Probably between 3.5 and 4 stars. This was a cozy fantasy about a nocturnal civilization. The art was comforting and beautiful and the story had a very soothing and meandering feel.

I've been a longtime fan of K. O'Neill's graphic novels, beginning with the heartwarming pastoral of The Tea Dragon Society. THE MOTH KEEPER is similarly beautiful and sensitive to the struggles of its characters and the role of community in our lives. Before I can even touch on the story or characters, I have to emphasize what a brilliant visual storyteller and artist O'Neill is. So much of this story takes place at night and O'Neill shows us all the calm and stunning hues of the evening, lit up by the glow of a billion stars. Dawn and dusk have similarly gorgeous color palettes as O'Neill seamlessly shows the passage of time through color and light, often giving us time to sit and contemplate the world they've created alongside the characters who find themselves alone in the desert for long stretches of time to reflect.

Our characters live in a night village, where everyone is nocturnal and with the blessing of the Moon-Spirit giving them the moon moths, which allow them to survive with plants that grow at night and the larvae that live underground. When our main character, Anya, takes the oath of the Moth Keeper, she becomes an apprentice who sacrifices her part *in* the community in order to shepherd the moon moths across the desert at night, protecting everyone's way of life in the village. It's the moth keeper's duty to spend most of their waking hours alone, while the rest of their village is built on communal living—one that Anya is determined to take on in order to feel needed after growing up on the outskirts of her community and family. But ultimately, this is a story about burnout and the role of community in taking care of one another as loneliness and responsibility for everyone in her village rests on her shoulders.

This book was so TENDER! Gosh, I couldn't have loved it more and it's clear to me that K. O'Neill can do no wrong when it comes to sweet, thoughtful stories and character depth. The art was, of course, lovely, but the dialogue really stood out for me. The story was rich with life lessons and it was cozy, gentle, and kind. Couldn't recommend more for a quick read when you need some comfort. 5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

i just am always completely in love with k o’neil’s characters, worlds, and themes. they create stories that are such a gift to our world, and this newest graphic novel will probably resonate with so many people who are reading this review, because the central theme is all about burn out and not realizing when you need a break and when you need some help, too. we are all so small in the grand scheme of things, and it's so easy for things to feel overwhelming, especially these last few years, and especially in a pandemic that is still going on. but our value as creators and, more importantly, humans, will never ever be dependent on how much we produce.

this is also a very heartfelt tale about community, and the things we can achieve when we are kind and offer help to people – and how that kindness and help can go such a long way and have the most beautiful healing rippling effect to so many. but this also touches on how hard it can be to ask for help, when you have been turned away from it by people who are supposed to be there for you. but also, in turn, how unconditional love + friendship can be the most powerful force in all the world.

ah, this is just perfection. i wish i could put this story in the hands of everyone, but especially every child. i immediately finished the arc, and purchased a physical for my own personal library (which surprisingly had the most beautiful art under the dustjacket). i think this will for sure make my best of 2023 come december. truly, a gift to this universe in all ways.

trigger + content warnings: mention of loss of a loved one, parental neglect + abandonment

The Moth Keeper is a book I kept hearing about. The artwork looks beautiful and the story sounds fun to me. I downloaded the book and started to read it but then life happened and I unfortunately never got to finish reading it. In the future, I'm hoping to buy a copy of The Moth Keeper and finally to get enjoy it.

Will be recommending this graphic novel, I enjoyed the idea of the night village and the moth keepers. Also the illustrations were so nice!

A warm-hearted look at family, friendships, and responsibility. The artwork is simply stunning, and the story engrossing. This should be a treat for fans of Studio Ghibli.

The artwork is lovely, and the plot, with its focus on inclusivity and community, makes for a sweet tale. There's not a lot of action to the plot, given it's more focused on the emotions of the characters and the way they interact. I did find it a bit odd that the main conflict happens with roughly 40 pages left to the end, but it made for a nice read. I would recommend reading it in print, however; I reviewed the digital version and some of the double page panels get chopped in half, which while understandable given the format does the artwork a disservice.

This was a beautiful book about found family, friendship, responsibility, community, and independence. The art is slightly different color tones that the artist’s previous works but for this title the darker tones (perhaps inspired by pandemic isolation) ring true. You still have the magic and playfulness that came through in previous pastel works especially with the setting and movement of Anya (a fox/human) and the moths themselves. Also appreciated is the use of pages and spreads without words to encourage the reader to truly “read” the art. Give this to fans of O’Neill’s works, Studio Ghibli, 5 Worlds, and Sorceline by Douye.

Being a moth keeper means having the fate of the whole Night village on your shoulders. Knowing this, Anya takes the oath anyway and sets about training to become the next moth keeper. She is responsible with guiding the moths out of their home, made from a covered tree stump, but getting them back in by sunrise. The moths then pollinate the most important tree in the village, which will also induce a multitude of other desert plants to grow and sprout flowers. One night, Anya decides she isn’t satisfied with just knowing what life is like in the Night village. She visits the villages of creatures who thrive in daylight. Her exhaustion the next night leads to the moths flying away from her sight, and it's up to her and the power of other moon creatures to get the moths back before the tree withers from lack of pollination.
This is fairly powerful stuff for a middle grade novel. O’Neill touches upon themes of acceptance and depression, as well as self-worth and belonging. Anya struggles with many of these things a and hopes her position will bring some purpose to her life, but in the end, friends and family help her find her sense of purpose. Also of importance is the need to contribute to the greater good, which Anya does find eventually, but with this, O'Neill reminds readers to find a place for themselves in their societies as well. With these illustrations, O'Neill takes a bit of a rougher approach to outlining, but the story's deeper themes need a little grittier touch. The coloring is just as beautiful as O’Neill's previous works, so fans of The Tea Dragon Society have another meaningful, gorgeous story to add to their shelves.

Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 5-9

Such a lovely story about community, belonging and at the same time not fitting in the way you're "supposed" to. It's a coming of age story with absolutely beautiful artwork and a lot of heart.

The Moon-Spirits were a village that became nocturnal in order to care for the Moon-Moths. The villagers have adapted their lives into living completely nocturnal lives, so they need the flower to survive. The villagers shared traditions, myths, and magic. Anya became a substitute moth keeper, while the present keeper decided to see the sun. Anya was required to protect the lunar moths. who encourages the Night-Lily to bloom on a yearly basis. Anya was required to protect the lunar moths who encourage the Night-Lily to bloom on a yearly basis. Later, Anya also wondered what it would be like in the sun.

The Moth Keeper is a Middle Grade graphic novel. I became immersed into the world created by K.O’Neil and I could have stayed and explored this world. The story was filled with warmth and love through a family.I highly recommend it to any age reader.
Thank you K.O’Neill, RH Graphics, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading the graphic novel in return for an honest review.

Fans of O’Neill’s work are in for a treat with this emotionally-charged, community-driven folk tale, told through easy-to-follow text and O’Neill’s signature charming illustrations.

This was my 5th or 6th graphic novel by K. O'Neill. I love their work. The artwork and story is always beautiful and filled with nature. This one is a fairy tale of a desert-dwelling people and a girl that must live a life of solitude protecting the sacred moths.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love everything K. O'Neill produces and this newest graphic novel of theirs is no exception! The artwork is simply stunning, depicting a desert world where the protagonist's community lives in the nighttime (and sleeps through the heat of the day). Combining animal and human features for the characters adds to the fantasy world, and as always they are fluid in gender and relationships. I found the world-building and background a little slow to get going in the beginning but it definitely picks up in the second half and was hard to put down! Targeted at middle grade readers, the plot has good themes of perseverance, but also recognizing when you might need a break and when you might need to ask for help and that it's ok if you can't do it all on your own sometimes.

I have loved every book by K. O'Neill and The Moth Keeper is no exception! K's art style and whimsical storytelling are so unique and beautiful.

The Moth Keeper is a graphic novel by K. O’Neill who also wrote the Tea Dragon Society graphic novels. This one follows Anya who is tasked with being the moth keeper. Being a moth keeper is an important job because moths keep the Night Flower healthy and the village relies on the Night Flower. I liked how this world was set up starting with the legends and stories that lead the village to where it is now. I thought it was cool that there were Night and Day villages where people either lived under the moon or sun. Anya wants to be the moth keeper because she wants to be the light for the people in her village. I liked the discussion of Anya not knowing her place in the world and of loneliness. Of course I also thought the art style was really beautiful. The only thing I didn’t love was there were quite a few parts of the novel where it was only illustrations and no dialogue. I did get slightly confused at some points trying to figure out what was going on. Overall, this was a cute and quick read that is perfect for all ages!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review!

A sweet story about a person finding their way, learning they don't have to go it alone. I really loved the artwork, and the reminder that it is good to ask for help when you need it.

WOW what an amazing graphic novel. I hadn't realized this was K o'neill when I requested it, but no wonder I loved it as much as I did. It was so effortlessly magical, and even though we only saw glimpses of this whole new world, it was done in a way that I was immediately emersed.
The story was incredibly sweet, and I loved the showcase on the importance of community.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Graphic for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another beautifully illustrated graphic novel from O'Neill! This book educates the reader on the importance of community and staying together. I'd recommend this to those who liked Kiki's Delivery Service!