Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors

Ages 10 And Up, Grades 5 And Up

An essential, highly relatable collection of short fiction and poems around the topic of menstruation, written exclusively by authors who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color

For Angela, it came on the basketball court—while playing on the boys’ team. For Penny, it came on a lakeside field trip, inspiring some cringeworthy moments of humor. And to Layla’s disappointment, it came at the start of her first fasting Ramadan, mandating that she take a “holiday.” Whether their period's coming spurs silence or celebration, whether they are well prepared for it or totally in the dark, the young people in these sixteen stories find that getting a period brings not only changes to their bodies, but also joy, sorrow, and self-discovery. Featuring BIPOC contributors who are some of today’s most talented authors in middle-grade fiction, Calling the Moon offers coming-of-age stories and poetry as varied as the phases of the moon, from funny to heartbreaking to powerful, all of them reassuring readers that they are not alone in their period journey.

With contributions by:

Hilda Eunice Burgos * Veeda Bybee * Susan Muaddi Darraj * Saadia Faruqi * Nikki Grimes * Leah Henderson * Mason J. * Erin Entrada Kelly * Guadalupe Garcia McCall * Elise McMullen-Ciotti * Yamile Saied Méndez * Emma Otheguy * Aida Salazar * Christina Soontornvat * Padma Venkatraman * Ibi Zoboi

About the Author

Aida Salazar is the author of the middle-grade verse novels The Moon Within and Land of the Cranes. She is a founding member of the Latinx kidlit author collective Las Musas. Aida Salazar lives with her family in Oakland, California.

Yamile Saied Méndez is the author of several children's books, including the picture book Where Are You From?, illustrated by Jaime Kim, and the young adult novel Furia, winner of a Pura Belpré Author Award. Her writing is also featured in several anthologies, including Take the Mic, Come On In, and Rural Voices. She lives with her family in Arizona.