comment on structure

When the Moon Was Ours is broken up into 45 different chapters, which range in length from two pages on the short side, to about ten pages on the long side, with an average length of about five pages. Each of the chapters is given a title that combines the name of a body of water with either the primary emotion that is experienced in the chapter, or a feature of weather that matches the primary emotion felt in the chapter. For instance, the chapter “Ocean of Storms” (130-134) details how Sam lowers himself into the river in the blind hope that it will transform his gender identity. The word “Storms” is included in the chapter title in order to allude to the incredible tumultuousness that Sam feels inside of himself at this point in the novel, when he has not yet reached a place of comfort with his gender identity. One of the chapters that follows is titled “Lake of Sorrow” (142-146), which shows Miel as she quietly grieves by the side of the river as she mourns the departure of Sam, who had just effectively broken up with her.