A beautiful story of courage and conviction, Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee is one of this year’s must-reads.

About ‘Outrun the Moon’

It’s 1906 and fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong has set her sights on the impossible: Getting an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls. Life isn’t easy for her and her family in Chinatown, San Francisco but she’s determined to get them all out of poverty, even if it means leaving them and her best friend Tom all behind for the time being. Using her cunning and a few great tips from her favorite motivational writer, Mercy gets in to St. Clare’s, making her the first non-white, non-wealthy girl to attend.

Just as she’s figuring out where she stands in the school and how to be successful, a catastrophic earthquake hits San Francisco, destroying almost everything that Mercy knows. With the city reduced to rubble and fires burning in multiple neighborhoods, Mercy and other San Francisco residents are forced to camp out in a nearby park until help arrives. In the meantime, Mercy takes it upon herself to look after those who need help the most. With the help of her classmates and neighbors, Mercy must figure out how to help heal the people around them while also trying to heal herself.

‘Outrun the Moon’ book review

First off, let me say that I’m not usually a crier when it comes to books, but Stacey Lee’s Outrun the Moon made me cry a few times. This book is so incredibly well-written that it’s practically impossible not to.

Everything about Outrun the Moon is beautiful thanks to Stacey Lee’s gorgeous language. Every sentence is just so rich in detail, so much so that reading this novel feels like an indulgence (but in the best way possible). Her imagery is stunning and her metaphors create such vivid imagery. The best way to explain how much I loved the language in this book is to say that if I could wrap myself up in a blanket made of her words, I would.

That blanket would actually really come in handy while reading Outrun the Moon just because of how emotional it is. I wasn’t expected to feel so many emotions while reading it. Yes, there were quite a few heart-breaking moments as well as moments of pure joy, but it’s the emotions in the smaller moments that really stick out. Feelings of pride and accomplishment, as well as dread and loneliness, are perhaps some of the most visceral just because they’re so understated and so raw. It’s hard not to empathize with Mercy throughout the book just because the emotions are so well-crafted.

While the sort of “girl takes life into her own hands, faces adversity”-kind of journey isn’t necessarily new, Mercy’s journey is unlike any I’ve read before. The novel may take place in 1906, but her struggles and independent spirit feel so modern and relatable. Stacey Lee strikes a very delicate and effective balance between Mercy wanting a different life, a better life, but still appreciating her background and loving her family. In similar stories it’s usually either/or, but Outrun the Moon uses that dichotomy effectively to prove the point that it’s possible to have both.

I also love that Mercy is not a perfect person nor is she completely selfless. She may not always make the best decisions and things may not always work out exactly as planned, but she does the best she can with what she’s given. It’s her determination and spirit, not to mention her unyielding compassion, that really make her someone to root for and an interesting protagonist to read about.

That being said, Mercy’s journey wouldn’t be nearly as effective if it weren’t for the supporting characters in Outrun the Moon. It’s through her interactions with them that we get a better idea of Mercy’s character. But, as much as they help define her character, she helps define theirs. It’s so satisfying to watch the evolution of these supporting characters and see just how Mercy has impacted their lives.

I honestly can’t recommend Stacey Lee’s Outrun the Moon enough. It has so much heart and beauty to it that once you finish it you’ll want to read it all over again, heartbreak, disaster, and all. This novel is one of the best books of 2016 and a definite must-read.

Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee is available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and your local independent bookstore. Also, don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads “to read” list!