A Place to Hang the Moon

“Edmund snorted. ‘Right. So…we’re to ship out to the wilderness, where we just happen to be scooped up by some kindly…farmer and his wife…who’ve been waiting all their lives for three half-grown children to drop into their laps?’”

This quote adds to Edmund’s characterization. Of the siblings, he is the one who is most likely to be blunt and speak his mind, even to people in positions of authority to whom he should traditionally be deferential. Here, he demonstrates more realism than the adults around him. This leads to his clashes with people like Miss Carr, who view him as disruptive or rude.

“William, Edmund, and Anna knew the evacuation of London’s schoolchildren was referred to by some as Operation Pied Piper. No doubt, whoever coined the phrase pictured children skipping over verdant hills in time to the music of the beloved piper. Those who read like our threesome, however, may recall that the piper in the original tale was, in fact, leading the youngsters of Hamelin away from their home as a punishment to the townspeople, who had failed to pay for his services as the town’s rat catcher.”

The name of this operation alludes to the famous folk tale of the Pied Piper. The narrative voice points out how people misunderstand this tale as one of celebration and benevolence, when it is really a warning tale about always paying your dues. The name of this historical evacuation warning feels like foreshadowing to the children: They anticipate poor experiences with their billets. Additionally, this allusion ties into the theme of stories, as it explains the Pearces’ situation through a folk tale.

“The woman’s smile faded a bit. ‘I see,’ she said, looking at the boys, then back to Anna. ‘You’d not consider coming with us, just yourself, then?’

‘No, ma’am.’ Anna gulped. ‘I’m sorry, ma’am.’ Edmund and William shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another.”

This is the siblings’ first meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Forrester. Mrs. Forrester makes it clear that she does not want to take on William and Edmund. To three uprooted children searching for their new family, this is a bad sign. It also characterizes Mrs. Forrester, who just wants a little girl she can call “pet” and dress up and treat like a doll.

“Grousing about school in June notwithstanding, the evacuees were glad of the familiarity of a classroom, where well-worn textbooks released a comforting perfume of ink and must. Their pages spoke of the past, a reminder that the battered old world had whirred for a very long time indeed, and that even this latest buffeting would likely be withstood.”

Evacuation historically had adverse effects on children. In many cases, they had prolonged anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The children are glad to return to school because it provides them with that sense of familiarity and stability. School also puts their current experience in perspective as they learn about the perseverance of past generations of people. This emphasizes The Importance of Stories in Difficult Times.

“William, Edmund, and Anna knew, somewhere deep in the place where we know things that we cannot say aloud, that they had never lived in the sort of home one reads about in stories—one of warmth and affection and certainty in the knowledge that someone believes you hung the moon. […] This sort of love, the children knew only from one another—and from books.”

For their entire lives, the children have reckoned with The Meaning of Family. They have not experienced parental love, but they know what that type of relationship should look like from the books they read. Books are a strong motif in the novel: They are how the siblings can construct ideas about the world and society, since they have little real-life experience in these matters.

“[Anna] felt tears coming but sensed that her brothers’ row had left no more space in the room for such things. She swallowed. ‘Tell me something, William.’

‘What?’ William turned. ‘Didn’t I just tell you something this morning?’ The evening’s drama had tapped him of his reserves, but when he saw his sister’s face, the tears so close, he set to work on a new memory.”

This quote demonstrates a key aspect of William’s character: He is constantly responsible for the emotional and physical well-being of his siblings. Though he is only a child himself, William does not have the space to experience his own emotions. He must constantly squash them down so that he has space to help Edmund and Anna. More than anything, William wants a guardian who can take this responsibility away from him.

“‘You’ve done nothing wrong, Nora. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s you that’s been done wrong.’

‘I know that, Florence. Well–on good days I know it. But it often feels as if it’s more than just a handful of hard-hearted souls.’”

Building the theme Tiers of Social Prejudice, this quote hints at why the townspeople dislike Mrs. Müller and have deemed her an “unsuitable billet.” It also indicates an important part of her character, which is the self-doubt she feels about her own suitability, which she only believes in “on good days.”

“Anna, Edmund, and William had only ever been to see a movie once before […].

Alfie was incredulous. ‘You never saw The Wizard of Oz?’

The children shook their heads.

Frances crossed her arms. ‘What about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?’”

One of the most startling characteristics of the Pearce siblings, in the opinion of their peers, is their lack of knowledge of entertainment. This indicates the lack of affection and entertainment that they grew up with. While their grandmother had the money to provide enrichment for them, she did not have the inclination to, which deprived the Pearces of typical childhood experiences as well as the opportunity to forge a familial bond with a parental figure.

“‘Do they think it was one of the evacuees?’ William asked.

‘I imagine so.’ Mrs. Warren nodded. ‘It’s ridiculous to think any of you would have done such a thing.’ She sighed. ‘However, as guests in town, we are unknown and therefore the easiest to suspect.’”

This quote explains why some Tiers of Social Prejudice operate the way they do. The townspeople dislike the evacuees because they do not know them. During times of societal unrest, it is always easier for groups to blame outside entities for their problems, rather than reckon with how their community itself enables or enacts these behaviors.

“Edmund […] looked at the librarian and was alarmed to find she had tears in her eyes.

‘Edmund. I’m terribly sorry.’ She sniffed. ‘To be blamed for something one did not do is a painful injustice indeed.’”

Edmund is used to adults being offended or appalled by his behavior, and he is shocked when Mrs. Müller immediately sympathizes with him after the twins frame him for vandalism. Though Edmund does not know it, she sees parallels between the way people treat him and the way the town treats her. This is a bonding moment between the two and hints that Mrs. Müller is the parent the children are looking for.

“Anna brightened. ‘I know how to make some things. Back in London, our housekeeper taught me.’

Mrs. Griffith’s face curdled. ‘Housekeeper? Well. Aren’t we grand?’”

One of the most fraught tiers of social structure in the novel is that of class. The Pearce children are rich while Mrs. Griffith is poor, and they are unused to staying in a household that cannot provide for their needs. Mrs. Griffith is resentful of their previous luxurious lifestyle, while she must scrape by to survive—she does not care to know that what they had in material goods, they lacked in care and affection. Mrs. Griffith unfairly takes her resentment out on the children, which is an immediate sign that her home is not the one for them.

“‘Well, I can’t have my best bookworms do without, can I? All that’s required is a grown-up, and seeing as I’m one of those, let’s just have me be your grown-up for the time being, shall we?’

Mrs. Müller was only offering to vouch for their library books, but the notion of her being their grown-up was, just now, almost too delicious for Anna to consider.”

Mrs. Müller volunteers to vouch for the children’s library books, sensing from their unease that Mrs. Griffith will not do so. This characterizes Mrs. Müller in two important ways. First, it demonstrates how she innately understands the children and provides what they need, which is The Meaning of Family to the Pearces. Second, it foreshadows her desire to “be their grown-up” beyond just being their librarian.

“Mr. Forrester looked over the children’s shoulders at the customers behind them, then leaned over the counter and lowered his voice. ‘We’ll just let it go, then, shall we? I’ll get you Mrs. Griffith’s trotters, and we’ll throw in the liver free.’

None of the children knew how to respond, other than to offer their bewildered thanks. Edmund couldn’t believe he was thanking anyone for free liver.”

This quote adds a new layer of characterization to the children. They have never known material want or dealt with the struggle of not having enough money to buy basic foodstuffs. This changes their perspective on what is necessary. Though Edmund previously looked down on liver, he is now grateful to get even that.

“There was a long silence before Edmund spoke again. ‘Thanks.’ […] Edmund dug his fists into the pockets of his coat. ‘Do you think we’ll ever find a proper grown-up, so you don’t have to anymore?’

‘Not exactly lining up for us, are they, the proper ones?’ William’s voice was bathed in a tiredness that came from the deepest parts of him.”

For the first time, Edmund openly acknowledges and thanks William for the sacrifices he has made in taking care of him and Anna. This is an important turning point for Edmund’s character, where he overcomes his pride enough to sincerely thank William. The siblings also bond in this moment over their mutual despair, as they grow less and less convinced they will ever find the perfect family.

“‘But I suppose the question on everyone’s mind is whether he’s—whether he’s working for the…the wrong side.’

‘You mean that he’s a Nazi?’ Edmund asked.

William and Anna’s eyes widened.

The librarian gave a sad smile. ‘That is the question, isn’t it, Edmund?’”

This scene establishes Mrs. Müller’s character and her relationship with the children. Her husband’s defection from England to Nazi Germany came as a complete surprise to her, and she doubts herself because of it, which causes her to tolerate Social Prejudice even though she did nothing wrong. Mrs. Müller treats the children like mature individuals who can handle serious information, which they are, and does not cushion her words or infantilize them when she explains her situation. She respects them in a way other adults in their lives do not, which prompts the children to care for and respect her in turn.

“All the want and cruelty and indignity of the past months threatened the fragile restraints of his heart. ‘You shouldn’t have let her do it!’ He was shouting now. ‘Or at least you should feel sorry about it, now it’s happened! If you were a proper mum, that’s what you’d do!’”

The conflict between the siblings and Mrs. Griffith comes to a climax as Edmund yells at Mrs. Griffith for allowing their books to be destroyed. Mrs. Griffith thinks that they should be thankful just to have a roof over their head, and she takes offense to Edmund’s outburst. The Pearces’ idea of a “proper mum,” however, is very different. Mrs. Griffith’s disregard of their beloved books and her physical abuse of Edmund show them once and for all that they have irreconcilably different ideas of The Meaning of Family.

“‘I am well aware that I’ve been deemed an unsuitable billet,’ she said. ‘I am also well aware, perhaps more than anyone, as to why.’ […] ‘[B]ut I think perhaps the more pressing concern’—she emphasized the word each time she used it—’is the fact that these children have gone some months now without proper care. I intend to remedy that situation, so you needn’t concern yourself any further.’”

The children’s need gives Mrs. Müller a newfound ability to stand up to people, both for herself and the children. For once, Mrs. Müller does not allow Social Prejudice to stop her from doing what she wants: In this case, taking the children under her wing. This is one of the ways in which the children help Mrs. Müller grow as much as she helps them.

“You’ve experienced a variety of bedtime stories, I’m certain. You know their magic. A well-chosen bedtime story sets you on the path to the dream you most need to have.”

This quote demonstrates the novel’s wry and personal tone. The third person omniscient narrator often directly addresses the audience in this way, involving them in the narrative action. This quote also emphasizes The Importance of Stories—in this case, pointing out how a good story is vital to peaceful sleep, especially when reality is stressful.

“‘You seem to be under the impression that I am doing you a kindness.’ She knitted her fingers in and out of one another. ‘The fact is, children, that I have wished for a Christmas morning in a house that wasn’t empty for too many Christmases now. It is therefore the three of you who are doing a kindness for me, reminding me that I’m not entirely unsuitable.’”

This quote demonstrates the way in which Mrs. Müller’s character grows throughout the novel. The children help show Mrs. Müller her own self-worth, and how she is uniquely suited to help others. She is honest with the children about her emotions and how much good their presence does for her, and she is openly nervous about her ability to care for them. Mrs. Müller is the first adult who prioritizes the children’s wants and needs, another indication that she is the one they are meant to be with.

“[Edmund] thought a long time before he spoke again. ‘Maybe that’s how you know.’

William squinted at him. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, maybe you know you’ve got the right mum when you find one that thinks you’ve hung the moon.’”

This quote foreshadows the children’s eventual realization that Mrs. Müller will be their guardian. It also further develops the motif of the phrase “hang the moon.” Here, William and Edmund treat the phrase like a codeword that will reveal the right mother to them.

“‘[H]e’ll love it. This is loads better than anything we’d have done back in London.’

The librarian studied Anna and Edmund the way she had so often—as if she had been painting their portraits and suddenly realized she had got the colors all wrong.”

Even though the children do not tell Mrs. Müller about their upbringing until the last chapter, she begins to suspect that they have been uncared for based on hints such as this: Anna and Edmund insisting that a belated, hastily organized birthday will be the best celebration William has ever had. This also demonstrates how Mrs. Müller’s small gestures of kindness have a big effect on the children.

“Mrs. Müller directed a piercing look at Edmund. ‘I’ll make you a bargain,’ she said. ‘I’ll go to the council. You, darling boy, will go to Miss Carr.’

Edmund was horrified. ‘Miss Carr? She hates me.’

‘My point exactly.’ Mrs. Müller’s smile held just a bit of mischief. ‘Perhaps your evacuee victory garden will show her just how suitable you are.’”

Mrs. Müller and Edmund are particularly important to the character growth of each other. Both are deemed “unsuitable” by various people. Mrs. Müller needs to be bolder and more outspoken, while Edmund needs to be more tactful in his interactions. By working together and challenging each other, they are each able to become more like the other. This is particularly significant in terms of the children’s search for a family, as both the Forresters and Mrs. Griffith clashed with him specifically.

“‘The fact is, they’re just the most extraordinary children. I’m quite certain they can do anything they set their minds to…read the Britannica, end to end…help me find my life again…’

Mrs. Müller stood, stretching.

‘If they wanted to, I’m certain they could hang the moon in the very heavens.’”

Mrs. Müller utters the recurring textual motif that has special meaning to the children, even though the children have never told her about it before. To them, this is a sign that she is destined to be their guardian.