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Good Moon Rising
Lambda Literary Award winner Good Moon Rising is about two young women who fall in love while rehearsing a school play, realize they're gay, and resist a homophobic campaign against them. Good Moon Rising, both a New York Public Library Book for the Teenage and a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, 'takes us into the dynamics of homophobia" (Horn Book). 'Garden, who gave us one of the first honest, sensitive portrayals of two young women in love in the brilliant Anne On My Mind, Farrar, 1982, offers us another thought-provoking story of homosexual love."-Voya
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
33 people are currently reading
2305 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Garden
42books445followersA versatile writer, Nancy Garden has published books for children as well as for teens, nonfiction as well as fiction. But her novel Annie on My Mind, the story of two high school girls who fall in love with each other, has brought her more attention than she wanted when it was burned in front of the Kansas City School Board building in 1993 and banned from school library shelves in Olathe, Kansas, as well as other school districts. A group of high school students and their parents in Olathe had to sue the school board in federal district court in order to get the book back on the library shelves. Today the book is as controversial as ever, in spite of its being viewed by many as one of the most important books written for teens in the past forty years. In 2003 the American Library Association gave the Margaret A. Edwards Award to Nancy Garden for lifetime achievement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 12, 2022
Having read Annie on my Mind a couple of years ago by Nancy Garden, I kind of knew what to expect, but I found this novel even more engaging. An aspiring young actress Jan is keen to play the lead of Elizabeth in her senior school play The Crucible after spending the summer at 'stock' which must be some kind of acting school.
Jan is devestated when she loses the lead to a newby, Kerry, who has never acted before and new to her school and town. But things change, wherin our story comes to light. Mix in a beloved teacher and play director having health issues, some bible thumping anti gay cast members and we have an engaging story. Nicely done I thought.
4.5 up to 5
Jan is devestated when she loses the lead to a newby, Kerry, who has never acted before and new to her school and town. But things change, wherin our story comes to light. Mix in a beloved teacher and play director having health issues, some bible thumping anti gay cast members and we have an engaging story. Nicely done I thought.
4.5 up to 5
May 22, 2016
For me when I was a lonely lesbian teenager (thus the target demographic of books like this), this was the peak of LGBT books I read. I enjoyed Annie on my Mind, but Good Moon Rising was the most romantic book I read (it didn't have much competition, given I mainly read fanfiction online to supplement my interest in reading lesbian romance about characters my age). I was rooting for the characters, and I think the subplot of working together in the play really helped glue the whole story together.
For an LGBT teen book, this had melodrama but didn't wallow in it, unlike I would dare say 85% of its peers.
I also LOVED the final confrontation/climax of the book. Giving more away would be spoiling, but suffice to say it really opened my eyes to how bullying works and one way to potentially diffuse it.
For an LGBT teen book, this had melodrama but didn't wallow in it, unlike I would dare say 85% of its peers.
I also LOVED the final confrontation/climax of the book. Giving more away would be spoiling, but suffice to say it really opened my eyes to how bullying works and one way to potentially diffuse it.
June 23, 2015
All I can say, without rereading it before writing the review, is I love this book. I loved Annie on My Mind so much I had to reach other Nancy Garden and this novel... wow. It's powerful! And I hope everyone interested in gay romance reads this!
December 12, 2007
This was Garden's second teen lesbian novel. This was EXACTLY like Annie on my mind. The characters even look exactly like the ones in the other book. The plot is almost identical. This is best suited for readers who just couldn't get enough of her first book. And I am sure there are readers out there who will love to read yet another "Annie" book. I was disappointed. It was like she didn't even make an effort to write a second novel.Read-alikes: Annie on my mind. Literally
June 15, 2008
Delightful. Bring tissues.
August 19, 2015
This book had a really good concept and...reasonably good execution. As a lesbian and theatre geek (Admittedly not an actress. I kind of winced when Jan was like 'The stage manager isn't important!' Honey. No.) I loved all the theatre references. The part where Kerry said that she and Jan were like Hamlet and Horatio and implied my favorite Shakespeare theory, which is gay Hamlet, made me laugh. The scenes with Kent and the play rehearsals were all suitably tense. But my problem with the book was that Kerry and Jan's romance just was...not well-executed. Annie on my Mind is one of my favorite books and to me it was like a copy-pasted remake of Annie on my Mind. And I found seventeen year olds calling each other "my love" and "love" the amount of times they did it to just be unrealistic. (Granted: Annie on my Mind does that too. But in that it felt a little more justified? Since this is the second book like this I've read by Garden I kinda went 'Yeah...no.' at the ones in this.)
But this wasn't a bad book. I just wish it had spent more time on the play. I am gay, and I love reading books with gay characters, and the characters themselves were great, but their relationship just felt kind of contrived to me. The thing that made Annie on my Mind stand out for me was that it wasn't all about the ~gay struggle~, Liza and Annie's relationship was treated just like a straight one would in any other book and the ending was happy. The ending was happy in this one too but the relationship between Kerry and Jan wasn't one I got invested enough in to really want a happy ending, Annie on my Mind had enough tension to make you really care about it. Anyways. I'm totally bombarding this book when I actually really liked it, it just wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Overall, a good book by an author I really like, but not a fantastic book.
But this wasn't a bad book. I just wish it had spent more time on the play. I am gay, and I love reading books with gay characters, and the characters themselves were great, but their relationship just felt kind of contrived to me. The thing that made Annie on my Mind stand out for me was that it wasn't all about the ~gay struggle~, Liza and Annie's relationship was treated just like a straight one would in any other book and the ending was happy. The ending was happy in this one too but the relationship between Kerry and Jan wasn't one I got invested enough in to really want a happy ending, Annie on my Mind had enough tension to make you really care about it. Anyways. I'm totally bombarding this book when I actually really liked it, it just wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Overall, a good book by an author I really like, but not a fantastic book.
March 4, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters were intriguing in their own ways. And kept me interested throughout the book
March 22, 2016
This is a young adult novel. I read it because I read Annie on My Mind years ago. It is well written and poignant, a coming of age story that deals well with homophobia and bullying. A good read.
September 29, 2017
**This rating is based on viewing GOOD MOON RISING as a period piece from the 1990s, when the book was first published. Encyclopedias were printed books updated every few years. People still telegraphed. Computers and email weren’t part of high school education.
***This book uses the word fag and nigger which probably wouldn’t be found in YA books in 2017. The term “the N word� had yet to be coined and while most people didn’t use it, it wasn’t uncommon to hear on TV or read in books. In my opinion, the ugliness of the word drives home the point more than saying “the N word� in this context.
GRADE: B
4 STARS
Jan is disappointed when the lead role in The Crucible goes to new girl Kerry and Jan is named stage manager. Circumstances force Jan to take over as director and soon realizes her feelings for Kerry are more than friendship. A troubled actor is determined to cause problems for Jan and the play.
The late Nancy Garden who wrote the groundbreaking ANNIE ON MY MIND in the 1980s follows up with another important lesbian romance. While dated by today’s standards, the story is a realistic slice of life of late twentieth century small town America. The writing isn’t as crisp or impactful as today’s best YA novels, although there is an audience for GOOD MOON RISING, now available as an ebook.
***This book uses the word fag and nigger which probably wouldn’t be found in YA books in 2017. The term “the N word� had yet to be coined and while most people didn’t use it, it wasn’t uncommon to hear on TV or read in books. In my opinion, the ugliness of the word drives home the point more than saying “the N word� in this context.
GRADE: B
4 STARS
Jan is disappointed when the lead role in The Crucible goes to new girl Kerry and Jan is named stage manager. Circumstances force Jan to take over as director and soon realizes her feelings for Kerry are more than friendship. A troubled actor is determined to cause problems for Jan and the play.
The late Nancy Garden who wrote the groundbreaking ANNIE ON MY MIND in the 1980s follows up with another important lesbian romance. While dated by today’s standards, the story is a realistic slice of life of late twentieth century small town America. The writing isn’t as crisp or impactful as today’s best YA novels, although there is an audience for GOOD MOON RISING, now available as an ebook.
January 29, 2016
The story is about two girls at a high school who are lesbians. One of them, Jan, is coming to terms with realizing that she is a lesbian and the other, Kerry, is a new girl. The story of their growing relationship is based around the schools production of the play The Crucible.
Kerry ends up getting the role that Jan expected, and Jan is basically directing the play. Their teacher, Mrs. Nicholson, is very ill and as her condition worsens more and more pressure is put on Jan.
This is where the theme of lesbian relationships and people's reaction to them comes in as the leading male actor in the play is virulently anti-gay and gives Jan a lot of trouble in her role as director. Things get worse as Jan and Kerry end up getting prank phone calls, and anti-gay notes. Things escalate even further when posters are put up around the school about the two of them and their relationship. As expected, there are also some family anti-gay problems that are involved.
The girl's relationship is subjected to a tremendous amount of strain, but things work out and we have a story of how love can survive despite people's prejudice.
The book is very well done as it examines the types of pressure put on loving relationships by people who are narrow-minded and vicious.
Kerry ends up getting the role that Jan expected, and Jan is basically directing the play. Their teacher, Mrs. Nicholson, is very ill and as her condition worsens more and more pressure is put on Jan.
This is where the theme of lesbian relationships and people's reaction to them comes in as the leading male actor in the play is virulently anti-gay and gives Jan a lot of trouble in her role as director. Things get worse as Jan and Kerry end up getting prank phone calls, and anti-gay notes. Things escalate even further when posters are put up around the school about the two of them and their relationship. As expected, there are also some family anti-gay problems that are involved.
The girl's relationship is subjected to a tremendous amount of strain, but things work out and we have a story of how love can survive despite people's prejudice.
The book is very well done as it examines the types of pressure put on loving relationships by people who are narrow-minded and vicious.
May 24, 2011
Nancy Garden is a treasure. She is not aggressive, like many LGBT authors are inclined to be. Her characters are very real, believable young women who happen to be gay. I love Jan's devotion to theatre and Kerry's growing love of it, and I love their adoration of their teacher. I did feel, though, that this story happened all too quickly. It wasn't an unbelievable plot, but it felt a little rushed. I also would have liked to see a bit more engagement with Jan's family.
Really what I'm saying is that I loved it, but I loved _Annie on my Mind_ more.
Really what I'm saying is that I loved it, but I loved _Annie on my Mind_ more.
January 9, 2012
I connected to the main characters, I love theater and she did a good job of bring the feel of it to the page. This book is what I needed right now; I needed to read about lesbians in theater because well I am one and I really didn't know what to do with that fact in-tell now. 5 out of 5 for sure thanks Nancy Garden.
August 13, 2008
Warmly told love story seasoned with homophobia and loss. The characters are rich and multi-dimensional (except perhaps the villain of the piece) and the plot (high school play) a perennial favorite of mine. Worth a look.
November 22, 2009
It was an OK read, but after finishing it, it left me feeling a little empty. It's nice as a summer reading book, but not very deep and insightful, in my mind. It has a good pace and a promising plot, but some characters seem a little flat.
January 3, 2008
More modern than "Annie on my Mind" but very similar otherwise.
July 2, 2015
A story of actors and getting through bullying
May 15, 2020
Rating: 3.5 stars
I thought this was going to be badly outdated, but I am pleasantly surprised that most of it still holds up. (Not gonna lie though—seeing Jan's friend, Ted, tell her to send him a fax cracked me up lol.)
We follow Jan, who just came back from summer stock, ready to play Elizabeth Proctor in her school's production of The Crucible. But plans change when new girl Kerry Ann Socrides better fits the role and Jan is assigned stage manager/assistant director instead.
"How could she tell him that it wasn't so much the idea of competition that bothered her as it was the nagging thought that she might not have as much talent as everyone had always told her she had?" (p. 24)
The jealousy Jan feels slowly disappears as she gets comfortable in her role and offers to help Kerry with her part, meeting after school to go over her steps. As the synopsis reveals, the two grow into something more. However, I like that Good Moon Rising isn't just about two girls falling in love, but it is also about falling in love with theatre. Jan was crushed when she couldn't even secure an acting role, but she ended up learning more about acting from a different perspective. And this was largely in thanks to their drama teacher, Mrs. Nicholson. (Which, I don't want to give away anything, but I really love who is she in this story!!!)
"... she realized that the whole had come to matter more to her than any of its parts, and she wondered if she would ever again be able to see a play from the perspective of just a single character." (p. 118)
I wish I could remember what The Crucible is about—I'm sure there are MANY connections between it and this book—but I don't think not knowing affected my experience.
I thought this was going to be badly outdated, but I am pleasantly surprised that most of it still holds up. (Not gonna lie though—seeing Jan's friend, Ted, tell her to send him a fax cracked me up lol.)
We follow Jan, who just came back from summer stock, ready to play Elizabeth Proctor in her school's production of The Crucible. But plans change when new girl Kerry Ann Socrides better fits the role and Jan is assigned stage manager/assistant director instead.
"How could she tell him that it wasn't so much the idea of competition that bothered her as it was the nagging thought that she might not have as much talent as everyone had always told her she had?" (p. 24)
The jealousy Jan feels slowly disappears as she gets comfortable in her role and offers to help Kerry with her part, meeting after school to go over her steps. As the synopsis reveals, the two grow into something more. However, I like that Good Moon Rising isn't just about two girls falling in love, but it is also about falling in love with theatre. Jan was crushed when she couldn't even secure an acting role, but she ended up learning more about acting from a different perspective. And this was largely in thanks to their drama teacher, Mrs. Nicholson. (Which, I don't want to give away anything, but I really love who is she in this story!!!)
"... she realized that the whole had come to matter more to her than any of its parts, and she wondered if she would ever again be able to see a play from the perspective of just a single character." (p. 118)
I wish I could remember what The Crucible is about—I'm sure there are MANY connections between it and this book—but I don't think not knowing affected my experience.
May 15, 2025
Sooo super cute
November 27, 2017
I'm beginning to get an idea of where that "gay people love theatre" thing comes from. I liked the idea of two girls falling for each other while working on a play. There is a sweet romance between the two protagonists but it doesn't come close to the charm and poignancy of the wonderful , which I loved, and unfortunately Good Moon Rising reproduced a few tired tropes.
So, when Jan first thinks she might be gay, she writes a letter to her friend Raphael, who identifies as a gay man, and asks for advice. This was a part of Raphael's letter in response:
Then there's Kent, the misogynistic and homophobic guy playing the male lead in the school play (opposite Kerry, Jan's girlfriend). He launches into a campaign of bullying and harassment of Jan and Kerry, culminating in outing the girls to the entire school.
The book's strength is undoubtedly the close relationship between the main female characters, and I'd rather have seen more of that (and the theatre aspect) and less focus on Kent and his friends (which got repetitive and boring). Most of the secondary characters are pretty static. The only exception is Ted, Jan's straight male best friend, who gets over his crush on her and learns to be a more accepting person, so that's all right, I guess .
So, when Jan first thinks she might be gay, she writes a letter to her friend Raphael, who identifies as a gay man, and asks for advice. This was a part of Raphael's letter in response:
I think I read someplace that there really aren't very many 100% straight or gay people in the world (I speak as a 99% gay, however, I hasten to add!), so don't be shocked if you're not 100% anything either. Did I ever tell you that I slept with a girl once? It was nice, too. But I like guys better, in all ways.I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt that in 1996, some gay people didn't see it as harmful for someone to describe themselves as gay if they only pursued relationships with the same sex, but the word "bisexual" has been used to mean "attracted to both sexes" since the early 20th century, so there's no reason to have avoided using it to describe Raphael. Nancy Garden, as a lesbian author, portrayed her lesbian characters as solely interested in girls and annoyed, disgusted, or inconvenienced by romantic attention from boys, so I found this part of Raphael's letter more than a little weird.
Then there's Kent, the misogynistic and homophobic guy playing the male lead in the school play (opposite Kerry, Jan's girlfriend). He launches into a campaign of bullying and harassment of Jan and Kerry, culminating in outing the girls to the entire school.
The book's strength is undoubtedly the close relationship between the main female characters, and I'd rather have seen more of that (and the theatre aspect) and less focus on Kent and his friends (which got repetitive and boring). Most of the secondary characters are pretty static. The only exception is Ted, Jan's straight male best friend, who gets over his crush on her and learns to be a more accepting person, so that's all right, I guess .
October 11, 2007
The highschool is putting on The Crucible. Janna, always gets the lead in the school plays until a new girl named Kerry enters the picture. Kerry gets cast as Elizabeth and Janna, not getting a part at all is assigned to be part of the crew as stage manager/assistant director. The drama teacher is sick and is hospitalized. Jan has to take over as director. She immediately has opposition from a talented young actor named Kent. He doesn't want to be directed by an actress. Meanwhile Jan helps Kerry with the part. They really click and their friendship ventures into a romantic involvement. Soon there are whispers and then downright harassment from Kent and his friends. The play must go on and it does. The people who are most responsible for the harassment are disciplined. Kerry comes out to her parents in a letter. Jan promises to come out to her family too. The relationship between the girls is heartwarming and very sweet and sincere. The prejudice that they face made me sick to my stomach. This story really struck home for me. I met my first girlfriend during our highschool production of The Wiz. She was the Scarecrow, I was the A.D. Other people reactions/opinions took their toll. The book had a happier ending which is nice.
March 12, 2011
Well, Nancy Garden, you've written another youthful queer story, goodonya. This one didn't work for me like "Annie On My Mind" did. I just don't buy that a 16 and 17-year-old girl would be immediately like "I love you" after a first kiss (not really real life, as I see it) -- unless it's just a momentary obsession giddiness thing, which is maybe more plausible. But then the language of "blah blah blah, my love" and "Dearest love, blah blah blah" -- when talking to each other! What?! We're still 16 and 17 are we? Because, um, I don't think so. Anyway, more schmaltz that I'd prefer, and more unrealistic also.
That being said, I still give Ms. Garden kudos for her queer-adolescent-lit endeavors!
That being said, I still give Ms. Garden kudos for her queer-adolescent-lit endeavors!
March 8, 2016
I really liked this book because of almost all of the aspects of this book. I really liked the character development and the plot line in general. Also the setting and problem is really relatable for some people(not me quite but I know quite a few who could relate). I feel that the problem is something a lot of people face in their lives. What I am trying to say is this book is awesome, I love it.
February 16, 2010
Creepiest cover ever, but definitely looking forward to this book. I loved Nancy Garden's Annie on my Mind.
This book follows the typical formula of a young adult gay book. Girl meets girl, girl questions feelings for girl, girl gets crap from peers, and so on. Despite the predictability, I still enjoyed it.
This book follows the typical formula of a young adult gay book. Girl meets girl, girl questions feelings for girl, girl gets crap from peers, and so on. Despite the predictability, I still enjoyed it.
August 28, 2010
Garden has a lovely grasp on teen characters: their thoughts, their concerns, their reactions. The emotions are perfectly paced and well thought out.
However, her style is still straight out of the late seventies/early eighties. Despite the fact that this was written in the mid 90s, it felt really dated.
However, her style is still straight out of the late seventies/early eighties. Despite the fact that this was written in the mid 90s, it felt really dated.
June 7, 2007
This is really just a classic teen love story with more than the average roadblocks in its way. As anything written in the Gay 90s, it might seem slightly dated to a current teenager. They'll get over it.
January 3, 2015
I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Annie On My Mind, also by Nancy Garden. There just wasn't as much depth to the characters and plot, I wasn't completely captivated by everything in it as I was with AOMM...
February 14, 2011
I like this one, but not as much as "Annie on my Mind." There are times when the story feels a little overwrought, a tad overdramatic.
August 30, 2015
Sweet. A little too sweet for me but I did finish it.
November 26, 2013
This is basically Annie on My Mind with new character names, and it doesn't work as well the second go round. Still cute though.
January 31, 2016
I felt the main character had no, um, character.
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