Reach for the Moon

Abeel, S., & Murphy, C. R. (1994). Reach for the Moon  . Duluth, Minn.: Pfeifer-Hamilton.

Reach for the Moon would be appropriate for readers in 5th grade on up through high school.

 Reach for the Moon is a book of poetry and short stories that were written by a twelve-year-old girL who has a learning disability. In seventh grade Samantha Abeel was struggling every day in school, and especially in math. It affected her so much that she began having daily panic attacks and bouts of depression. Finally she found a passion for writing, her learning disability was discovered, and she was put into special education. She found a refuge in special education, and also in her writing class. Her seventh grade English teacher helped her with her writing by having her right about the watercolor paintings that are displayed in this book.

These poems and paintings are extremely profound. I think that this book can be inspiring to students with disabilities, and students who are struggling readers and writers. It allows students to see the immense possibilities that are out there for them.

The poems are full of personification, metaphors, and similes.

There are many ways to use this book. I would read these poems with students, then create watercolor art and write about them in poem form.