relatable. The moth is a haunted protagonist that just wants to be the girl she used to be. The lyrical rhythm of the words and emotion was like a dance. This book will gram the hearts of readers taking them on a dark and healing adventure.

Because I listened to the audiobook, I didn't originally realize that this book is written in verse, but even still I was enraptured by the rhythm of the prose, the way each word plays with the ones that come before, the deliberate tangle of perspective between the two characters as Moth weaves in Sani's voice into her own.

Me (Moth) is, on its face, a great American roadtrip story, between a Black girl who has had her life torn apart and a Navajo boy who can't anchor himself. Their stops on the road create an interesting dynamic of points of tragedy, abandonment, ghost stories, and unbridled nature.

And the ending just makes you go "...oh" - like an exhalation of built-up pain. It's not exactly relief, but more like sudden clarity. It was brilliantly done.

What a amazing book! I feel in love with this one. The story is spectacular, all the characters are super vivid. I recommend with my heart.

I love a novel in verse, and Me (Moth) is that. I honestly don't think this book would work if it was written in prose. I loved Moth, I found that I was able to relate to her, I always felt like an outsider and misunderstood. Moth's relationship with Sani was great, I appreciated how much they wanted to connect to their family roots. The twist at the end of the book was one that I didn't see coming. Me (Moth) is a beautiful debut.

I’m not entirely sure how this happened, but going into Me (Moth), I didn’t realize that it was poetry. I requested a review copy a while ago, which means that I read the the synopsis a while ago too…and musth ave forgotten all about the format. That’s the only thing I can think of…

But in either case, I enjoyed the poetry format of Me (Moth) quite a bit! Honestly, now that I’ve experienced it, I can’t imagine it in any other format! Me (Moth), was beautifully written. It was lyrical and incredibly sad, and it definitely left it’s mark on me. I definitely recommend!

Completely stunning and breathtaking. I knew this was going to be good but I can't believe how beautiful this book was. The end had me in tears.

Moth was in a terrible car crash that left her alone, having her mother, father, and little brother all die. She has moved in with her aunt and feels alone, untethered, and invisible. Then she meets Sani, a boy who is also lost and trying to figure out his ongoing depression. Together they form an important and life-changing bond that sets them off on a journey that leads to their intermingled past.

There is a touch of mysticism and a lot of heart in the novel in verse. The writing is beautiful and the story literally took my breath away as I sobbed at the ending. I cannot wait to see what else Amber McBride comes out with.

I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Moth is a book written in verse where the main character (Moth) has lost her family and lives with her aunt. She feels unmoored but meets Sani who is searching his roots and trying to overcome his depression. The two take a road trip and Moth must come to terms with her trauma. #Netgalley #Me(Moth) #unreliablenarrator

This book was beautifully written and unexpected in its twist. It was equally heartbreaking and heartwarming in it's prose. I sincerely appreciated the voice of the main characters voice, her anguish and passion and the love that she develops for another character as well as the reverence she carries for her Grandfather. I deeply connected to her love for him as I feel the same for my own who passed in December 2020. This book really hit me in my feels.

My Thoughts:
This is my book no. 100 this year, 2021 DC (during Covid). I purposely chose this to be my last book of the year because of several things:
I am intrigued by the cover: dreads, half skin colored, half sculpture face with a crack running from the moth bottom to the edge of her nose
The end of a "big year" which for me is a 100-book year should end with poetry in the form of a novel in verse
End with an award book which usually guarantees a great read. This one is a finalist for the 2020 Young Peopleʻs Literature award
If this is not a trusted author, choose a debut author. Often times, their first book is most close to their heart and in a big year, I want heart and craft and an authorʻs gift.
In short, this book OMG!! So deserving for whatever it gets, and it needs to get awarded and read and savored. The surprise at the end will hurt your heart, but once you know it, you donʻt need to read it again. HOWEVER, the poetry is fire. This can be read in upper middle or high school. Use it as a mentor text, use it as a way to get students writing, add it to the name poem collection, read it out loud every day. Just read it.

From the Publishers:
FINALIST FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE

A debut YA novel-in-verse by Amber McBride, Me (Moth) is about a teen girl who is grieving the deaths of her family, and a teen boy who crosses her path.

Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted.

Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones.

Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable.

Here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.

Unfortunately this book did not do it for me… as evidenced by the fact that it took me nearly 5 months to finish it. I enjoy books in verse, but sometimes the story was too jumpy. What really did it in for me was the dialogue between the two teens. It felt even more unrealistic than dialogue in a John Green novels. Teenagers don’t talk like that. It was cliché along with the “boy who needs fixing” trope. I gave an additional star for the ending which I didn’t see coming.

Thank you so much to net galley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book! I didn’t finish this book, I probably wouldn’t read another book by this author

This is one of the most powerful books I read in 2021. Books written in verse are hard for me to get into and this one sucked me in right away. Moth and Sani are such strong characters that I feel like I'll be thinking of them for a long time. It's hard for me to write about this without giving too much away but that plot twist was eye opening. It brought a whole new perspective to the story. Thank you to the publisher for sending this my way!

I'm hesitant to say anything, afraid that I might give something away! This was a quick read, and once I finished I wanted to start again and look for clues.

Moth has lost her entire family in a car accident and lives with her aunt Jack in Virginia. She feels unseen and alone, until she meets Sani, who is haunted by his own mental health. After meeting, they go on a road trip and Moth hopes to help Sani through his depression. Both creatives who have lost their motivation--Moth, a dancer and Sani, a musician--they find strength with each other to move on in life.
This was a beautiful novel-in-verse told from Moth's POV and some poems are in Sani's POV. The poems and imagery were haunting as these two characters struggle to feel alive. Amber McBride does an excellent job of weaving Navajo and Hoodoo practices, myths, and legends in relatable ways while creating two beautifully flawed characters as they battle with mental health. An excellent read for those who enjoy (or are new to) novels-in-verse.

Me (Moth) is a great work written in verse. I read it in one sitting, completely immersed in the narrative. The atmosphere of the book is what created this unique experience. I felt like I was in a brain fog the entire time, which leads to a dual meaning for this narrative. Not only was the story powerful, but the use of this "brain fog" added a layer to the experience of reading this story. The language was beautiful, the narrative was beautiful, and I really want to reread this book soon.

Beautiful novel in verse.

I enjoyed this thoroughly, though I think it might be tough for early YA readers.

The diversity of the characters and their backgrounds was thoughtfully written. It also felt like their traumas were handled with care.

Beautiful.

Me (Moth) is a beautifully written American, Gothic Novel-In-Verse. After a terrible acident, our protagonist, Moth, is forced to give up dance. Now, she is living with her aunt, but she doesn't feel seen...until she meets Sani. After leaving New Mexico, Sani gave up Music. Because both of them sacrificed a piece of themselves in the aftermath of trauma, they understand one another in a way no one else can. When the Summer arrives, they embark on a cross-country roadtrip where even more commonalities are discovered. This timely tale will resonate with many of today's teens as it covers topics like grief, mental health, and suicide ideation.

This book was not what I was expecting in the best way. Very emotional, strong read and I really enjoyed it!

An impactful gem of a read despite its length. This book was a special read for me as it was in verse which is not normally a quality in books I read, but I was blown away about this story that captures grief, self-discovery and longing. The writing is fantastic and the characters are plain old unforgettable, and this is one you don't want to miss.