Two Moons, Memories from a World with One

by: RE Johnston
Review Rating: 4/5 YA, 4.5/5 Adult

Two Moons is a fascinating read following characters that our youth can identify with, and it brings so many social, religious, and political concepts to light. It is a study in science, reincarnation, and the value of knowledge told through the lens of a main character who could only possibly have this much wisdom through the inheritance of another’s memories. It has the depth of character and connection to family and young love that ground it in our reality today while allowing your imagination to accept what might be were all of these concepts a reality.

I believe this story has wide appeal. Adults will enjoy the thought provoking study in the socio-political environment while young adults will identify with the adolescent who enjoys video games, his friends, and his girlfriend. In literature, I consider this the type of story that should be introduced into curriculum as it teaches on a broad spectrum of societal factors and makes you think about what might be if only.

RE Johnston also introduces some humor through simple observation that plays nicely to build his world. For example, after having some Texas Toast, Jay Shipman (the main character) says,

“He wasn’t even sure what Texas was, but he sure liked the toast.”

Family dynamics play a nice role in Johnston’s story, and it’s nice to see a functional family unit featuring in a novel rather than a broken one. I was enamored with the sibling banter, as Jay thinks about his sister, Portia, whose memories from her past life are being a whale:

“I guess it makes sense you were something with a really big mouth.”

As an adult reader, I also found cynical humor in some of the naïve conversation of adolescents regarding assumptions about what governments will and will not do:

Vlad said, “That would be stupid. I’m sure my government would never cut people off from talking with each other.”

Jay agreed, “Yeah, mine either.”

Later that day both boys were proven wrong.

As I was reading, I highlighted so many quotes that were simply poignant. All-in-all, I think the message around the power of knowledge is one point that resonated the best for me, and conversely where the real weakness lies:

“The greatest power on Duorth lies in our shared knowledge, both our recollections of Earthly genius, as well as what we learn in this life.”

“…the weaknesses…didn’t lie in knowledge but rather in our inability to grasp the fundamental truths that seem always just beyond our reach.”

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