Luna (novel)

Infobox Book |
name = Luna
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = The hardback cover of "Luna"
author = Julie Anne Peters
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Young adult fiction
publisher = Little, Brown
release_date = 2004
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (hardcover and paperback)
pages = 256 pg
isbn = ISBN 0-316-73369-5
preceded_by = Keeping You a Secret
followed_by = Far from Xanadu

"Luna" is a young adult novel, by Julie Anne Peters, and was first published in 2004.

Plot summary

The novel is told from the point of view of fifteen-year-old Regan. She struggles with the secret that her older brother, Liam, is a transsexual, who wants to transition and live as a girl named Luna. (Liam adopts the name "Luna" for her female self, choosing the name because Luna, which means "moon," reflects the fact she can only show herself as a girl at night.) Regan helps Luna dress as a girl in secret, but panics when she announces her plans to become Luna full-time. Regan dreads what her parents will think, and how society will accept Luna. Furthermore, Regan's own romantic life is put in danger when she is forced to constantly look out for her sister. Although she wishes to have a "normal" sibling, she knows that she is Luna's only hope for happiness. There are many other problems for Regan and Luna in the book. Their mother is a busy wedding planner who uses a variety of anti-depressants and is not home enough to take care of her family. The father loves Regan, and tries to get her to confess to him that Liam is homosexual. He also has tried to get Liam to wrestle and play football, but has been unsuccessful in his attempts. Regan and Liam try to get Liam's best friend, Alyson, to accept his transsexuality, but are unsuccessful.

Awards and nominations

"Luna" has been nominated for four readers' choice state book awards, including the Vermont Green Mountain Book Award, Rhode Island Teen Book Award, Missouri Gateway Book Award, and the Michigan Thumbs Up! Award. In addition, it has won numerous awards.

* 2004 National Book Award Finalist in Young People’s Literature

* 2005 Stonewall Honor Book, awarded by the GLBTQ Round Table of the American Library Association

* An American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 2005

* 2005 Colorado Book Award for Young Adult Literature

* 2005 Lambda Literary Award Finalist

* 2004 Borders Original Voices Award Finalist

* Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2004, Books for Great Teens

* Michigan Library Association 2005 Thumbs Up! Award Nominee

* Rhode Island Teen Book Award 2006 Nominee

* Missouri Gateway Book Award 2006 Nominee

* Vermont Green Mountain Book Award 2006 Nominee

* New York Public Library Books for the Teen-Age List 2005

* An Original Voices selection by Borders Books and Music. Original Voices recognizes innovative and ambitious books from new and emerging talents, as well as outstanding works from established authors.

* 2004 Book Sense Summer Reading List for Teens

* An ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

ee also

*Transgender and transsexual fiction

External links

* [http://www.twbookmark.com/library/LunaTG.pdf Teachers' Guide for "Luna"]
* [http://julieannepeters.homestead.com/files/JPYABooks.htm#YALuna About "Luna" on Julie Anne Peters' website]
* [http://julieannepeters.homestead.com/files/ExcerptLuna.htm Excerpt from "Luna"]