The Moth Keeper: (A Graphic Novel) (Paperback)
March/April 2023 Kids Indie Next List
“A beautiful children’s graphic novel full of wonder, magic, warmth, and a touching story about community, responsibility, and burnout. The Moth Keeper is a special book that readers both young and old will find humor and meaning in.”
— Caleb Masters, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC
Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn’t exactly what Anya thought it would be?
Night after night, it is lonely in the desert, with only one lantern for light. Still, Anya is eager to prove her worth, to show her thanks to her friends and her village. But is it worth the cost? And yet something isn’t right. When Anya glimpses the one thing that could destroy what she’s meant to protect, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.
K. O’Neill brings to life a beautifully illustrated fantasy with lush, gorgeous art and intricate world-building. A story about coming of age and community, The Moth Keeper is filled with magic, hope, and friendship.
“Expressing quiet resilience, this story lifts up nature’s symbiotic relationships and the power of community.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Hand this quiet, beautifully drawn book to readers of gentle, uplifting, character-driven comics.” —Booklist, starred review
★ "A nature-based coming-of-age story aglow with the light of loving bonds and communal living."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"In few words and a style reminiscent of Miyazaki, the Eisner Award-winning O’Neill spins a luminous fantasy about a fox girl, entrusted with protecting her night-village, who wonders what it would be like to live in the light." —The New York Times
“A gorgeous and dynamic visual experience.” —School Library Journal
"A charming story that will delight O’Neill’s fans and new readers alike, drawing them in like Moon-Moths to a lantern." —BookPage