LIFE ON THE MOON, by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr, Knopf Books for Young Readers, April 14, 2026, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 8-12)
A boy is sent to space and learns there’s more to the moon than you could imagine in Life on the Moon, by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr.
The first rule of life on the moon is: There is no life on the moon.
The second rule is: Don’t ask questions.
12-year-old Leo gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the very first Moon colony. He’s excited to be part of the top-secret mission, but things quickly go off the rails. Right after his family lands on the Moon, Leo’s dad is called off on an urgent mission from which he never returns. The authorities claim the mission never existed, and Leo’s dad is accused of desertion.
Leo goes looking for his dad and discovers far more than he bargained for. Everyone in the colony insists there’s NO life on the Moon. But Leo’s explorations reveal a landscape brimming with extraordinary creatures—with baffling behaviors and beliefs.
Leo’s big question is: why keep Moon life a secret? Who stands to gain? And how can he find a way to save his new Moon friends before the lie becomes a reality? —Synopsis provided by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Life on the Moon is a highly-illustrated, tongue-in-cheek, middle-grade novel that moves at a break-neck speed.
The story starts as Leo is landing on the moon. And his adventure immediately begins. Leo is bright and clever, and doesn’t have problems asking questions, even though questions are forbidden. As his adventure advances, Leo meets bullies, computers with attitudes, aliens and more. And each additional character adds to the “color.”
Author Matthew Swanson’s story is high-energy and full of humor. And Robbi Behr’s black-and-white illustrations are so fully incorporated, it’s hard to imagine the book without them.
Life on the Moon is the type of book that will appeal to a large cross-section of kids and is a great option especially for reluctant readers.
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