Book Review: Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Are you ready to read a book that will completely blow you away? Then it’s time for you to add Me (Moth) to your reading list.

Anyone who knows me well, knows I love reading “underrated books.” I’m always more likely to pick up a book that hasn’t been talked about much online over one that’s on every single content creator’s page at this very second. This has a lot to do with the fact that I’ve been regularly disappointed by those hyped books. If I read something that isn’t raved about as much, it’s less likely to let me down – and even more of a pleasant surprise if it blows me away.

Me (Moth) falls under the latter description. Actually, to say that it blew me away would be a crazy understatement, because this book stole my ability to even think straight. I couldn’t stop recommending it prior to finishing. In fact, I think I was recommending it before I had even gotten to the halfway point. I rarely (if ever) buy books before reading them because I’d rather fill my shelves with my favorites. Ones I know I’ll read again and again. However, my mom bought this book for me as a gift right after I moved into my new home. We got it at a local coffee shop on a whim and it sounded good, so I thought, “why not?” And friends, I’m so glad this book has been added to my shelf because I will certainly be reading it again and again!

Keep reading to see why Me (Moth) had such an impact on me.

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My honest review of Me (Moth) by Amber McBride.

Synopsis:

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.

Content Warnings: Major: Death, Death of parent, and Grief, Moderate: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

This book rendered me absolutely speechless. It was poignant, heartbreaking, and an absolute must-read.

I always knew that I loved prose, but I never knew how much I loved it until I read Me (Moth). This book did something that I’ve never seen before: it took a story and made it feel like a song. Or maybe it took a poem and made it feel like a river – something I had to navigate my way through rather than just reading a line and moving on. All I know is that I’m so glad that I started my year by reading this book.

When I spontaneously picked this up at a local coffee shop, the barista told me that I was making a wonderful decision. That while she preferred non-fiction on most occasions, after reading this book, she’s predicting it will be considered an American classic in the future. I believe that if enough people get their hands on this beautiful book, her predictions could come true. So this is me screaming it from the rooftops: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.

It’s not an easy read, but don’t let that deter you. It might make you cry (it made me cry), but it’s so worth it. You may even be a little bit confused at times, but it does all make sense by the end – and I can almost guarantee that the moment you close it, you’ll want to pick it back up again. That’s what happened to me.

Me (Moth) is the kind of book that makes you want to get a second, third, and fourth copy to annotate with your thoughts before giving it to your friends (or placing one in each room in the house just to look back on – or cry over – at a later time).

I’d like to just give a long and loud round of applause to the author for producing something so breathtaking. Thank you for this masterpiece.

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Me (Moth) – Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop | Target | Barnes & Noble

Will you be reading Me (Moth)?

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