Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

 

Yesterday evening, I finished reading Dear Mothman by Robin Gow. This supernatural fantasy novel in verse is about Noah, a trans boy whose best friend, Lewis, dies in a car accident while they are in sixth grade. Lewis was the only other trans boy in school and believed that cryptids, like the Mothman, really existed. Lonely and seeking understanding, Noah begins writing letters to Mothman and looking for proof that Mothman is really out there. He even decides to make his science fair project about Mothman despite suggestions from his parents and his teacher to change his project to something "real". Soon, he befriends a group of girls in his grade, Molly,  Hanna, and Alice, and opens up to them. Developing a crush on Hanna, he sometimes hangs out with her alone. After Noah and his friends see Mothman during a sleepover and Mothman returns later, leaving a handprint on the door, Noah decides to go into the woods alone to find Mothman.

I thought this book was breathtakingly beautiful. Although the story is sad at times because Noah's best friend died, I enjoyed his letters to Mothman and his new friendships with Hanna, Molly, and Alice. I thought it was sweet how he formed a crush on Hanna because she understood him the most out of the three girls. I also loved the sense of adventure, especially as the story headed towards the climax. It was suspenseful and I was genuinely nervous if something bad would happen to Noah in his search for Mothman. Additionally, I found myself missing Lewis throughout the book, just like Noah did. Dear Mothman is a phenomenal story of grief, identity, and friendship, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever felt lost or lonely.