The following version of this book was used to create the guide: McBride, Amber. Moth (Me). Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, 2021.

Amber McBride's Moth (Me) is a novel written in verse. The narrative appears on the page as a series of lineated poems, all of which are narrated from the main character Moth's first person point of view. The following summary relies upon the present tense and a conventional prosaic mode of explanation.

Two years prior to the narrative present, Moth and her family were in a car accident while traveling from New York to Virginia to visit Moth's aunt Jack. The whole family went to the hospital. Despite all of Aunt Jack's prayers, only one person left the hospital alive.

After the accident, Moth went to Virginia to live with Aunt Jack. Ever since, she has struggled to feel alive. She blames herself for her mother's, father's, and brother's deaths. She believes that if she were not so greedy with life, they might have survived. She also feels sad and alone. Her aunt has started drinking heavily, and she is ignored at school. As a young African American girl, she is not unaccustomed to marginalization.

Although Moth once loved to dance and had hoped to pursue dance at Juilliard after graduating from high school, ever since the accident, she has given up her passion. Dancing makes her feel alive, and she does not believe she deserves such joy given her recent tragedy.

On the day before Moth's junior year ends, a new boy with long black hair comes into Moth's homeroom. Moth is immediately intrigued by him. On the bus ride home, the new boy sits near Moth, introducing himself as Sani. They start talking, discovering that Sani lives 10 houses down from Moth.

The more Moth and Sani talk, the more they get to know each other. Sani explains that he is originally from New Mexico. His father is Navajo and his mother is white. After their divorce, his mother moved to Virginia and started a new family. She wanted Sani to come and live with her because she thought it would be good for him. However, Sani's stepfather thinks that Sani is disturbed. He and Sani's mother force him to take medication, and treat him like he is a problem. The more abusive Sani's stepfather becomes, the more desperate Sani becomes to leave Virginia.

He and Moth decide to drive cross country to New Mexico at the start of the summer. Throughout the trip, Moth and Sani share stories and songs. They visit numerous historical sites, learning about one another's ancestral pasts. These stories are defined by violence and loss, and complicate the characters understandings of self.

Moth and Sani learn how to comfort and encourage one another. Sani wants Moth to understand that her family's deaths were not her fault. Moth wants Sani to believe that he must create a future for himself, and that he can do so via his love for singing and playing guitar.

When they reach the reservation and arrive at Sani's house, Moth is struck by Sani's father's coldness. She does not understand why he ignores her, and is so forceful with Sani. He particularly demands that Sani take his medication. He also blames Moth for worsening Sani's illness.

Sani's father soon reveals the true reasons for Moth and Sani's connection. Moth's grandfather was a Rootworker, and practiced traditional Hoodoo rituals. He designed a connection between Moth and Sani, knowing that they would need each other. Moth died in the accident, and is really a ghost haunting Sani. Sani's mental atypicality is inspired by his ability to see and commune with ghosts. Moth's grandfather believed that Sani could help guide Moth into the spirit world, and that Moth could help Sani learn how to live.

Moth and Sani realize they must let one another go. They express their love for each other. Moth reaches out for her grandfather, lets go of Sani's hand, and crosses into the spirit world. She leaves Sani a buried message that she hopes he will find later.

Sani goes on to become a successful musician. Ten years later, he plays a show at Madison Square Garden. He performs the song that he and Moth wrote together during their road trip, dedicating it to her.