The Moon Without Stars, Chanel Miller
The Moon Without Stars, Chanel Miller
List: $18.00 | Sale: $12.60
Club: $9.00

The Moon Without Stars

Author: Chanel Miller

Narrator: Sunny Lu, Chanel Miller

Unabridged: 5 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/13/2026


Synopsis

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The Newbery Honor–winning author of Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All explores the way growing up, finding friends, and discovering who you are can be both awkward and empowering in this heartfelt middle school novel.

★ "Genuine and poignant; has the makings of a modern classic.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

At the beginning of seventh grade, Luna knows who she is: an observant, quiet girl who loves writing and making zines with her best friend, Scott. But when one of their zines takes off, Luna is somehow swept up into the popular group and learns just how much of herself she's going to have to compromise to stay there. Will she give up her writing? Her best friend? What about her own beliefs about who she is and what she stands for?

Featuring author-illustrator Chanel Miller’s signature line drawings, The Moon Without Stars is a deeply personal and often funny novel about what it means to lose and then find yourself again during the vulnerable, life-changing years of middle school.

About The Author

Chanel Miller is a writer and artist. Her first children’s book, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, was a Newbery Honor winner and an instant New York Times bestseller. It was also a TODAY show Read with Jenna Jr selection, a Good Housekeeping Best Kids’ Book Awards winner, a New York Times for Kids pick, a The Week Junior book club selection, a People magazine summer reading pick, a Junior Library Guild selection, and an Indie Next pick. Her memoir, Know My Name, was a New York Times bestseller, a New York Times Book Review Notable Book, and a winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the Ridenhour Book Prize, and the California Book Award. It was also a best book of the year in TIME, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, NPR, and People, among others. She was named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and a Time Next 100 honoree and was a Glamour Woman of the Year honoree. You can visit her online at Chanel-Miller.com or follow her on Instagram @Chanel_Miller.


Reviews

Goodreads review by emma on January 19, 2026

i will read everything chanel miller writes, including middle grade (thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)......more

Goodreads review by Marisa on November 25, 2025

As an adult I found this book extremely readable and entertaining. I'm very happy to NOT be 13. This is supposed to be for ages 10 and up but Idk about that.......more

Goodreads review by Emily on January 17, 2026

I think Chanel Miller wanted to write a self-help book, but after Magnolia Wu’s success, she stuck with the middle grade thing. I haven’t disliked a book this much in a while…. Main character Luna is obnoxiously full of pseudo-sage observations and advice—mostly about self image. But also, in-depth p......more

Goodreads review by Ivy on December 27, 2025

Chanel Miller has really tapped into the mind of a middle schooler in her soon to be published book, The Moon Without Stars. This book is filled with the typical social hierarchy of middle school and through Luna she has captured all of the awkwardness, anxieties, and apprehensiveness of seventh gra......more

Goodreads review by Samantha on January 17, 2026

"We all do things we're not proud of. We hurt people we love, even if we don't mean to. We learn, then we change, that's the most we can ask for. But none of us will succeed in navigating through life perfectly. And what if that's okay?" This was a thoughtful and emotional read, and I can really appr......more


Quotes

Praise for The Moon Without Stars:

Indie bestseller ♦ Indie Next List pick

* “Authentic and raw, this story is at once a timeless account of growing up and a tale that’s specific to this generation . . . Genuine and poignant; has the makings of a modern classic.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “Subtle, original, and lightly suspenseful, Luna’s journey toward learning to balance the complex ins and outs of social interaction with her own desires will resonate with those seeking community and understanding.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Miller accurately captures stigmas that persist through middle-school life, from periods to peer pressure. But young readers won't only see a reflection of their experiences on these pages, they'll find new perspectives . . . An unflinching, nuanced take on contemporary middle-school life.” —Booklist, starred review

* “Miller (Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All) writes Luna’s voice with authenticity and warmth, capturing the awkward humor, emotion, and self-discovery that define early adolescence . . . An authentic coming-of-age story that encourages empathy, accountability, and confidence.” —School Library Journal, starred review

* “Miller has crafted a sensitive, authentic voice for the protagonist . . . Readers will find comfort in the moments of levity and small acts of kindness in the story that balance these darker plot lines while also knowing that they, like Luna’s bibliotherapy subjects, are not alone.” —The Horn Book, starred review

*
“Chanel Miller’s second novel . . . offers an almost painfully truthful portrait of social dynamics in middle school, when bodies, friendships and behaviors can change so quickly that life can spiral out of its previously contained orbit . . . The Moon Without Stars is a sophisticated, moving testament to admitting the damage one has caused and doing one’s best to repair it.” —BookPage, starred review