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Sisters of the Moon
Suzy Button is grieving. Grieving for her dead mother, but also for the friends she's left behind, the father who no longer laughs and the life that she once had. In desperation she finds herself in the garden in the middle of the night, under the light of a supermoon, wishing everything would change.
And suddenly, it does.
Into school walks Rhiannon, a fearless new girl who makes Suzy her instant best friend. And Rhiannon seems to make things . . . happen. If Suzy wants something, somehow Rhiannon can make it friends, beach parties, midnight photoshoots under a moonlit sky . . . Suzy's life is finally moving forward again.
But where did Rhiannon come from? She doesn't seem to live in Sallycove. Why can't Suzy go to her house? And why does she never have any stuff?
Suzy might be her best friend, but does she really know who Rhiannon is?
And suddenly, it does.
Into school walks Rhiannon, a fearless new girl who makes Suzy her instant best friend. And Rhiannon seems to make things . . . happen. If Suzy wants something, somehow Rhiannon can make it friends, beach parties, midnight photoshoots under a moonlit sky . . . Suzy's life is finally moving forward again.
But where did Rhiannon come from? She doesn't seem to live in Sallycove. Why can't Suzy go to her house? And why does she never have any stuff?
Suzy might be her best friend, but does she really know who Rhiannon is?
- GenresYoung Adult
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2024
About the author
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
33 books39 followersI am an illustrator and a writer. I create picturebooks for kids and write novels – middle grade and YA. I love to travel but, so far, my books have travelled more than me - they've been translated into many languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Persian and Finish.
I'm Irish, a Dubliner, born, bred and buttered. I run on coffee and chocolate. My most recent novel, On Midnight Beach, is a YA reimagining of the legend of Cúchulainn, and it has been shortlisted for several awards, including the 2021 Carnegie Medal.
I'm Irish, a Dubliner, born, bred and buttered. I run on coffee and chocolate. My most recent novel, On Midnight Beach, is a YA reimagining of the legend of Cúchulainn, and it has been shortlisted for several awards, including the 2021 Carnegie Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 17, 2024
4-5 stars rounded up
“She asked me, “Be my sister
Sister, sister of the moon” ….
Some call her sister of the moon,
Some say, illusions are her game
They like to wrap her in velvet
Does anyone, ooh, anyone know her name”
Fleetwood Mac, words by Stevie Nicks, Album Tusk, 1979
26th August is NOT just another day for nearly 16 year old Suzy Button. It’s the first anniversary of the day her mum dies and life is rubbish without her despite her father’s decision for a change of scene, relocating them from the city to Sallycove. Her dad is not in a good way either, zombie like, struggling with overwhelming grief. Suzy even makes wishes to the moon, after all, her mum was into things like that. Star of the Sea school is difficult for her too, very difficult, no thanks to Casey and Clodagh, the alpha mean girls. That is, until new girl Rhiannon Albedo arrives and then things start to look up. However, who exactly is Rhiannon and where does she live???
This is a captivating, charming, heartwarming, life affirming tale which is magical, amazing and full of atmosphere as the outstanding cover suggests. It’s wonderfully written with some fantastic descriptions that leap from the pages. Suzy’s personality and character come across beautifully in this first person narrative. It’s like she’s not only in a dialogue with herself but with the reader and inevitably, her mother. She’s funny, smart, insecure, talented and understandably conflicted. As for Rhiannon - pure magic and through her she gains lovely friends in Pod, Jazzy, Derry and Paul. You can well imagine Casey and Clodagh as those girls exist everywhere but they do make for some lively scenes both in school and on the beach!
The novel has multiple layers to it. I love the mystical element especially that of the moon which is indeed magical. The inclusion of actual places in Ireland adds to the mystique. Another layer is obviously grief but also coming back to life and there’s friendship too among other things. It’s comforting yet also suspenseful and tense, funny yet also sad, magical yet also real, sensible and safe but also foolish, exciting and reckless (they are teens!) it’s contained and thoughtful yet also wild and free, there’s being solitary and then not so, there’s kindness and its polar opposite and there’s illusion versus reality. The moral if there is one - be braver and laugh. A lot.
Overall, I had no idea what to expect with this but I loved it from start to finish. It’s classed as YA but as I’m way beyond that I’d say anyone could read this and get something from it. I sure have.
Finally, sisters of the moon spiritually means connecting in truth, sharing stories, connecting with and to divine wisdom and forging an unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Suzy Button definitely does that.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber.
“She asked me, “Be my sister
Sister, sister of the moon” ….
Some call her sister of the moon,
Some say, illusions are her game
They like to wrap her in velvet
Does anyone, ooh, anyone know her name”
Fleetwood Mac, words by Stevie Nicks, Album Tusk, 1979
26th August is NOT just another day for nearly 16 year old Suzy Button. It’s the first anniversary of the day her mum dies and life is rubbish without her despite her father’s decision for a change of scene, relocating them from the city to Sallycove. Her dad is not in a good way either, zombie like, struggling with overwhelming grief. Suzy even makes wishes to the moon, after all, her mum was into things like that. Star of the Sea school is difficult for her too, very difficult, no thanks to Casey and Clodagh, the alpha mean girls. That is, until new girl Rhiannon Albedo arrives and then things start to look up. However, who exactly is Rhiannon and where does she live???
This is a captivating, charming, heartwarming, life affirming tale which is magical, amazing and full of atmosphere as the outstanding cover suggests. It’s wonderfully written with some fantastic descriptions that leap from the pages. Suzy’s personality and character come across beautifully in this first person narrative. It’s like she’s not only in a dialogue with herself but with the reader and inevitably, her mother. She’s funny, smart, insecure, talented and understandably conflicted. As for Rhiannon - pure magic and through her she gains lovely friends in Pod, Jazzy, Derry and Paul. You can well imagine Casey and Clodagh as those girls exist everywhere but they do make for some lively scenes both in school and on the beach!
The novel has multiple layers to it. I love the mystical element especially that of the moon which is indeed magical. The inclusion of actual places in Ireland adds to the mystique. Another layer is obviously grief but also coming back to life and there’s friendship too among other things. It’s comforting yet also suspenseful and tense, funny yet also sad, magical yet also real, sensible and safe but also foolish, exciting and reckless (they are teens!) it’s contained and thoughtful yet also wild and free, there’s being solitary and then not so, there’s kindness and its polar opposite and there’s illusion versus reality. The moral if there is one - be braver and laugh. A lot.
Overall, I had no idea what to expect with this but I loved it from start to finish. It’s classed as YA but as I’m way beyond that I’d say anyone could read this and get something from it. I sure have.
Finally, sisters of the moon spiritually means connecting in truth, sharing stories, connecting with and to divine wisdom and forging an unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Suzy Button definitely does that.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber.
August 11, 2024
It is beautiful book it's the perfect ya story if you like a realistic high school teenagers mixed with magic you will love this story
August 6, 2024
Suzy Button is still feeling like an outcast in the seaside town that she and her father recently moved to, after the passing of her mother. She’s struggling with the dark, friendships, and her body is still feeling the after affects of stress and grief. So, on the first anniversary of her mother’s death, she decides to go out and make a wish on the moon, as a way of marking the day, as her mum was into mystical rituals like that. She wishes to no longer be afraid of the dark, for her period to return, and for friendships to come into her life.
A few days later, a new girl shows up at school, called Rihannon. She’s a little odd, knows a lot about brilliant poets, has never had cheddar cheese, and claims to be from France. She also very quickly becomes Suzy’s best friend, and the world seems to open its doors for Suzy once again. But is she really from France? And how come Suzy is never invited back to her house?
I thought this book was lovely. It handles grief, friendships, and the turmoil of being a teenager, all with a little sprinkling of magic dusted throughout. It also shows Suzy grappling with her inner self quite a lot. A stand out chapter, for me, shows her stream of consciousness while attending a beach party, and the utter whirlwind of her thoughts as the night progresses. It really encapsulated the inner turmoil that is the mind of a young teenager, and how it feels when you’re trying to find your way.
The book is very engaging, and it’s so nice to see Suzy slowly re-emerge from the fog she’s been in, and grow and flourish alongside her new friends. I felt like it was wonderfully balanced alongside the more magical elements of the book, which I also loved. A very heartwarming YA read.
Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.
A few days later, a new girl shows up at school, called Rihannon. She’s a little odd, knows a lot about brilliant poets, has never had cheddar cheese, and claims to be from France. She also very quickly becomes Suzy’s best friend, and the world seems to open its doors for Suzy once again. But is she really from France? And how come Suzy is never invited back to her house?
I thought this book was lovely. It handles grief, friendships, and the turmoil of being a teenager, all with a little sprinkling of magic dusted throughout. It also shows Suzy grappling with her inner self quite a lot. A stand out chapter, for me, shows her stream of consciousness while attending a beach party, and the utter whirlwind of her thoughts as the night progresses. It really encapsulated the inner turmoil that is the mind of a young teenager, and how it feels when you’re trying to find your way.
The book is very engaging, and it’s so nice to see Suzy slowly re-emerge from the fog she’s been in, and grow and flourish alongside her new friends. I felt like it was wonderfully balanced alongside the more magical elements of the book, which I also loved. A very heartwarming YA read.
Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.
June 24, 2024
Suzy Button is grieving for her mother who died a year ago, she is struggling at school where the class mean girls seem to target her and there is no support from her father who is stuck in his own bubble of grief. Despite her fear of the dark, she goes outside at night and makes a wish to the moon. The next day things start to change for the better. A new girl called Rhiannon joins her class and becomes her friend, changing Suzy’s life and allowing her to move on. But who is Rhiannon? Why does she never mention her home life and how does she seem to make things happen?
This is a lovely YA read. Set in Ireland, the descriptive writing is so evocative of Suzy’s seaside home, I felt like I had been through the tunnel to one of the beach parties myself! The friendships which develop between Suzy and Pod, Jazzy, Derry and Paul feel so authentic and heartwarming and the mystical element of the story weaves into the background without ever becoming unrealistic. We really get to know Suzy as she re-engages with life, starts to take risks and find herself again.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This is a lovely YA read. Set in Ireland, the descriptive writing is so evocative of Suzy’s seaside home, I felt like I had been through the tunnel to one of the beach parties myself! The friendships which develop between Suzy and Pod, Jazzy, Derry and Paul feel so authentic and heartwarming and the mystical element of the story weaves into the background without ever becoming unrealistic. We really get to know Suzy as she re-engages with life, starts to take risks and find herself again.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 26, 2024
I'm incredibly grateful to Netgalley and the wonderful publisher for gifting me a copy of Sister of the Moon. This heartwarming book chronicles Suzy Button's journey as she navigates through the loss of her dear mother and embraces a new life with her father at a new all-girls school. Despite facing various challenges, including physical struggles, following her mother's passing, Suzy's story takes a beautiful turn when, on the anniversary of her mother's passing, she makes three heartfelt wishes upon the moon, bringing about beautiful changes in her life. It's a touching tale beautifully portrays Suzy's passage through grief and her blossoming friendships, especially with her newfound kindred spirit, Rhiannon. This book is a true gem, filled with hope, resilience, and heartwarming connections.
#SuzyButton #SisterOfTheMoon #FriendshipJourney #GriefHealing #ResilienceStory #MoonWishes #EmotionalChallenges #NewBeginnings #PowerOfFriendship #BookReview
#SuzyButton #SisterOfTheMoon #FriendshipJourney #GriefHealing #ResilienceStory #MoonWishes #EmotionalChallenges #NewBeginnings #PowerOfFriendship #BookReview
June 19, 2024
Published 1 August 2024. This is a story that although it covers grief and friendship also has a magical element. Suzy Button's mum died a year previously and neither her nor her father have ever really moved forward. On a full moon, as she used to do with her mother, she goes into the garden and makes three wishes to the moon. The next day, everything seems to change - coincidence? One of her wishes was to have a friend. In her new school, she is the butt of the jokes from the mean girls in the class, the class leaders. That day, Rhiannon arrives and a friendship develops. Rhiannon is a mystery, from her way of talking to the fact that Suzy is never allowed to visit her. But through Rhiannon, Suzy gains friends, and develops a reckless streak. Written in first person, Suzy's personality shines - even when she is arguing with her inner self. This is a charming story of friendship entwined with moon magic. A lovely YA read.
August 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this.
Even though this is YA and I'm in my late 40s I really connected with the main character, Suzy. My mum died 5 years ago and so the emotions that Suzy was feeling and that disconnect I could appreciate. Having that inner negative monologue is something I've lived with every day and has held me back.
I loved living vicariously through Suzy and the friendships she made along the way, with mysterious Rhiannon, and the people they pick up along the way. it was a quick read and but there was so much story behind it that it is one that will definitely stick with me
I truly think this is a great coming of age story, and I'd 100% recommend it.
Even though this is YA and I'm in my late 40s I really connected with the main character, Suzy. My mum died 5 years ago and so the emotions that Suzy was feeling and that disconnect I could appreciate. Having that inner negative monologue is something I've lived with every day and has held me back.
I loved living vicariously through Suzy and the friendships she made along the way, with mysterious Rhiannon, and the people they pick up along the way. it was a quick read and but there was so much story behind it that it is one that will definitely stick with me
I truly think this is a great coming of age story, and I'd 100% recommend it.
June 23, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this book and I am so glad that I did!
It was beautifully written and a wonderful story that I finished in one sitting.
I feel like it’s one of those books that carves a special place in your heart and stays with you forever.
I really enjoyed reading Suzy’s story!
I’ll definitely be recommending this book to everyone I speak with about books because it was just absolutely delightful to read.
It was beautifully written and a wonderful story that I finished in one sitting.
I feel like it’s one of those books that carves a special place in your heart and stays with you forever.
I really enjoyed reading Suzy’s story!
I’ll definitely be recommending this book to everyone I speak with about books because it was just absolutely delightful to read.
July 20, 2024
A gorgeous tale of friendship, being the person you want to be and the power of the moon. I loved it.
July 23, 2024
A wonderful story dealing with grief, friendship and the struggles of navigating school, with just a dash of moon magic. Perfect for young girls
August 27, 2024
4 ⭐️
Genre - Coming-of-age, Fantasy
Themes - Sisterhood, magical realism, grief
Publishes - 15 August
I went into this book with zero expectations and ended up finishing it in 2 days. It was a poignant coming-of-age story about grief, self identity, and the nudge of a little magic towards the path of self-love 🩷
Suzy Button, grieving the loss of her mother, her friends, her father's laughter, and her old life, finds herself in the garden under a supermoon, desperately wishing for a change.
Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Rhiannon, a fearless new girl who becomes her best friend and seems to possess the ability to make things happen. With Rhiannon's influence, Suzy's life begins to move forward again as she gains new friends, experiences beach parties, and engages in midnight photoshoots under the moonlit sky.
Genre - Coming-of-age, Fantasy
Themes - Sisterhood, magical realism, grief
Publishes - 15 August
I went into this book with zero expectations and ended up finishing it in 2 days. It was a poignant coming-of-age story about grief, self identity, and the nudge of a little magic towards the path of self-love 🩷
Suzy Button, grieving the loss of her mother, her friends, her father's laughter, and her old life, finds herself in the garden under a supermoon, desperately wishing for a change.
Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Rhiannon, a fearless new girl who becomes her best friend and seems to possess the ability to make things happen. With Rhiannon's influence, Suzy's life begins to move forward again as she gains new friends, experiences beach parties, and engages in midnight photoshoots under the moonlit sky.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews