I no longer have an interest in reviewing this title but would like to thank the publisher and author for the opportunity, it is now far past the publication and archive date. I have awarded 3 stars to keep this review neutral.

Well written and a story that will appeal to children the detailed descriptions are beautiful it’s a great story

Inspired by The Arabian Nights and set in an enchanting Middle Eastern inspired landscape that lies just beyond the horizon, Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found is storytelling at its finest. And it's a story that has it all - mysterious midnight souks, cursed cities, magical jinni animals, fearless sea witches, a destructive firebird, a seafaring adventure and a spellbinding voyage of friendship and self-discovery. And at the heart of all this is a beautifully inclusive and powerful exploration of emotions. Anger, anxiety, and curiosity are just a few of the untamed feelings that bubble at the surface of Bushby's narrative and with it is the honesty, acceptance and magic that comes from understanding and sharing them.

Irresistably evocative and gorgeously rich, I was utterly captivated and charmed by Bushby's lyrical writing style. Like The Arabian Nights, the way Bushby weaves stories and fables into the main narrative is seamlessly done, and this coupled with Rachael Dean's stunning black and white illustrations makes this a beautiful book to own.

Oozing with magic and infused with passion, Aisha Bushby is a force to be reckoned with. Moonchild is definitely a book to read aloud - the taste of magic on your tongue is tingle inducing. Fans of Philip Pullman, Jasbinder Bilan and Maria Kuzniar will adore this!

An unique, magical tale that follows a young girl across the seas. A story full of friendships, thrills and adventure.

My main expectations from reading the blurb was that I was getting a fantastical middle grade with mystery and adventure. I definitely think it delivered that as well as a story or friendship and family.

This story was so beautifully written, it was atmospheric and the descriptions were just as beautiful as the story. There are little ‘interruptions’ in the main story where we have short chapters where the narrator gives us little side stories or stories that the main character is telling and I really enjoyed that little break up and the placement of those stories within the main story.

I really liked how different the two main characters - Amira and Leo - are. Amira is very blunt and today could possibly be because she doesn’t have much interaction with lots of people, whereas Leo is almost opposite and I think they work together really well and it was lovely seeing their friendship bloom. Amira’s loyalty and determination to find and help her jinn, Namur, was admirable and the fact Leo put himself and his jinn at risk to help after such a short time knowing them just showed how strong a friendship they were building. One thing I adored was the normality of Amira having two mothers, especially with it being a middle grade and hopefully showing the reader, especially the younger readers, that it’s okay to have a family dynamic that doesn’t fit with the stereotypical nuclear family.

From Aisha Bushby comes a thrilling fantasy adventure which is the first in a new series.

Amira has only ever known a life at sea, raised by her two sea witch mothers aboard their dhow, the Tigerheart. The dhow is their home and aboard it her mothers mix tonics and remedies and weave tapestries that they sell to the folk at the markets of the islands that they visit. When their ship is damaged in a great storm, Amira is thrilled to experience land for the first time although finding her ‘land-legs’ is going to take while. Magic is normal to Amira but many others fear it and she is somewhat shocked when she is warned to keep it hidden from the mainlanders. Whilst on her first market outing Amira meets a boy, Leo, who has a jinni of his own and the two bond over this rare similarity.

Their jinni’s have a connection to the storm that almost drowned her at sea. The storm is getting worse by the day and appears to be created by a powerful bird that lives on the horizon. When Namur gets lost at sea, Amira must go to extraordinary lengths to get him back.

This is a spell-binding read set in the most magical and wondrous of worlds. It is a voyage of self-discovery, uncovering your past and learning what it is to be a moon child. Magic, myths, secrets, mermaids, cursed cities, souks, magical birds, floating islands, spirit animals and lots of adventure are all woven into story.

Bushby brings places alive with a glorious assault on all of the senses of the reader. I love the setting for this story, it sounds so near but at the same time impossibly far away. The Sahar Peninsula is a place that can easily be seen but is impossible to reach. There are no maps to show the way and no amount of skill in reading the stars and navigating by the light of the moon can guide you there, not even a compass will find the way. It is this magical and mysterious place that is the setting for Amira’s adventure.

There are stories within stories that reveal the pasts of the characters and these are woven seamlessly into the main narrative. Some of these backstories were some of my favourite parts and they helped fill in the gaps and wonderings that I had. As truths are revealed and secrets are shared, the tension builds and the air is alive with a hum. Amira’s anger is simmering to almost boiling point and the storm clouds are darkening overhead. You are just waiting for things to come to a head and they do in an ending that will not please all readers or is perhaps not suitable for those sensitive little souls.

There are strong themes of family, friendship, emotions and feelings throughout. The main narrative itself is driven by the suppression of emotions. The inclusion of same-sex parents is wonderful as this is a family dynamic that is under-represented in children’s fiction. Rachel Dean provides the gorgeous black and white illustrations and I adore the double page spreads - more of these in the future books in the series please.

Full of magic of that of the Arabian Night tales; Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found is both wonderful and full of wonder.

Recommended for 9+.

With thanks to Netgalley and Egmont Books for the review copy.

MOONCHILD: VOYAGE OF THE LOST AND FOUND is Aisha Bushby’s second book, and I had high hopes after A POCKETFUL OF STARS was such a uniquely brilliant read (watch her read some of APOS here). It is completely different, but just as satisfying! It is about adventure and science and magic and family and relationships, with a narrator occasionally bringing you out of the action to remind you that every adventure is a story, but that ‘stories never start at the beginning and they never ever finish at the end’. And, my new favourite piece of advice, from Jamila (one of Amira’s mothers), is:

All great adventures begin with a nap.

Amira is well cared for, by her two mothers, who encourage her magic (she can smell emotions) but know that it wouldn’t be looked upon kindly by others. As they spend most of their time at sea it isn’t a problem and Amira is very sheltered, but on visiting a souk while they’re docked for repairs after a storm, she starts to uncover some secrets and mysteries related to where she came from…she also makes a friend, and the developing relationship really builds the characters. The occasional gorgeous black and white illustration (and two stunning double page spreads) highlights the personality of the characters and builds up the tension in the nerve-wracking parts (there are some *very* nerve-wracking parts). The young friends problem solve together and I’m so excited that there are more adventures to come.
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Amira leads a nomadic life with her sea witch parents, travelling on their dhow to different ports where they sell their medicinal potions and read the tarot cards at the market. They are the only parents she has ever known and like them she has a love of and talent for telling stories. However, she has no idea of her real parentage, or why she, unlike anyone else around her, has a jinni, Namur, who takes the form of a cat and responds to her feelings.
Arriving in Failaka, she encounters Leo, who like her has a jinni, although his takes the form of a fish. They tentatively befriend each other, and begin to learn about each other’s vastly different worlds: his a world of science, technology and logic, hers of stories and magic. When the physical world they share is threatened by the appearance of a huge, powerful bird in the sky, they need to work together to save it.
Narrated by an omniscient voice directly addressing the reader, the main plot is punctuated by stories that fill in the background of the characters and add an Arabian Nights atmosphere to the novel. Engaging characters, each with their own culture and family structure, and the contrast between the magical and everyday which they each embody, make this a book which will capture the imagination of its target audience.
I thoroughly enjoyed Moonchild and know lots of readers in our library who will be eager to read it.

A magical book to whisk you out of everyday life into a realm of wonder and stories... of stories within stories... of scaly-faced mermaids, floating midnight souks, and cursed brass cities. I loved Amira and her adventurous life on board the dhow with her sea-witch mothers, and I'm extremely jealous of her cat jinni! Who wouldn't want a Namur of their very own?

Bushby creates a unique imaginative world in this middle grade fantasy adventure. Fans of fantasy and magical fiction will delight in the rich characters and daring adventures.

I am so in love with Aisha's writing, I adored Pocketful of Stars and now Moonchild too. Bringing a modern twist to classic Arabian tales, Moonchild is one not to be missed.

Aisha's writing is gorgeous, magical, and perfect for the middle grade audience. Full of rich world-building, animal side-kicks, and more than a little fantasy it's everything I've come to expect from Aisha's novels. Bring on book 2!

A hypnotising sea-faring adventure!

I've read a lot of middle grade books over the last couple of years and can only aspire to phenomenal talent that they showcase. When it comes to choosing a book to read, 8 to 12 year olds are spoilt for choice.

My only gripe, as an avid reader, is having to plough through a couple of tedious, initial chapters to get into the story. Not so with Moonchild by Aisha Bushby. This story intoxicated me from the first page to the very last.

Amira and her cat jinn, Namur, have been raised at sea by Amira's sea-witch mothers. But an unsettling storm threatens the Sahar Penisula and Namur is acting strangely. When Amira unexpectedly meets Leo and his fish jinn, Samek, the two put their heads together to work out how the storm is connected to not only the hushed tales of mermaids, stormbirds and islands of brass but also to their own stories.
Then Namur disappears and Amira and Leo embark on a breath-taking journey towards the horizon where they may have to sacrifice all they hold dear.

This story is drenched in magic and contains all the elements that make a story great: fantastical places, sensory descriptions and stories within stories. Inspired by 1001 Arabian nights, it whisks you right to the edge of your imagination where sea-witches and mermaids dwell amongst sailing souks and moving islands. But no image is more powerful than the terrible beast which sits on the horizon.

The language is as hypnotising and encapsulating as the lull of a boat, which is where most of the story takes place. The imagery is stunning and the sounds and smells come alive on the page. Aisha Bushby brilliantly conjures a brooding mood and tone which manifests itself in Amira, the main character.
Amira is angry and knows it! Yet she is written in a relatable way, with the anger simmering at the edges of her being. I loved that her awareness of emotions meant she had self-awareness of her own and rather than denying them, she learnt to manage them in the same way Leo learns to manage his anxiety.

In fact, the suppression of emotion is a huge theme in Moonchild and unpins the plot in a way which will encourage readers to examine how their own feelings should be treated...after all, emotions are what makes us human, right? Then there are the themes of belonging, friendship and sacrifice...

If that wasn't enough, Aisha also delves into the fascinating legends of jinn. After recently reading Michelle Lovric's The Water's Daughter, which contains a prominent jinn (or djinn) character, I was interested in reading more portrayals of them and this doesn't disappoint. Namur, Semek and Layla are as beautifully mysterious as they are loyal and adorable in their animal form and their power creates a potent current which crackles through the plot.

The novel is beautifully presented with gorgeous illustrations by Rachael Dean. It's an all round exquisite treat and I am so happy it's only the first in the series.

Moonchild is released tomorrow - August 6th 2020.
Many thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review.

Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found is a magical adventure story that swept me along. It’s the story of 12-year-old Amira who has been raised at sea by her sea-witch mothers. All three have magical powers. Amira’s is the ability to sense other people’s emotions – she can literally smell or see them, even when they are deeply hidden. Excitement is like a freshly baked cake slathered in honey. Sadness: rotten eggs and burnt coffee. Amira also has a jinn, Namur, which takes the physical form of a cat. They go everywhere together.

After a terrible storm, they have to dock at Failaka in order to buy what they need for repairs to the boat. Amira has the rare opportunity to explore life on land and she chances to meet Leo – another child like her with a jinn and the ability to read emotions. As Amira learns more about jinn from Leo, she realises her mothers are hiding secrets from her. Desperate for answers, she sets off alone into the stormy sea. Although Amira survives, she loses her precious Namur. For the rest of the book Amira is on a quest to find Namur and uncover the truth about her destiny. It’s a tale full of enchantment: magic potions, tarot cards and a curse. There are magical creatures, a mysterious stormbird, whale song and mermaids.

There’s a great pace to the story and a thrilling amount of tension. I particularly enjoyed how Aisha Bushby builds a sense of foreboding. The threat of a storm hangs over the town of Failaka, clouds gather, nervous whispers grow into rumours, there’s unease and a tense humming in the air. We are just waiting for something terrible to happen.

I enjoyed the chatty narrative style with the narrator interrupting the story from time to time and addressing the reader directly. The structure of the book, as well as the exotic Middle Eastern setting, has been inspired by The Arabian Nights. Interspersed within the main plot are stand-alone stories which feel almost myth-like. They are told by the book’s main characters and connect to the main plot by providing the backstory.

The theme of family and belonging is particularly strong. I really liked the inclusion of a family with same-sex parents as the central family; it’s important to see different types of family set-ups represented in children’s fiction. These lines from the book are spot on:

“Families come in all shapes and sizes. All that matters is that they love you, and you love them back.”

I really enjoyed the book’s exploration of emotions and people’s different attitudes towards them. I think there is an unhealthy tendency in society to regard some emotions as “bad” or “negative” and in need of repression. In Moonchild Aisha explores the damage that is done when people bury their feelings deep inside. As someone who is quick to anger, I particularly related to the fiery character of Amira and thought it was interesting how Aisha does not dismiss anger as a negative emotion but one which is normal and necessary and only ever one part of someone’s character. I also appreciated the recognition that anger comes hand in hand with passion and determination.

The book is beautifully illustrated throughout by Rachael Dean. I especially liked the busy market scene and the picture of the angry, swirling sea and the stormbird’s attack.

Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found is a book of adventure and friendship that celebrates the power of stories and the validity and importance of emotions. This is the first book in the series and I can’t wait to see where the characters journey to next.

A beautiful middle grade inspired by the Arabian Nights, filled with gorgeous storytelling and seafaring adventure.

Amira is a 12-year-old who lives with her sea-witch mothers and a jinn called Namur, who is a cat-like companion to Amira. They sail the seas, however, a storm damages their ship, causing them to dock at a nearby island. While there, Amira makes friends with Leo who also has a jinn, and she is instantly interested in him considering jinns are rare. When Amira's jinn is taken by the stormbird in the sky, Amira goes to any length to get Namur back.

I was so engrossed in the story; there are elements of stories within stories in this novel that I absolutely love - and some stories had some really great twists that informed the main story, making them useful passages filled with wonder. There is an Arabian atmosphere to this book due to the inspiration of The Arabian Nights, so combined with the writing, this was just overall a perfect read.

Amira is a very interesting protagonist and isn't like other ones I've read about - she's direct and isn't aware of how she comes across to other people. Enter Leo, who is a great balance for her and they end up learning from each other. I really enjoyed their dynamic. We are also introduced to another character later on called Farah who also manages to enter this friendship dynamic and adds to it without subtracting the prior chemistry.

I also especially enjoyed Amira's sea witch mothers, Jamila and Dunya. It never felt odd - it was extremely normalised that a girl would have two mothers and it's beautiful to see how Amira has formed as a person from their parental style. I hope it shows people that it's okay to have same-sex parents, and while there is more to the story here too, I won't mention because spoilers. But, this was a beautiful touch to the story and I cannot express how wonderful this was.

Aisha Bushby is not capable of writing a bad book, this was fantastic through-and-through, and I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.

“We can’t be certain what might happen, because stories don’t always have happy endings.”
—Aisha Bushby, Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found

Inspired by The Arabian Nights, this new magical middle-grade at sea adventure sets sail with twelve year old Amira and her mothers aboard Tigerheart.

Amira isn’t like other little girls, as she has a life-long magical companion, a jinn in cat form, who only appears when she is angry. And Amira is almost always angry- a little spit-fire of a girl who is always reminded to be polite, although she doesn’t quite know why. But when her jinn, Namur, goes missing, Amira must team up with other children to rescue him from a scary creature who is plaguing the land.

A short novel with lovely illustrations— perfect for children just getting into chapter books.

My only complaint lies with the narrative intrusion that often interrupts the story or tries to move it along. And this mysterious narrator often challenges a reader to guess who they are— and you really don’t have to guess very hard. I was disappointed in the lack of a twist.

But otherwise, I believe children will like this adventure with an angry little girl with a spark for adventure.

Thank you so much NetGallery and Egmont Publishing for this early readers copy! I really enjoyed myself while reading it and looking at the lovely illustrations.

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

I really enjoyed the writing style in this book, I found it really engaging while I was reading. However, this was a book where, when I put it down, I had no draw to pick it back up again for some reason.

The magic and jinni elements were really good but I did find the MC to be a little annoying.

I also personally found the ending to be a little rushed and I would have liked it to have taken up a bigger chunk of the book but that's just what I personally prefer

I’m in awe of this book and its endless stories. It’s so beautifully and cleverly crafted, and the balance between ancient tales and modern sensibilities is done so effectively. Amazing book!

Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found is a wonderful Middle Grade adventure which will delight readers and have them racing to reach the end. It is full of rich world building, and the Sahar Peninsula is exquisitely described. From midnight souks, to animal-companion jinni, it has a magic children will long to be part of.

The real stand out for me in this story was the wonderful narration. It has easily the most vivid, exciting narrator I have come across in a children's story for a long time. The short stories woven through the main narrative are also skilfully done, and it was always a treat to have a glimpse into someone else's world.

Moonchild is full of representation, from characters with mental illness, to different skin tones, to Amira's two mothers. Despite its extraordinary magic, readers will find themselves reflected within Moonchild's pages, and a world that will welcome them no matter who they are. There are even discussions about periods, which I can't remember seeing in Middle Grade before and know I would have so appreciated at that age.

Bushby also packs in a powerful exploration of emotions and the importance of understanding them, rather than always trying to push them away or keep them bottled up inside. This story really is superb, and there's so much potential for the next in the series - I can't wait to find out what happens!

Thank you Egmont for letting me review this story via NetGalley

I chose this book because it’s beautiful cover is so lovely, and the story sounded interesting. I enjoyed reading about the children and their jinn. I love the idea of having an animal (but so much more than one) connected to you like that. Amira was a particularly appealing character. She was curious, adventurous, and courageous. I thought the mix of characters was great, Leo makes a nice contrast, being far more cautious and thoughtful.

I found the interruptions by the narrator a little irritating at times, I just wanted to progress with the story! I think this shows how engrossing the adventure is.

I thought the world building was excellent - interesting and believable, in spite of obviously being fantastical CHECK. The illustrations inside the book are as beautiful and captivating as the cover. They really bring the story to life.

SPOILER IN THIS PARAGRAPH

The one thing I really did not like was Leo disappearing at the end. When I was the age that this book is aimed at, that would have really upset me. I’m assuming that he will reappear in a future book. This is why I have given 3, rather than 4, stars. The ending did not feel satisfying.

END OF SPOILER

Overall, this was a beautiful and magical story, with delightful illustrations, suitable for older children and adults alike. Just be careful if your child is particularly sensitive, as this volume doesn’t end happily for all characters.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.