Trouble With Half a Moon

TEleven-year-old Dellie is carrying more than a backpack full of books - she's carrying guilt. After a family tragedy she believes she caused, Dellie's world has grown smaller, filled with fear, grief, and unanswered questions. But when Corey, a troubled young boy, moves into her Brooklyn apartment building, Dellie's carefully guarded life begins to shift.

As she watches Corey navigate his own challenges, Dellie is faced with the hardest questions of all: Can you help someone else when you're still healing yourself? And how do you forgive - especially when the person you need to forgive is you?

The Trouble with Half a Moon is a poignant middle grade novel that explores grief, resilience, and the power of empathy. With a strong, relatable voice and a vivid urban setting, this story offers rich opportunities for classroom discussion around social-emotional learning, responsibility, and the complexity of family dynamics.