Gary Sutton’s story is a modern Tom Sawyer – Huckleberry Finn tale filled with humor and sadness, joy and pathos, romance, friendship, and adventure. Moon, the protagonist is a kind of Huck Finn, discriminated against, but not because of his color, but because his head was deformed at birth, partially caved in, as a crescent moon, hence the nickname people gave him. When he and his friend Willy went hitchhiking, he would turn his face away from the road so as not to scare the motorists. Like other boys, he and Willy swore a pact that they would not let any girl come between them. But although quite young, both were attracted to Carla, and this caused problems between them when Carla would smile or wink or hold the hand of one of them. Carla liked Moon, but Dr, Throckmorton told Moon that he should always stay out of sight.

Moon was poor, but didn’t realize it. He enjoyed his life. He noticed, for example, that the town’s rich man “Doctor Throckmorton’s shirt. His sleeves had two buttons on each cuff and there were eight down the front.” He was perplexed. “I could get in and out of any of my shirts quicker than him, since mine had four buttons in total. I don’t know why his wife didn’t remove those unnecessary ones.”

He was illegitimate, his mother abandoned him, and he lived with his grandmother in a small town. Her car didn’t work well and she couldn’t afford to fix it. She got to school where she worked “first so she could park on that incline, guaranteeing her next start. If her battery failed, she just rolled the car down and popped its clutch, starting the engine…. Hopefully.” He was surprised to discover that Doctor Throckmorton’s house had two bathrooms. But, if you looked at Doctor Throckmorton, you noticed that his cheek wrinkles proved that he “spent more time frowning than smiling, while Grandma’ face cracked with happier lines.”

Readers will enjoy the book, despite its occasional sad moments, because they add to the delight of the story and because the tale is told well. They will also enjoy the frequent humor, such as the miracle of the X-ray machine in the Florsheim store in another city. “You could put your feet in the machine, flip a switch and view your toe bones inside a pair of shoes. This made the fit better and if done often enough, cured athlete’s foot.” ( )

Moon was born in a small, Iowa farming town that seems to have overdosed on self-righteousness. Discriminated against for being both illegitimate and disfigured, Moon struggles to make a life for himself in a very cruel world. Still, there are those who are kind to him, and Moon delights in the smallest things, really only asking enough to survive, and always desirous to make his own way. Moon's story is important because it highlights the hypocrisy of the self-important, and causes the reader to be shaken to the core by the injustices heaped upon him. Instead of being depressing, though, the humor and innocence with which Moon must face the world make the book infinitely readable. I was captivated. You will be, too. ( )

What a sweet, nostalgic read...I truly enjoyed it.

Starting out with strikes against him, no loyal friends but one, rich girls that teased him......Moon was a lovable, honest, caring child of a single, disinterested mother and a child who worked hard at his paper route and at keeping people honest.

Moon's honesty and innocence was a major theme. The cruelty of the town's doctor toward Moon will break your heart. It was unbelievable to think that someone would feel they had that much power over a child just because he was not perfect.

I enjoyed reading about Moon's antics, his loyalty to his only friend and to his mother who really didn't care about him, and a Grandmother who was always worried about something. :) Moon is the all American dream to have as your child and a child that depicts the era of where we all came from and at times long for.

You will admire and love Moon for his resiliency and acceptance of his life's misfortunes and be saddened at how his story is an unfortunate commentary on society....if you aren't perfect, no matter how brilliant you are, you usually have a difficult time succeeding.

Gary Sutton, the author, graciously sent me a copy....it is an impressive read. Oskaloosa Moon captures the trials and tribulations of growing up in the 1950's and lets us know what it is like to have a handicap, which actually doesn't hold Moon back. Moon's handicap essentially helps him to continue through life and make something of himself even if it isn't in his chosen field of expertise. The book will or “should” teach us all a lesson.

Thank you, Mr. Sutton, for your amazing book. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it broke my heart, and it also should be read by everyone. 5/5 ( )

Periodically, I’m offered the opportunity to receive a book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I usually decline, in part because I’m rarely interested in the genre or subject of the book. I’d also feel bad about receiving a free book, then writing a bad review (though I’d never fudge the review; I’d just feel bad). For some reason, when approached by author Gary Sutton to review his self published novel Oskaloosa Moon, I accepted. I’m glad I did.

Moon (we never learn his real name) is an illegitimate child born into a very religious, small Iowa town soon after the end of World War II. This, in itself, is a terrible cross to bear, however he is also afflicted with a horrible facial disfigurement (hence his nickname) created by his mother’s attempt to disguise the pregnancy.

The book takes the form of a journal kept by Moon, which relates the struggles he faces throughout his childhood and young adult years. As he ages, he is continuously faced with almost unbearable hurdles and insults, most often created by a local community leader, Doctor Throckmorton. The good Doctor seems to be on a never ending quest to bury Moon, viewing him as an embarrassment to the community. Moon, however, has other ideas. Despite his disfigurement, he is very intelligent and has ambitions far beyond those held by others. He is not without his champions, as several characters in the novel go out of their way to assist him in his struggles.

Another reviewer has likened him to Forrest Gump (though one of far greater intelligence), and the manner in which he views his travails and challenges certainly brings Gump to mind. No matter his bad fortune or the bleakness of his future, Moon maintains a relentlessly positive attitude and is endlessly grateful for every small benefit he receives throughout his sad, eventful life.

At its heart, this is a terribly sad book, yet the manner in which Moon conducts himself is an inspiration. He refuses to accept the life that others have allotted him and perseveres despite being knocked down again and again. I would highly recommend this novel to high school literature classes, not just as an example of fine, well constructed prose and storytelling, but as excellent instruction on the evils of discrimination and needless cruelty, vices rampant not just in our schools but in our society.

It is unfortunate that this fine novel does not have the weight of a major publishing house behind it. It deserves a far larger audience than it is likely to receive. ( )