**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Graphic for the eARC in exchange for this review. This in no way changed my opinion**

First things first: K. O'Neill is an autobuy author. Full stop. There is no one I've seen who creates worlds that are so effortlessly inclusive and supportive and comforting. I want to live in them. The representation, especially for children, is great and this one is no exception. To add to previous representation in their books, The Moth Keeper heavily features a child character who uses a cane, as well as an LGBT+ couple. The characters are largely based on animals, so I can't speak to racial diversity, but the society does not look homogenous.

The book follows Anya, a young Fennec Fox, as she learns to be the "moth keeper" for her society. This job is largely solitary as it requires that you spend all of your time outside tending to the moths, allowing them to roam a certain distance at night, feeding them, etc. After her mentor deems her ready to tackle the job on her own, this means it also lacks another person to talk to at all most of the time. While the rest of society is also nocturnal, they stay in the city. The moths are important as they pollinate a tree that the society depends on for certain medications (O'Neill has stated she was inspired by an insect in New Zealand that has a similar symbiotic relationships with a specific plant native to marshlands there, as well as the Joshua Tree in the US). Anya's job is important and she recognizes it's gravity, but she also has individual aspirations that seem to conflict with this role and the weight of the job.

The letter from the editor at the beginning kindly points out the theme of "burnout", which can be a hard topic to try and explain to a younger reader. I think this is well executed, however, without using that specific term. It's easy to see Anya is slowly being crushed by the weight of the job but unwilling to accept help much of the time. This story, I think, will open the door to discuss with a young reader how to recognize/prevent burnout both within themselves and in their friends and family. The artwork is, once again, stunning and immersive. The fact it was done on Procreate on an iPad further stuns me. I am amazed at the quality of work that went into this story. I like the intertwining mythologies and themes of the story and, once again, O'Neill has masterfully demonstrated what a peaceful, loving society and good friendships look like. I think this will be a book many will come to love over time, just like the Tea Dragon Society. I think this one's theme is a little darker, by necessity, than some of the other books O'Neill has put out, so be prepared for that. But it was a pleasant experience.

4.5/5 stars

A absolutely beautiful story! From the artwork to the overall message of the story, it was stunning.
This story shows that it really does take a village and it’s not a burden to ask for help!
Such a heartwarming and loving story!

From the acclaimed author and illustrator of The Tea Dragon Society and Princess Princess Ever After (InNeill) comes an extraordinarily poetic and emotional story of a small moth keeper who will sacrifice by spending the nights in isolation making sure the moths don't get lost. Her village depends on her, but her heart is with the sun and life during the day and one night she loses the moth. From self-doubt to acts of courage. Being a keeper is not easy but she will not turn her back on her duty and will make sure to undo her mistake. Great cast of characters with LGBTQ representation.
I love the extra sketches at the end of this book. Also how the author was inspired by the dry landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Thank you Random House Children's and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was absolutely beautiful! It is a story of loss, responsibility, discovery, acceptance, and family. Being a Moth Keeper is a big responsibility, and this book beautifully portrays it! It also portrays the difficulties that follow, such as loneliness and being with your thoughts.

The artwork in this book was also just as beautiful! The colors they chose and the art style flowed perfectly.

This will be a great graphic novel for older middle schoolers. The messages in this book will definitely stick with whoever reads it. It was very moving, and I can't wait to read it again once it's published! I definitely recommend it!

This gentle fantasy will appeal to fans of the author's award-winning Tea Dragon Society books. Also, it features a young character dealing with burnout, which is an extremely timely topic, and handled well in the story. The artwork is lovely and immersive, bringing to life an imaginative fantasy world.

I will link to my full review once it is posted on No Flying No Tights.

Thank you Random House Children's and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book, in exchange for my honest review.
This book follows Anya, a young girl who lives in the Night Village. In her village, they sleep during the day, and thrive in the evening. Anya, has signed up to be a moth keeper for her village. It is an important job, as the moths help to feed the tree that is the lifeblood of the village. The only problem is, she has always dreamt of seeing the sun. When she decides to find out what it's like, her village and the moths could pay the price.

I have not read a lot of graphic novels or mangas, but this one looked way to cute to pass up. Let me tell you, it was everything that I thought it would be. The story is so sweet and charming. The atmosphere was lovely and I instantly fell in love with all of the characters. The artwork was stunning! There were times that I was a bit confused with what was going on, but I think that is because I am not used to reading this format.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I would definitely read more from this author.

So beautiful and poignant. I absolutely loved The Tea Dragon Society so seeing more of K. O'Neill's work is delightful. This didn't disappoint whatsoever.

The story is one of loss, yearning, discovery, and acceptance. Our young protagonist is struggling to navigate her world and her responsibilities and, in typical "I Want" fashion, wants to understand a different side of life, if only for a day. She comes to an appreciation for all facets of the world she lives in, with the help of so many kind people--something I can only hope for our own world. I can understand this being a single volume, but I admittedly hope it gets at least one sequel to see how far she goes. The art is also as gorgeous as always in O'Neill's work.

In short, this is wonderful read for everyone!

As a lover of O'Neill's previous works, I'm super stoked to have gotten the opportunity to read their upcoming release early!

While a departure from the lineless vibrancy of the Tea Dragon and Aquicorn Cove books, the desaturated colors and linework are a better fit for this story. This desert tale is folkloric, and I feel this better suits the subgenre of a soft fantasy novel than a cozy fantasy. Sure, the artwork is lovely and there's so much community coziness in its pages. But the underlying themes prevalent are about burnout, loneliness, and the desire to belong without knowing how.

It's a beautiful story, and I think that in spite the Middle Grade designation many people will be able to point to a time in their lives they felt the same. The tone is more somber compared to O'Neill's previous works, but you still see the way they weave universal feelings and struggles into the various characters. In addition, there is still casual LGBTQ+ representation, a trademark of O'Neill's work.

So as always, I very much enjoyed it and look forward to what other stories O'Neill will publish in their career!

I've been a fan of K. O'Neill since Princess Princess Ever After and the Tea Dragon books are personal favorites, so I was delighted when I heard about the Moth Keeper and it did not disappoint. What a lovely story about family, fear, and burnout. It brought tears to my eyes. Can't wait to see it on my library shelf and my personal shelf.

I enjoyed this newest addition to K's publications. The look into isolation and burnout as well as exploration of self was fascinating and the artwork played into that really well. It didn't feel quite as compelling as the tea dragon series, but I think it would do well with multiple reads.

Most of the time I choose books based on vibes, and the Moth Keeper had among the best vibes. It didn't hurt that Anya the main character looks to be modeled after a fennec fox (which fittingly is a nocturnal desert fox, also one of my favorite animals).

Like Vin Diesel would say in Fast and the Furious, it's about family. And this book really is.

Not only is it about responsibility to your community, but also your community's responsibility to you. Like K. O'Neill's previous work the Tea Dragon Society, this is a soft, beautiful piece with some melancholy, but soothing tones.

This is a great graphic novel for the upper end of the middle grade age group, but really could be enjoyed by any age.
I absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC.

Being a Moth Keeper is a huge responsibility and a great honor, but what happens when the new Moth Keeper decides to take a break from the moon and see the sun for the first time? Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for my ARC.


K. O'Neil is the author of one of my favorite graphic novel series The Tea Dragon Society. This is equally beautiful and well written. I'm so glad I got a chance to read this book

I love the mythology that was created for this book. The history of the moon moths, and why the night village exists. The friendship between Anya and Estell is precious.

This is a story about facing everything that comes with being alone with your thoughts in the dark, dealing with intense loneliness and the people who are near us. It's gentle and touching and will likely stay with me for ages to come.

This book is going to be released in March of 2023 and I highly recommend checking it out. It is a beautiful story for all ages.
Anya's background story made me so sad. I wonder what her mother was dealing with.

This is a story about facing fear, wanting to belong, and fighting loneliness. It's gentle and touching and will likely stay with me for a while.

O'Neill hits it out of the park again! The lush illustrations flow with this beautiful fable-esque story. A delightful read for any age!

I love K. O'neill's work and I've read every book they've released so far, so I was very excited to discover that they would be coming out with a new graphic novel.

The Moth Keeper is true to O'neill's style: it's wholesome with a focus on friendship, found family, nature, and learning how to do hard things. The illustrations were also the soft paint style that you see in all of their other works.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel and the morals of the story. I have already preordered the hardcover and I can't wait to sit down and reread it because the artwork in the early review copy seemed like it was unfinished, and I'm excited to see how it will look when it's done.

I definitely recommend this book, and not just to the target middle-grade audience. I love K's stories and I'm an adult, but I also look forward to reading them to my future children someday. They are always wholesome and inclusive, and The Moth Keeper was no different.

"The Moth Keeper' is a beautifully illustrated story that seeks to capture the essence of seeking help when you need it. It is gentle and warm and light, with a beautiful backdrop and moral tale included.

This story follows Anya, a moth keeper, and her journey as she spends so much time alone doing what she thinks is her only purpose. Throughout, we follow her as she grows slowly more tired and worn out from being relied on so heavily all of the time.

Burnout was so gorgeously captured here with a hope, for those like Anya who hold onto expectations, that things can change and be better as a community. Rather than carrying a burden alone.

This story was wonderful for what it was but it was very short and followed one linear storyline which I found a little lacklustre. Regardless, I enjoyed and hope everyone else does too!

I love everything that Kay O'Neill has created; Their illustration style is so beautiful and cozy. This story is about feeling unworthy and loneliness. I was able to empathize with the main character, Anya, and her struggles with finding her purpose in the world. Beautiful story, beautiful art - I definitely will be purchasing a finished copy.

What an outstanding graphic novel! I got lost in the world created by Katie O’Neill and after completing this novel… I wanted to go right back into that world.

The story tells of a society based on tradition and grounded in the balance of nature and the environment. The characters are sure to appeal to many and you are sure to find a character that you can understand their inner motivations.

The illustrations pull you into the story even further. I literally lost myself for a half a day living in this peaceful serene land.

The lessons were deep and multidimensional. I found so many places that I stopped to read sections over and over as they resonated so deeply.

I loved this graphic novel so much I ran out to get K. O’Neill’s other publications.
This graphic novel is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!


Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & Random House Children's, Random House Graphic

AS CAWPILE:
Characters: 8 | Atmosphere: 9 | Writing: 7 | Plot: 8 | Intrigue: 8 | Logic: 6 | Enjoyment: 8
Total: 7.71

While not as emotionally pulling as the Tea Dragon Society, The Moth Keeper was a sweet little graphic novel. I enjoyed the layers of backstory telling, while still leaving some things to wonder at. I suppose my biggest "issue" here is that there felt like a lot of filler pages, and I would have enjoyed more interactions between characters, or more understanding of the moths or the different villages. Regardless of that, it's a fun, quick read and I definitely would recommend it for my niece and nephews to read.

I have read the tea dragon books, so I was looking forward to reading this. The Moth Keeper is a wholesome comic with a focus on friendship, found family, nature, and learning how to do hard things. The art and illustration style has some similarities to the work of Charlse Vess.

I highly recommend this.

This was such a beautiful story. From the story itself to the art style. I loved everything about it!