The Moth Keeper by Kay O'Neill

 
The Moth Keeper by Kay O'Neill

My Rating: ★★★★★

Anya has always felt lonely and unwanted due to her past. It’s one of the reasons she knew she wanted to be a Moth Keeper. It’s an important job that’s not just for anyone due to the long stretches of time Moth Keepers are flying solo with the moths. Anya wants to make her best friend proud while honoring someone who once helped her more than they know. Now that Anya is a full fledged Moth Keeper, she discovers that it’s not what she imagined. The nights are long, lonely, and a little scary. She keeps thinking about what it’s like to live in the sun, and jumping at the chance to feel the sunlight on her skin leads to utter disaster. What will Anya and her village do if the moths don’t find their way back to pollinate the Night-Lily flower that keeps her village afloat?

I always look forward to Kay’s books because they are so heartwarming in addition to just being amazing stories full of stunning artwork. This book is no different. We follow Anya, a brand new full fledged Moth Keeper who is no stranger to loneliness. While they live in a lovely village where everyone takes care of each other, Anya has always worried about being a burden to others. She’s full of insecurities and is lonely but hides it.

There’s a great cast of characters, but we mainly get to know Anya’s best friend, Estell, who is quite perceptive and has always been able to see what Anya is feeling or thinking. Yeolen, Anya’s mentor, is dedicated and always happy to share his insights and experiences. There’s also Aimoss, a healer, who is happy to mentor young healers and share their memories. There’s more characters and another who is quite important to the story, and they are all wonderful to follow whenever we see them.

Overall, the story is beautiful, heartwarming, and teaches that no one has to be alone and that healing can be a long process. I particularly like that Anya, who has always been alone, learns that she’s not a burden like her early childhood taught her she was. There are themes of neglect, anxiety, and parental abandonment that are brought to light in a slow and impactful way without showing a lot of it. We’re given enough to know what Anya went through and why it’s something she carries with her. While there are heavy themes, the overall story is kept light, which makes it perfect for readers of all ages. I highly recommend this book along with all of Kay’s previous publications!