Moonwalking By by Zetta Elliott & Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Moonwalking by Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann is a powerful, poignant, and beautifully rendered middle-grade novel in verse that explores the unlikely friendship between two boys from vastly different backgrounds, set against the gritty, racially tense backdrop of 1980s Brooklyn.

The story follows Punk, a white boy whose real name is JJ Pankowski, and Pie, a Black boy named Pierre Vigne, who form a deep bond through their shared love of music, art, and poetry. Punk is a rebellious punk-rock enthusiast struggling with a chaotic home life. His father is an absent alcoholic, and his mother works multiple jobs just to make ends meet. He's angry, misunderstood, and often in trouble, especially at school. On the surface, he's a classic outcast—raging against authority with safety pins, combat boots, and his journal of song lyrics.

Pie, on the other hand, is introspective and brilliant. He’s a gifted visual artist, but as a Black student in a predominantly white school system, he faces constant discrimination and marginalization. His Haitian immigrant mother wants him to focus on academics, but Pie finds solace in his art and quiet resistance. Though reserved, he possesses a quiet strength, navigating a society that often fails to see his worth.

When the two boys are assigned to work together on a school project, what begins as reluctant cooperation soon transforms into a profound and transformative friendship. Through alternating perspectives, the novel reveals how art becomes their language, their rebellion, and their salvation. Together, they confront issues of racism, police brutality, poverty, parental neglect, and the power structures that seek to silence them.

Written in raw, expressive free verse, Moonwalking captures the rhythm of punk music, the tenderness of quiet moments, and the internal turmoil of adolescence. The dual perspectives—expertly crafted by Elliott and Miller-Lachmann—allow readers to deeply connect with both characters, understanding the complexity of their emotions and circumstances.

At its heart, Moonwalking is a meditation on creative expression as resistance, on the ability of friendship to bridge societal divides, and on the hope that blooms even in the darkest of places. It's an ode to art, identity, and the courage it takes to stand up—not just against injustice, but for someone else.

Ideal for fans of The Crossover by Kwame Alexander or Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, Moonwalking is more than a story—it’s a movement. A must-read for young readers, educators, and anyone who believes in the power of voice and visibility.