What Is “Catch the Moon” by Judith Ortiz Cofer?

“Catch the Moon” by Judith Ortiz Cofer is a short story about a young trouble-making boy named Luis. Through the course of the story, he develops from an unmotivated delinquent into a responsible young man.

At the beginning of the story, Luis has just come home from a juvenile detention facility. He is described as a lazy boy who lacks dedication to his work. All this changes when a girl named Naomi comes into his junk shop looking for a hubcap. Naomi reminds Luis how he felt about his mother, who had passed away due to cancer. He spends the night looking for the perfect hubcap for Naomi. The experiences changes Luis. By the end of the story, he is no longer a delinquent but a hardworking boy.