Dellie is carrying more than a backpack full of books. After a family tragedy she believes she caused, her world has grown smaller, filled with fear, grief, and unanswered questions. Sheltered by her mother and haunted by guilt, Dellie keeps her life carefully contained.When Corey, a neglected young boy, moves into her Brooklyn apartment building, Dellie begins to notice the things everyone else tries not to see. As she watches Corey navigate his own challenges, Dellie is faced with the hardest questions of all. Can you help someone else when you are still healing yourself? And how do you forgive, especially when the person you need to forgive is you?The Trouble with Half a Moon is a poignant middle grade novel that explores grief, resilience, and the power of empathy. With a vivid urban setting and a deeply relatable voice, the story offers rich opportunities for classroom discussion around social-emotional learning, responsibility, and the complexity of family dynamics.