Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the summer of 1969, Moon Water follows Nettie, a gritty sixteen-year-old who is reeling from sucker punches coming from all directions. Her boyfriend since grade school wants to break up just as they were beginning to figure out the sex thing, her life-long nemesis is jabbing her with perfectly polished nails, and her hell’s fire and brimstone preacher … preacher refuses to baptize her. In the middle of this turmoil, an old medicine woman for the Monacan Indians gives her a cryptic message about a coming darkness: a blood moon whose veiled danger threatens Nettie and those she loves. To survive, Nettie and her best friend, Win, have to build a mysterious dreamcatcher—one that requires them to scour the perilous mountains for Nature’s ancient but perfect elements.
A captivating standalone sequel to The Wiregrass, a Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice and Southern Literary Review’s Read of the Month.
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Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains and written with a strong sense of place, Pam Webber’s novel, Moon River, is told through vivid, sensory writing which masterfully reveals a story rich in symbolism and spiritual depth across two cultures and faith traditions. An exploration of love, hate, and forgiveness, in this coming-of-age story set against a horrific event that occurred in Virginia in August 1969, heroine Nettie is learning about her world while learning about herself under the guidance of many, but mainly, Nibi, a wise older woman.
With friend Win by her side, Nettie creates a dreamcatcher tied to the moon, a pursuit that motivates an adventure, saves someone in need, and fosters depth of understanding. Many characters pass lessons to the girls, but it is Nibi’s explanation of manosa mani (moon water) that resonated with me and helped to inform underlying truths beneath this beautiful story about light and darkness and the Earth’s search for balance.
Webber’s winning combination: an exploration in spiritual belief tied to a strong message about forgiveness. So inspiring!
I was totally engrossed by this wonderful coming of age story set in 1969 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. This beautifully written book gives the reader a love story and a history lesson wrapped up in Native American lore and the beauty and powerful fury of nature. There are so many wonderful characters in this book I can’t decide who I loved more.
I don’t even know where to begin to explain how much I enjoyed Moon Water. This book took on a life of its own and has consumed my heart and soul deep in its waters. Moon Water is one of those books that will be forever imbedded in my heart and mind. The beauty of coming of age, the learning of love and forgiveness and even learning to live and over come much loss is so eloquently described in the pages of this book. I hated to close this book to leave Nettie and Win and all the other heart touching characters was like leaving your best friends and family. I highly recommend this book and I will definitely read more by Pam Webber in the future. Thank You Pam Webber for such a Heart Touching story my Heart thanks you for I now have these wonderful characters to forever Love!!
I’ll start with The good:
I did not hate this book.
This was a quick and easy read.
Dialogue was pretty good.
The Not So Good:
Much of the plot action seemed contrived and just too convenient.
This is touted as a “Southern book,” but I never felt a connection here. It did take place in Virginia, but that was lost on me – it could have been any rural setting.
Much of the outcome was predictable from early on.
Some of the characters were “just there.” And I didn’t connect with any of them.
A little too God-y for me, a bit hokey.
It left me feeling underwhelmed and I’m sure this one won’t stay with me very long.
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review. #MoonWater
I loved this story. Full of wonder and the hope that the impossible can happen. The characters were magical and I loved the plot and the descriptive writing.. 4 stars
BOOK REVIEW:
Moon Water by author, Pam Webber
Sit back and enjoy the journey through the Blue Ridge Mountains of 1969 as our protagonist, Netti, punches her way through all that life brings. Her lessons, her faith, doubts, redemption, her spirit and antics are all part of a soul-searching experience with the addition of Native American Lore, the Historical Flood of Virginia, the exploration of nature and… love.
Ms. Webber will take you on an inspirational, compassionate yet humorous ride through it all with a cast of characters that take you from one end of the spectrum too the other, and then some.
I found this story too be engaging, intriguing and most entertaining. It’s historical and geographical features lend to its amazingly descriptive beauty which paints a picture so vivid you will experience something special here.
You will find yourself living it all through your own reflection as to personal choices, you will become part of friendships, the beauty of summer nights, and inspired by its richness, and of course, memorable storyline.
A highly recommended read….
I thank the author and NetGalley for this copy of Moon Water. A truly wonderful story.
5 Stars
#MoonWater
#PamWebber
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I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Pam Webber, and SheWritesPress. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
Moon Water is an excellent story, taking us back to Central Virginia in 1969, and immersing us into this small community, the youth, the Baptist community, the Monacan First American sub-genre with highlights on bad and good people, ideas, responses. It is a photograph of an era lost – but one that was very important to those children raised in this stew-pot of religions and social mores. Much of this structure of society has been lost over the last 50 years. Some consider that a good thing. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs and cultures. Some consider much lost in the modern, generic times when freedoms and history are lost to communities in the name of equality. Have you really offered equal footing to all takers by dismissing our differences? Or have we just all given up the hearts that made us special? Time will tell.
This is a well researched, well-written look into an era many of us old ones remember fondly. It is, I think, something to give the newest generations of young adults pause and to perhaps help them find some treasured keepers in our discarded past.
Pam Webber’s Moon Water was a very interesting and informative book. 16-year-old Nettie and her BFF Win live in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Win’s grandmother, Nibi, is a medicine woman for the Monacan Indians. She calls Win and Nettie to her home. She instructs them in making a dream catcher of their own. Nibi believes that the Blood Moon will bring bad things to the area and to the girls. In addition to the dream catchers, Nettie has been refused Baptism by her pastor and is trying to sort out her feelings for her boyfriend. Moon Water has a wonderful cast of characters, interesting plot with twists and turns and surprises along the way. I would definitely recommend.
Moon Water by author Pam Webber is WONDERFUL! I enjoyed reading this story of 1969 teenage Nettie and her close friend Win. Nettie is an honest-hearted high school girl who has very strong opinions about good and evil, right and wrong but is not able to give her boyfriend Andy a definite answer if she will love him forever. She honestly can not promise forever but Andy is hurt and they take a break. I thoroughly was immersed in the counsel of Win’s Grandmother Nibi who is a Monocan medicine woman. I loved and respected the bridge of Christian beliefs and the Native American beliefs of spirituality and the soul. Nibi is concerned about the darkness which she feels is coming with the approaching Blood Moon. The story is set in the time preceding the onslaught of hurricane Camille and this story is based on the aftermath of destruction in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Grandmother Nibi has challenged Win and Nettie to make their own dreamcatcher following the Native traditions of a medicine woman. She tells the girls it will be a source of protection in the coming darkness. Nibi gives guidance as needed and the two girls try to complete the process of gathering the items and making the dreamcatchers. The girls’ adventures and learning experiences are very interesting.
Also, Nettie wants to be Baptised into her church. Her pastor feels she is not spiritually ready for the serious commitment of the water baptism. Nettie is disappointed and a bit frustrated. She is required to start counseling classes each Wednesday night after service with an associate of the church Even though she is learning about how her attitudes and beliefs affect her faith, Nettie becomes suspicious of Mr. Danes motives. I won’t post spoilers, but the coming catastrophe is heartbreaking! I held my breath as I read some scenes.
There were so many wonderful thoughts, explanations, and Christian beliefs along with the Native teaching that I had highlighted many passages of this book. As I said in the beginning, it is WONDERFUL!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This was my first book by this author, and athought this is more of a young adult book I fill any age group can enjoy this read. The book was very well written and integrated both Christian beliefs and those of the Native Americans. Nettie and Win face many different trials over this journey, only time will tell whether good will win over evil. I would recommend this book to overs.
I thought this was a really good book, I read it in one day! It was very descriptive, I liked the characters and found the making of the dream catchers interesting. I loved it! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy