Keeping the Moon

Title: Keeping the Moon
Author: Sarah Dessen
Year Published: 1999/2004

Pages: 228

Publisher: Speak
Price: Rp. 93.000 (aksara bookstore)

Colie came to Colby, North Carolina to live with her aunt, Mira Sparks, for summer holiday while her mother, the famous aerobics instructor (and also motivator) Kiki Sparks was having tour in Europe. At first, Colie didn't have any expectation for her holiday. But she didn't know that this summer would change her entire life forever.

Colie grew up as a fat girl. She and her mom (fat also, before she knew aerobics) always moved from one town to another so that Colie didn't have any close friend. Other kids at school often insulted her, leaving deep scar in Colie's heart. After her mom became an aerobic instructor, both Colie and her mom changed as they became healthier and slimmer. Colie was very athletic now but in her new school, someone spread a gossip that she was a "hole-in-one" and that every boy at school could sleep with her easily. Colie lost her self confidence and being very introvert.

During her summer in Colby, Colie worked at a burger restaurant named Last Chance, owned by best friends Morgan and Isabel. Morgan was cheerful and perfectionist while Isabel was so cold and blunt. She also met Norman, a hippie tenant of her aunt who seems to like Colie at the first sight. Her interaction with the girls and Norman made Colie slowly built her confidence and self respect. Also from Aunt Mira, who was being judged by people as weird and eccentric, she learned about how to enjoy yourself no matter what people said about you.

But what happened when someone from Colie's home came to Colby too and started to spread bad rumors about her again? Would Colie be able to stand strong this time?

First, i wanna say this: I love this book.
The story is actually very simple and no surprise at all but i really enjoyed reading this book. I love how Sarah Dessen could make me feel what Colie feels inside (since she's so introvert and rarely talks to other people), her change and also feel the summer at Colby. I really love books about summer holiday because they're always fun to read.

I love the message this book brings about how to respect ourselves. So many good quotes in this book and they're really motivating. I realize that people around us can treat us so bad, either they mean it or not, and it can influence our entire life. But in the end, it is ourselves who have the last decision on how we want to live our life. This is what Aunt Mira taught to Colbie when Colbie asked her how she felt when she knew that other people were badmouthing her. I really like Aunt Mira and her cards (Aunt Mira was a card artist. She made cards for everything, including for dead hamster). I think she's my most favorite character in this book.

One thing I don't really like about this book is the ending. Not that I hate it, but I want this book to be added more pages so that I could read more about Morgan and Colie's life after she go  home and go to school again.

Some quotes I like from this book:

I don't believe in failure, because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted. And anyone who attempts is not a failure. Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all. The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them

If things don't work out the way you want, hold your head up high and be proud. And try again. And again. And again!
 
I've always known who I am. I might not work perfectly, or be like them, but that's okay. I know I work in my own way.

Recommended for all of you, since this is a really nice book.