Moondust

by Neil Wilson

Ed Frost is testing his brand new telescope on the nearby hills when he spots a shadowy figure. Unusually, the stranger stops walking, leaves something behind and returns the way he came. Ed and his best friend Bertie investigate. They struggle but finally find an old sack. Inside are two terrified Welsh terrier pups, left for dead. Ed names one Moondust and the other Meteor. Moondust soon becomes a much loved member of the family, while Meteor’s life hangs in the balance. By chance, Ed spots an advert for puppies in the local newspaper. He phones the number on the advert, pretending to be interested in buying a pup. The pups are being sold at a local farm. Ed and Bertie go to the farm on a spying mission. On the way they meet an old foe. He has been upset by his older brother who is renting the farm and selling the puppies in a heartless money-making business. The boys make an unexpected friendship and when they arrive to spy at the farm they are disgusted by what they see – bedraggled underfed pups, kept in dirty and cramped conditions – a cruel death camp for dogs. A courageous and daring race for life begins. Can they rescue the pups and bring the sinister operator to justice?

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Nick Rossi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As mentioned in many of my published reviews and bio’s, I really enjoy expanding my client base in terms of being asked provide feedback on various types of books. This is why I was very content when Neil Wilson provided his children’s book “Moondust” for me to review.

Written for the age group of 8 to 12, “Moondust” finds two young friends embark on a journey that is reminiscent of “Homeward Bound” and “North,” with an obvious edge. The discovery of a mysterious figure and a peculiar bag finds Ed and Bertie the new owners of two very different dogs. One of the dog is healthy and happy, clearly a representation of the thematic construct of positivity and normalcy. The other is sickly and on the precipice of death. The opposition of the health between the two animals drives the story, and the two boys, to learn about responsibility, as well as the timely topic of puppy mills and the dangers they hold.

Becoming sleuths in their journey, both Ed and Bertie manage to locate the barbaric puppy farm where their new friends were previously placed, and attempt to bring evil villain to justice.

As mentioned above, reviewing children’s books is new for me. While I attempt to find motifs and themes in everything I read, in a children’s book that identification does not apply. There is one overall moral, and along the way of that moral’s attainment, the main characters learn about responsibility and the darker components of society. Neil Wilson presents a well-crafted cautionary tale of awareness and hope, as well as the importance of bravery. His characters are catalysts to change, and with a plot that many children can relate to, the awareness of puppy mills will hopefully bring to the forefront a united opposition to their continued existence.