Gina Gari can rock the baby, split the atom, and shoot the teacher--but she never thought
her yo-yo talent could take her 'round the world. So when she wins a ten-day trip to Italy
in a yo-yo contest, she can't wait to hit the road. But travel turns out to mean more than
a change of scene. Italy's perils and pleasures (from confusing currency to colossal
cathedrals), some enlightening encounters with other travelers (especially a good-looking,
deep-thinking young Dutchman named Stefan), and a mysterious mountaintop mission (her
grouchy grandmother's last request) combine to show Gina more than sights. By the time her
plane takes off for home, Gina's got a whole new outlook--and the confidence to master any
trick she tries.
Excerpts from Reviews
Publishers Weekly - January 13, 1992
Readers will be well rewarded by this lively tale of Gina, a naive 16-year-old California
girl who is refreshingly different from most YA heroines in that she is neither exceptionally
bright, pretty nor ambitious. ...splendidly evoked locales, well-drawn characters and a
subtle yet moving theme add up to a beguiling book.
Booklist - February 15, 1992
Sixteen-year-old Gina Gari is a self-centered smart aleck, bored with school and alienated
from her family. When Gina wins a trip to Italy in a yo-yo contest, she quickly learns
there's more to life than she thought. Gina's conversion from a "lazy brain" to a caring
citizen of the world is accomplished in only 10 days, but Howe's whirlwind pacing and
interesting characters make it seem almost possible.
School Library Journal - April, 1992
Howe writes skillfully, conveying teen humor, yet lacing it with poignancy. Zany and witty,
with unique characterizations, Shoot for the Moon is indeed an appropriate metaphor for a
novel about growing up.
Book Report - September/October, 1992
Teens will like this story with its romance, suspense, satisfying ending and, especially,
its realistic and likeable main character. Recommended.
