Unhooking the Moon

Published in England in 2010 to acclaim and awards, Hughes’s quirky, poignant debut is narrated by nearly-13-year-old Bob, who lives in thrall to his 10-year-old sister, known as the Rat. Prone to seizures and visions, the Rat is obsessed with pedophiles and has a knack for wise, wry adages. The story opens in the siblings’ Winnipeg home, where the Rat’s offhand claim that their loving, but somewhat hapless widowed father will die quickly proves true; she then persuades Bob to travel to New York City to find their long-lost uncle, a purported drug dealer. A madcap road trip via bicycles and freight trains ensues, followed by relentless New York City adventures that include sleeping in Central Park, hustling tourists, and knocking on seedy building doors. From First Nation Natives in Winnipeg to gangsters and a rap star in Manhattan, Bob and the Rat interact with a predictably wild array of characters; readers will appreciate Bob’s seesawing between his determination to protect his “drama queen” of a sister and his frustration at her recklessness. Occasional dark undertones foreshadow the unexpectedly sad, yet realistic conclusion that skillfully avoids turning maudlin. Ages 9–12. (Oct.)