đDecoding Grief, Brotherhood, and the Moon
A Heartfelt Journey Through "Decoding the Moon" by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw
Some books tug at your heart. Others wrap around it and refuse to let go. Decoding the Moon by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw does both.
This five-star middle-grade contemporary novel blends grief, brotherhood, cryptography, rock climbing, and the beauty of Michiganâs landscape into a story that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. As someone who is not only a reader but also a parentâand someone who has spoken openly about grief on my Bravebookshelf podcastâthis story resonated in ways I didnât expect.
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book and my honest review.
Authentic Voices That Feel Real
Levi sounds exactly like a twelve-year-old boy. His voice is authentic, awkward in the best ways, tender beneath the surface, and wrestling with emotions he doesnât always have words for. There were moments when he reminded me so much of my own sons that I had to pause and smile.
And then thereâs Zack.
Zack, Leviâs younger brother, is on the autism spectrum, and the representation of ASD is beautifully handled. The behaviors, the thought patterns, the way he interacts with the worldâit all feels respectful, nuanced, and genuine. Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw doesnât reduce Zack to a diagnosis. Instead, she shows how his brain works differently and how that difference becomes part of the story's strength.
The coding system Zack creates is brilliant. It makes senseânot just to him, Levi, and their fatherâbut to the reader as well. Thatâs no small feat. Crafting an original system of communication that feels believable and accessible takes serious skill, and Lipshaw executes it flawlessly.
Michigan Facts Throughout the Book
One of my absolute favorite elements of this book is how Michigan itself becomes part of the story. The car ride to the UP (Upper Peninsula) with dad, they discuss the Zilwaukee Bridge, the Mackinac Bridge, and various sites throughout the Upper Peninsula, adding such depth and realism. Itâs like those car rides with your parents where they quiz you or talk about the sights and history on car trips.
You can tell the author is a native Michigander. The details arenât surface-level. Theyâre layered with lived-in knowledgeâparks, landscapes, geological features. I kept saying to myself, âI know that place!â and âIâve been there!â For Michigan readers especially, that familiarity adds another layer of connection. For non-Michigan readers, it becomes an invitation to explore and learn.
The setting isnât just a backdrop. Itâs woven into the emotional arc of the story, too.
Cryptography, Coding, and Decoding the Moon
At the heart of the novel is the idea of decodingâboth literally and metaphorically.
Lipshaw introduces readers to cryptography and does an excellent job explaining what it is in a way thatâs accessible to middle-grade readers. Levi and Zack use cryptographic techniques to interpret what they believe is a message from their momâconnected to the moon.
The information about the moonâs phasesâwaxing moon, new moon, and moreâisnât just educational filler. It serves as foreshadowing and symbolic layering within the boysâ emotional journeys. The moon becomes a guidepost for grief, change, and renewal.
And I absolutely loved that the author includes a glossary in the backâexplaining rock climbing terms and detailing the cryptographic systems used in the book. That thoughtful addition deepens reader engagement and makes the experience interactive.
Overcoming Fear and Climbing Toward Healing
Rock climbing plays a significant role in the story. Levi has a fear of heights after a fall, and watching him face that fear is powerful. He doesnât magically become fearless. Instead, he chooses courage.
He climbs againânot just for himself, but to help decode the message from his mother. That act becomes symbolic of something bigger: choosing healing even when itâs hard.
The themes of overcoming fear and pushing past trauma are handled with care. This isnât a story that dismisses pain. It acknowledges it fullyâand then shows how you can move forward without leaving your loved one behind.
Grief, Loss, and a Full-Circle Ending
This book is a tearjerker. Thereâs no way around that.
The boys are navigating the loss of their mother, and grief is present on every pageâsometimes loud, sometimes quiet, sometimes disguised as anger or obsession or avoidance.
As someone who has discussed grief openly on my Bravebookshelf podcast, I appreciated how honest this portrayal feels. Grief doesnât follow a straight line, and neither does this story. It circles backâbeautifullyâto the new moon.
The final lines include one of my favorite quotes in the entire book:
âNew moons are like classroom whiteboards.
At the end of each day, the board is wiped cleanâa blank slate
ready for new lessons and adventures.â
I wonât reveal the context because itâs part of the emotional payoff, but that full-circle return to the new moon imagery perfectly captures the heart of the story: loss does not mean the end of possibility.
Brotherhood and Neurodiversity
Decoding the Moon is also about brotherhood.
Itâs about loving someone whose brain works differently. Itâs about frustration and loyalty and protection. Itâs about learning how to communicate in ways that matter.
The representation of ASD isnât just includedâitâs central to the narrative. Zackâs way of thinking becomes essential to solving the mystery. His neurological differences are not obstacles to overcome; they are part of the strength that carries the story forward.
That kind of representation matters.
Content Note
While this is a middle-grade novel, it deals heavily with grief and loss. Readers who have recently lost a loved one or experienced trauma may find parts of this story emotionally intense. Itâs beautifulâbut tender.
Final Thoughts
Decoding the Moon is a deeply layered, emotionally resonant middle-grade novel that blends heart, intellect, and adventure. With authentic characters, respectful ASD representation, rich Michigan detail, and a powerful exploration of grief, this story lingers long after the final page.
Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw has created something special hereâa book that honors loss while pointing readers toward hope.
And like a new moon, it reminds us that even in darkness, something new is waiting to begin. My rating is âââââ all the way to the moon â and back!
About the book:
Pub. Date: Feb. 25, 2026
Publisher: Warren Publishing
Genre: Middle-grade/YA Contemporary
Book Buy Links: Warren Publishing | Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis:
And thatâs when lightning struck. Could he get Zack to climb?
Doing so could get him closer to the moon to say goodbye to Mom.
Twelve-year-old Leviâs family is fractured when his mom dies unexpectedly. To escape painful memories, his Dad moves their family from the Detroit suburbs to a small town in Michiganâs Upper Peninsula. There, Dad dives into work, leaving avid rock climber Levi stuck at home with his spy-code-obsessed brother Zack. When Zack tells Levi itâs like their mom went to the moon and never came back, a baffled Levi promises to take his autistic brother closer to the moon to say goodbye. Over the summer, Levi learns that facing his fears might just be what provides his family the closure they desperately need.
Winner of the 2024 Fictionary Book of the Year Award, Decoding the Moon explores how one family navigates loss with love, determination, hope, and just the right amount of grit.
Meet the Author:
Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw is a children's book author of THE SUPER VOLCANO, MIGHTY MAHI, I CAMPAIGNED FOR ICE CREAM, and her debut middle-grade novel, DECODING THE MOON. She is a former special education teacher who is passionate about growing young minds. Suzanne enjoys speaking at schools about writing, leadership, and how kids can make a difference in our world. The proud momma of two grown boys, Suzanne lives in Waterford, MI, with her husband and furry writing companion Ziggy. When she's not dreaming up new writing projects, you can find her kayaking on the lake, hiking a trail, practicing at the yoga studio, or dabbling in interior design.
Learn more about Suzanne at SuzanneJacobsLipshaw.com.
If the themes of grief in Decoding the Moon resonate with you, I share more of my personal journey with loss in my podcast/blog post, âWhen Hearts Hurt.â In it, I talk honestly about navigating heartbreak, healing, and finding hope after loss. You can read and listen to it here: When Hearts Hurt. đ