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.