“To the Moon and Back”: An Expansive Coming-of-Age Novel

“To the Moon and Back”: An Expansive Coming-of-Age Novel https://ift.tt/3MlV5b2

What do shark attacks, space exploration, and indigenous preservation have in common? They, and so much more, are found in this one novel: To the Moon and Back, by Eliana Ramage.

Spanning from 1987 to 2027, this dazzling debut is a true bildungsroman, following the self-discovery and maturation of Steph Harper and those in her orbit. Before Steph’s mother leaves in a mad dash to get out of Texas with her two daughters, Steph’s father tells her: “Whatever it is, there’s gonna be a battle for resources. You gotta run before that, Steph. To the moon and back, if you’ve gotta.” It is with those words that Steph’s course is set. All the way to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, those words follow Steph around and her drive – her obsession – to become an astronaut takes flight. 

Meanwhile, Steph’s mother, Hannah, wants to inundate her daughters with the history of their ancestors, the Cherokee, whose plight and catastrophes bleed years and years down the line. Now that they are back in Oklahoma and near Hannah’s family, she tells them stories and immerses them in the life of their Native American culture. When Steph begs to attend Space Camp, Hannah and her boyfriend, Brett, create “Space-Culture Camp” – a blend of astronomy and Cherokee culture. Steph is disappointed – mortified. But what choice does she have? It is also around this time that she starts having feelings for a female classmate. Meanwhile, Kayla, Steph’s sister, is beginning to not only absorb all the indigenous history their mother teaches, but also the affections from boys.

Throughout the ups and downs of being queer in a small town and not having much in common with her mom and sister, Steph perseveres. She finds support in Brett; their shared interest in science and astronomy perpetuates her love of space. He helps make her not-so-friendly high school years tolerable, until circumstances fracture their relationship. Once in college, Steph gets the true opportunity to explore her sexuality, and subsequently begins dating Della Owens – a young woman who grew up Mormon with her white parents but was, in fact, the focus of a famous forced adoption case under the Indian Child Welfare Act. Many of the chapters in this middle section are also told from the point of view of Della, which is a great break in action from Steph’s perception and lends itself well to telling a personal side to this other woman and the tribulations she has faced growing up away from her culture. We also see from this point of view how Steph’s maturation has possibly stunted – how her intense focus of becoming an astronaut has not helped her grow as a friend, daughter, or sister.

As the years progress, so does Steph – at least in terms of her career. As an ASCAN (astronaut in training), Steph gets to experience adventures that she only dreamed of as a child, but her relationships – both familial and romantic – begin to crack under pressure. After a heated argument, Kayla tells Steph, “You’re allowed to have whatever goals you want, Steph. I just think the ones you have are selfish, and they disregard the work of everyone who came before you. And I think you’re old enough for people to say that to your face.” Through all the ups and downs and wild experiences, Steph remains true to the small girl who aimed for the moon.

What remains true throughout the story, no matter whose point of view we’re reading or what age these characters are, is that Ramage has a knack for complex characters and capturing the human experience. While many of the experiences are not relatable to the vast majority of the readers, the messy, gritty, confused, and benevolent moments that creep in are a true testament to Ramage’s skill as a writer. Not to mention, the distinctive style choices Ramage made by using multiple POVs, and then relaying much of the story in later sections through text messages, social media posts, press releases, and dating app bios is a fresh take on writing as well as a fun experience for the reader.

While To the Moon and Back could be written off as another coming of age story, this beautiful novel is so much more. At its core, this is a story of fighting for your dreams, of feminine relationships, of indigenous culture, and the ever-present journey to find the balance of it all. 

FICTION
To the Moon and Back
By Eliana Ramage
Avid Reader Press
Published September 2, 2025