April 2012 Book of the Month. As touching a story as its title suggests, Moon Pie is deft and witty in how it tells the story of Martha, who tries to cope with her father’s increasingly erratic and unpredictable behaviour after her mother dies. Older than her years, Martha is very sensible; dealing with his oddities as well as caring for her small brother Tug seems not much stranger to her than her friend Marcus’s obsession with Hollywood movies. But finally, even for her, it is all just a bit too much. How Martha, Dad, Tug, the grandparents as well as Marcus and his family all move to a surer grip on life is beautifully told in a story that is long in affection and short on preaching or problem-solving.
Eleven-year-old Martha is used to being the one who has to keep her head. Tug, her little brother, is too small. Dad is too strange. And Mum's not here any more. So when Dad falls off the roof, it's Martha who ices his knee and takes him to the doctor. And when Dad doesn't come home, it's Martha who cooks Tug's favourite pie and reads him his bedtime story. And when Dad passes out, it's Martha who cleans him up and keeps his secret. But eventually Dad's problems become too big for even Martha to solve. There is only one person who can sort things out now. Dad.