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The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More is Sarah Dessen's eleventh book, published in June 2013, and is a Young adult novel.The protagonist, Emaline is a Colby native,a small beachside town, and so summer at the beach for her means hard work and a new population of beach goers. During this, her last summer before college, Emaline meets Theo while working for her family’s rental business. He’s a city boy who’s come to Colby as the assistant to a high-strung documentary filmmaker who’s in town to profile a reclusive local artist. Emaline knows he’s not her type, but she can’t help feeling drawn to him. And as their relationship develops, Emaline finds herself questioning her own goals, values, and choices in this classic Dessen romance.

Plot

Emaline is spending the summer working for her family's real estate agency and getting ready to head to the local college in the fall. Her plans for the summer involve working at her family's realty, while hanging out with her two best friends Daisy and Morris, and her boyfriend Luke. She plans to attend the local university in the fall, East U, with her high school sweet heart Luke, on a full ride scholarship. Emaline longs for a summer like a tourist, one where she isn't a supporting character in someone else's summer romance; but where she is the lead in hers.

But things don't go according to plan. First, Emaline's biological father turns up in Colby. He had been urging Emaline to apply to Ivy League schools and even offered to help pay her tuition, but mysteriously rescinded his offer once she got into Columbia. Her father brings along her half brother Benji who she has to spend time with. Then Emaline starts noticing that she and Luke aren't as much in sync as usual, and that they haven't been since earlier that spring in April. Finally, a documentary filmmaker from New York shows up in town to interview Clyde Conway, a mysterious artist who disappeared a the hight of his career. The filmmaker, Ivy, has brought along her young assistant, Theo, who is eager to impress his boss by getting Emaline to show him the lay of the land in Colby.

After she finds out that Luke cheated on her, Emaline turns to Theo and experiences the summer romance she always wanted. Except, her summer romance doesn't turn out to be what she thought it would be, she realizes Theo is selfish and has been using her for his own agenda. Emaline also learns that her father and his wife are getting a divorce, which is why he couldn't pay for her college tuition. She also tries to help Benji cope with his families divorce.

In the end Emaline realizes what is really important to her: family. She no longer longs for a life outside of Colby. She doesn't end up with either guy, although she remains good friends with Luke. The novel ends with Emaline interning for Ivy in New York City. Morris is helping Clyde with an art tour.

Allusions to Other Books

Auden is the main character in Along for the Ride. She and her stepmother Heidi were at Clementine's (Heidi's shop) where Daisy works. Before they got there they also ran into Maggie from the same book (Along for the Ride) - the one Daisy tried to give the flyer to. Quote to prove Clementine's is Heidi's shop: "About Halfway down, I passed a small boutique called Clementine's, which had a bright orange awning. Taped tot he front door was a piece of paper that read, in big block print, IT'S A GIRL! THISBE CAROLINE WEST, BORN JUNE 1, 6LBS, 15 OZ. So this was Heidi's store, I thought." (31). In The Moon and More, on page 79 Emaline takes Daisy to her other job at Clementines. On page83 they mention the store by name and talk with Heidi (Auden's Step-Mother), and talks with a co-worker Maggie who is mentioned working at Heidi's shop in along for the ride.

Clyde is a semi important character in the book Along for the Ride. He owns the bike shop and the laundromat mentioned in the novel. To prove he is in the novel: "Clyde owns the bike shop," Eli told me. "And this laundromat . And about four other businesses here in Colby. He's a mogul." (156). In The Moon and More Theo is doing documentary on Clyde. " Artist?" I said. "Who's that?" "Clyde Conway." "The guy who owns the bike shop?" "Among other things," he said. "You know him?" (55)