Review: Graffiti Moon

School has come to an end.
"Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about.

His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.

Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls.

But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes."
-Good Reads



Stats:

• Publisher:  Random House Children's Books
• Date of release: Feb. 2, 2012
• Page count: 264
• Format: eBook
• Unique elements: Told from three different perspectives (one is in verse)
• Would appeal to: Fans of Sarah Dessen, lovers of romance, artists

Favorite Quotes:

"Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. Poet too but mainly Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers. An artist who paints things like that is someone I could fall for."

"Mum says when wanting collides with getting, that's the moment of truth. I want to collide. I want to run right into Shadow and let the force spill our thoughts so we can pick each other up and pass each other back like piles of shiny stones."

"I liked that he had hair that was growing without a plan. A smile that came out of nowhere and left the same way. That he was tall enough so I had to look up at him in my dream sequences."

"He didn't have to make me feel so stupid. It's not like I said I'd do it with Mr. Darcy. Actually, I have said that before, but that was a longish time ago when I didn't have the maturity I have now."

"I felt like I needed to run but my skin wouldn't let me. I had this urge to throw cans at the windows so I could hear a noise that sounded like escape."

Warning: Once you pick up this book, you won't be able to put it down.

It lived up to all its hype.

First of all, if you read the quotes, you can tell Cath Crowley has a talent with words. She strings nouns and adjectives together in ways you'd never quite think of, but they always make sense.

The dialogue is truly believable. I was amazed at how effortless and real it was between all the characters.

I absolutely love Jazz, Lucy's best friend. She's everything Lucy's not: psychic, fiesty, fun, and outgoing. Jazz loves a good time. The pair of Daisy and Dylan are pretty funny as well. I like that there are several couples in the book out for an all-night adventure. There are heart to hearts, a party, a trip to a casino, a few near death experiences.

One of my favorite scenes is when the three girls go up to the three guys at Feast. The three girls have a chat in the restroom, then it's the boys' turn. I've never seen it happen, but I'd love to make some guys (or one) feel so uncomfortable that they have to step away and discuss the night's plan.

Graffiti is portrayed as a true art form. The images that Crowley thinks up are beyond creative and they were absolutely made for Shadow's character. I haven't seen much graffiti, but apparently in Australia there are places where it has been legalized.

I did find it interesting that everyone's parents let them out all night to celebrate the end of year 11. The girls didn't even have to check in. It must be nice for teens to tell their parents not to wait up.

I liked that Lucy rode her bike everywhere and wasn't worried about whether her helmet with the lightning bolt was uncool. Also, Lucy and Ed each have an older mentor for a boss who has taught them so many life lessons. I've never read a book where one of the characters works in a glass blowing factory (such a great touch!).

Final verdict:
Through alternating points of view, Crowley has created an addictive narrative about future plans, hopes, and dreams. A story about finding love, celebrating friendships, and honoring the dead. A tale about art as an expression of one's soul. It solicits laughter as much as reflection.

*Thank you Random House for an advanced reader's copy of this book.