Walk Two Moons

Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. New York: HarperCollins, 1994.

            Creech’s novel follows the thirteen-year old Salamanca Hiddle on her journey from Ohio to Idaho with her eccentric grandparents, “Gramps” and “Gram”.  Their path mirrors the route her mother took a year and a half ago, leading them to stop in a series of unusual places. During the six-day long drive, Sal tells the story of her friend, Pheobe, how Pheobe’s mother left, and their search for an elusive, yet harmless, “lunatic”.  She reflects on a series of mysterious and wise messages that were left for her, and how they subtly helped her grow as a person.  As the trio progresses closer to their destination, Sal feels the growing anticipation that if they get to Idaho by her mother’s birthday, she may be able to bring her home. This coming of age story within a story depicts the family issues, awkward first love, and emotional maturation experienced by most, if not all, middle school students.

            While Walk Two Moons was extremely entertaining and fairly well written, it did not inspire multicultural awareness. Salamanca’s great, great grandmother was Native American, and she shares her mother’s appreciation for nature and Native American legends. However, the novel takes place in a middle-class, suburban, predominantly white community.  The story was exciting and reflected the mentality of a 7^th grade student well, but it would probably appeal mostly to the mid to upper-class majority.  I loved this book, but if a teacher attempted to create a multicultural curriculum, it would not be an adequate selection.