AN ARROW TO THE MOON

A tale of two star-crossed young lovers that ends with an unexpected twist.

When Hunter Yee is expelled from his prep school and transfers to Fairbridge High, he is drawn to Luna Chang, another senior, who was born on the same day as he was 17 years ago. They share more than a birthday; both have overbearing immigrant parents from Taiwan with high expectations of their offspring. In Hunter’s case, it is to be a perfect, trouble-free eldest son, while in Luna’s, it is to get into Stanford. The two fall in love before realizing that their parents have been engaged in a long-standing feud. As Hunter and Luna navigate their illicit relationship, mysteries abound: Why is the earth cracking open so frequently? Why is Luna being followed by fireflies? Why do their parents despise each other so much? And what is it that Hunter’s parents fear so greatly that the entire family must live fearfully, always trying to stay under the radar? Answers come in a reveal that is rooted in Chinese lore. Alternating third-person narration is skillfully deployed throughout the novel, allowing immersion into each protagonist’s painful struggles, such as Hunter’s worries about his family’s financial vulnerability or Luna’s discovery of her mother’s secret. The switch in tone at the book’s end is abrupt, bringing about a surprising and bittersweet (if perhaps too swift) resolution.

A lovely, lyrical exploration of how a poignant Chinese myth might play out in a contemporary setting.