Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Graffiti Moon 
by Cath Crowley 

Release Date: February 14, 2012
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 272
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction/Contemporary Romance
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

What I loved most about this book was the different point of views. Now I know some people really hate that but I will explain why it made this book so awesome. It switches from Lucy, to Ed/Shadow, and also to Leo/Poet, but only to share his poetry. Lucy has been hunting for Shadow all during high school. Shadow is a graffiti artist and his work is all around town. Lucy, Jazz, and Daisy just finished year twelve and want to celebrate. Their out to eat at Feast when they see Leo/Poet, Ed/Shadow, and Dylan, Daisy's boyfriend. When Daisy tells the girls Dylan knows Shadow, they want to tag along with the guys all night to try to track down Shadow.

The guys want to hang with the girls so they go ahead and go on a search for Shadow and Poet. "We're not spending the night looking for ourselves," I tell Leo. "It's a complete waste of time." So here is where the different POVs become so much fun! While Ed is taking Lucy around to all his paintings he gets to hear her true feelings about Shadow, while we also hear her true feelings about Ed. We get to hear how Ed really feels about Lucy, his art, and his past. Also another thing I absolutely love about the different POVs is we see both sides to their awful first date from years ago. Lucy broke Ed's nose and wants nothing to do with him but tells him she would do it with Shadow. It is good fun to hear what Ed thinks about that. I was able to really love and understand both characters, since I saw both of their thoughts on what was happening. A hilarious and adventurous night between these two then unfolds.

This book definitely had way more intense emotion than I was expecting. Even though it takes place during one night, I learned so much about these characters past, how they met, and how they feel. I was very connected to them and I was able to relate very well to them, even though I know nothing about art. They were very passionate and realistic. Their night also totally reminded me of some of my crazy nights in high school. Meeting up with some guys and going to a party, then just hoping around different places and having a fun adventure. Made me really miss the good old high school days. This author was really on my wavelength and also made a lot of references to things I love like Dexter, and Veronica Mars. I just really enjoyed everything about this book.

"Are you stupid?" I ask.
"That's what it says on my report cards."

I told her he wasn't who I thought he'd be. Mum stroked my hair and said, "Sometimes they aren't. Sometimes they make you vomit."

"Tell him that some of my most beautiful glass pieces have cracks running through them and I like them anyway because of the colors."

Rating: 5/5 Stars!