Author & Illustrators
Theo finds himself lost and alone in London after accidentally knocking the head off a Velociraptor with an old piece of dinosaur poop and running away from the chaos that ensues. He soon finds himself in the company of the fabulous and well-mannered Alistair Goodfellow, who offers him a get out of jail clause with a stay at the Casablanca Lily. He finds Alastair mysterious with his tricks and strange objects that seem to be magic.
As he finds himself needing to stay at Casablanca Lily, he soon realises that he has entered a magical world where even the house becomes alive and enchanted at night. He meets Alistair’s other lodgers and soon finds himself hunting for magical relics and enjoying having a taste of what fun the magic can bring. It all seems too good to be true, and soon the Moonlighters find themselves in danger and also doubting whether Alistair is as kind as he seems.
This book screams Oliver Twist meets Harry Potter with its characters and storyline. Alistair Goodfellow plays a Fagin-like character (but more stylish and devoted) with his group of run-away children, known as his Moonlighters, who are fighting a magical villain for the good of the magical community. It was easy to read, and I was gripped and emotionally invested in the Moonlighters as they faced their challenges. I would really recommend this book for Key Stage 2 children to read and lose themselves within the magical storyline.
This is the book equivalent of sitting wrapped in a duvet eating chocolate. It is simply delightful and while being an exciting adventure it also looks at finding your feet and the inner courage you need to get through. Author Lee Newbery wrote this story for his son, so that his son could see himself in a story. Newbery wanted a story where the child is adopted (and has two dads) but without the family set-up being the main focus of the story. His aim has been entirely achieved.
Yes, there is peril, a hideous monster and bullies, but it always feels as if it will work out in the end. All the pieces of an exciting adventure are here; two loyal friends, a sprinkling of magic, a very cute animal, a tense denouement. All of this is wrapped up with wonderful illustrations from Laura Catalan, which bring the story to life, topped off with a beautiful cover.
I can see this book becoming a ‘must read’ for lower Key Stage 2, and I for one would love to read it aloud to a group of children.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Any other comments
Any other comments