Theo didn’t mean for it to happen.
His school trip to the British Museum was uneventful… until he was dared to pull a prank. Being new at school, and wanting to be part of a new group of friends, Theo accepted the challenge. But flying rocks can wreak havoc among ancient things, and dinosaurs though mighty when alive, are not so much when mere skeletons.
Fleeing the scene, Theo makes for his Nan’s place. Only problem is, she’s not where she’s supposed to be. A chance meeting allows Theo to hide from angry school teachers, investigating police officers and his parents who he is still angry at for moving him from his home and school.
When a stranger helps him hide in plain sight of his pursuers, Theo wonders more about this flamboyantly dressed teen. He soon meets others – kids who are fleeing past lives. They are all staying in a derelict mansion hotel, under the care of the kind stranger named Alistair Goodfellow.
The crumbling hotel is named the Casablanca Lily. During the day, the building is thick with dust and full of decaying timbers. At night, to Theo’s wonder and delight, the Casablanca Lily is lavishly decorated with gleaming wood, lush carpets and curtains, and not a speck of dust in sight. How? Magic!
Theo soon learns the four other children are helping Alistair search for something in London. Alistair fondly calls them The Moonlighters as the children head out into the night on their adventures and quest. Alistair promises them a magical treat when they return, and Theo is wowed alongside the others each night.
But their kind carer is not telling The Moonlighters the entire truth. A nefarious plan emerges at no fault of Alistair. Each night search brings more and more danger and Theo wonders whether running away was a good idea after all.
A tale of magical adventures, The Moonlighters is a fast-paced action-packed read set in London. A little Oliver Twist, a little Peter Pan and a teensy bit Harry Potter, this middle-grade novel is told in 1st person by main character Theo.
Theo’s in trouble, which grabs the reader quickly. (Involving a dinosaur’s skull definitely helps!) Add magic to his dash to hide and the story takes off. With a decidedly dastardly villain, and a clear mission in mind for the characters, The Moonlighters has a clear plot and a satisfying ending.
A sub-plot shows Theo that his personal situation (moving from his old home and school), is nothing compared to the lives of his fellow Moonlighters. (This is woven within the plot and isn’t didactic.)
This is an enjoyable read with illustrations sprinkled throughout the story for added impact.
Author – Lee Newberry
Illustrator – Geraldine Rodriguez
Age – 8+
Find a Look Inside Link here
(2025, Penguin UK, Fantasy, Friendships, Magic, London, Spells, Family, Action, Danger, Tension, Villain, Underground, Cemetery, 1st person, First person, Magical Relics)