The Half-a-Moon Inn

by Paul Fleischman

Book Overview

Aaron has never left alone before. He is mute, and depends on his mother for everything. But tomorrow Aaron will be twelve years old, old enough to stay home by himself while his mother goes to town. Everything will be fine, as long as he stays close to the house. And if there's trouble, Aaron can write what he needs to say. Trouble there is aplenty. When a terrible blizzard keeps his mother from returning home, Aaron sets out to search for her--but...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064403645
• ISBN13: 9780064403641
• Release Date: February 1991
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.2" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A complete blast

12 year old Aaron Patrick has a disability. His mother decides to go to the market. A blizzard wipes the road clean and Aaron goes looking for her. He finds a strange man, who takes him to the Half-A-Moon-Inn. The evil director, an old lady them keeps him there for a reason unknown to Aaron. Her name is Miss Grackle. Will he escape her and her willow switch? Will he run away from poking around in people's dreams? Buy and find out!

The Half-A-Moon Book Reveiw

The Half-A-Moon Inn Book ReviewBy: Stephanie HillThis book is a wonderful fiction story about a boy named Aaron and his first adventure alone. Aaron was born unable to speak, and his father got lost at sea. The day before Aaron's birthday, his mom left him alone for the first time. The next day a bad snowstorm arrived. The day Aaron's mom was suppose to come home, she didn't, so Aaron went out looking for her. He got lost in the woods alone. He met a ragman and got a ride to a city called Williford. Then he went to the Half-A-Moon Inn and met a lady named Miss Grackle. Miss Grackle forced Aaron to make to the fires and tend to the visitors. She took his shoes and put them in soup for the visitors. He also got all his belongings taken away. The visitors were telling the story of King Tom. He was a robber that killed people and then took all their money and belongings. Miss Grackle was a pickpocket, just like King Tom. Aaron tried to get away, but he got caught, and she whipped his feet until they were swelled and red. His mom stopped by looking for him, and Miss Grackle said she had not seen him. Aaron got really mad, and he wondered if his mom would ever come back there looking for him. Miss Grackle made soup for the visitors that allowed her to look at their dreams. The ragman stopped by and stayed a night. In the morning Aaron and Miss Grackle caught King Tom in the inn's cellar. While Miss Grackle was making fun of King Tom, Aaron slipped outside, jumped into the ragman's wagon, and off he went. The ragman never did realize that Aaron couldn't speak. After a while the ragman noticed he didn't have his money, so him and Aaron drove back to the inn. When they got to the inn his mom was there and Miss Grackle gave him all of his belongings back. His mom gave him new boots for his birthday, and Aaron and his mom hugged and hugged. I think this book is very interesting and good, because of its adventure. I liked it when Aaron first walked into the Half-A-Moon Inn, because that's when some of the adventure started. I also liked when he went searching for his mother. I thought that was very brave of him, since it was his first time alone. The last reason I liked the book is, because of the exciting end of the book. I think Miss Grackle is a mean old stupid robber that should be in jail. I would recommend this book to a person that likes adventure books, or any young reader. Almost the whole book is about adventure, and I've never read a book like that. This book is a wonderful fiction story of adventure.

The Half-A-Moon Book Reveiw

... I think this book is very interesting and good, because of its adventure. I liked it when Aaron first walked into the Half-A-Moon Inn, because that's when some of the adventure started. I also liked when he went searching for his mother. I thought that was very brave of him, since it was his first time alone. The last reason I liked the book is, because of the exciting end of the book. I think Miss Grackle is a mean old stupid robber that should be in jail. I would recommend this book to a person that likes adventure books, or any young reader. Almost the whole book is about adventure, and I've never read a book like that. This book is a wonderful fiction story of adventure.

A Delightfully Dark Adventure Tale For Young Readers!

This is, at its heart, a tale of adventure and danger undertaken by a mute boy named Aaron. When his mother doesn't return from her journey, Aaron sets off in search of her, braving the dangerous woods and uncertain terrain of winter. When he stays a night at the Half-A-Moon Inn, he becomes a prisoner of the unscrupulous proprieteress, Mrs. Grackle. Aaron is a virtual slave--unable to tell anyone his plight and forced to help Mrs. Grackle as she spies into her guests dreams. It's up to Aaron to use his wits and courage to figure out a way out of this situation.This is one of those, "what happens next?" stories that keep you reading and [pull] you in until the last page. And perhaps the best part of this story is the proactive young hero. Aaron's adventure comes about because of his own choices and his own abilities. Young readers will readily identify with the young man and feel his frustrations and triumphs. While the story is certainly one of the "coming of age" variety, it is also a hearty adventure tale. This is a fabulous read-aloud to share with younger children.Although published in 1980, this book is timeless in its appeal. Like any good fairy tale, or adventure, the hero wins out and the villains get their come-uppance. This is a valuable addition to my library! ^_^ Happy reading!shanshad

A Great Book

I recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, reason being is that the book leaves you wondering whats going to happen in the next chapter. Let me give you a little bit of background information. This book the Half a Moon Inn fits its name but not till like the fifth chapter. The characters are Aaron, Aarons mother Mrs.Grackel and the ragman. Mrs. Grackel is the manager and owner of the Half A Moon Inn. Aaron is a average 11 year old boy except for one thing, he is mute. The ragman, well you will just hear about him later. Anyway Aaron is eleven and his mother is going to Craftsbury to get him a new pair of boots for his birthday. Then a bad snow storm kicked up, so Aarons mother got stuck in the snow. So Aaron gets worried and goes and looks for his mom. On the lookout Aaron ran into a ragman. The ragman then takes him to The Half A Moon Inn. Where Mrs. Grackel lives. She asked Aaron if he could start a fire because she can not because she says only truthful people could start a fire. So then Mrs. Grackel makes him stay there and start all of the fires. What will happen when Aaron can not start a fire. Read The Half A Moon Inn to find out. I think this book deserves all five stars, because it is a really great book.