The Sunshine Stone

by Foster Henderson

The Sunshine Stone is the story of Antonia Davidson, a fifteen-year-old girl, who loses everything when her successful solicitor father is imprisoned for money laundering. It is a story of of redemption, as she overcomes the challenges of living with her fragile mother in Rotney, a brutal, East End slum where she attends the notorious comprehensive school, Rotney High, with all its perils and ugliness. Antonia’s life changes when she meets an American war hero and performance magician, who restores her confidence and gives her a stone with magical properties to protect her at the cost of his own safety.

The Sunshine Stone looks at how, despite the worst circumstances, there is always hope if you are prepared to fight for your future and to accept help from any quarter it might present itself, however unlikely.

Genres: Strong Female, Strong Female Lead, Fiction

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2017

About the author

Foster Henderson is a British author. His highly rated novel, The Sunshine Stone, aimed primarily at the YA market, is available from Amazon in both Kindle and paperback versions.

Reviews

[Amber Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I'm not much of a reader and joined Goodreads as part of a school project!
The description of this book caught my attention and it was so good I ended up reading it in 4 days. The Sunshine Stone was both realistic and relate able. From the first chapter I was already hooked and knew I wasn't going to be getting any sleep for the next few days. I fell in love with the characters and really connected to the protagonist, Antonia. The Sunshine Stone had the perfect mixture of witty humor, violent action and heartwarming moments.
I seriously cannot recommend this book enough, I even have my friends reading it now. This book is so perfect for all ages and genders and I think Foster Henderson is an absolute genius. Cannot wait to read more of his books and for more people to rave about his insane talent.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend recommended this book to me and I can't stress enough how much I think anyone and everyone can benefit from reading it. It's brilliantly written and you can tell how much thought and research went into it. Do not hesitate to buy it!

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever book, especially second half. Antonia and Frank are GREAT characters. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.

[Jacci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was not like any book I had read and the British setting, words and ideas made it even more interesting. I might have to look for book two! (Warning, violence and swearing but they are appropriate to the plot. There is no sex or sexual violence). Kids tend to read up and this protagonist is fairly young but I'd suggest this book be appropriate for 13 and up.

[Siesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book turned out to be quite different to what I had expected from the description. Antonia’s comfortable life is up-ended when her father is sent to prison and she and her mother have to start over again in a very rough part of London. She befriends an elderly magician, and so begins a series of inexplicable experiences that will have a profound effect on her life.
The book was slow to get going, and I found the narration quite shallow and simplistic. At around 20% the story started to get interesting, when the stone made its appearance. But it never fully exploited this magic element and the story was instead rather quickly and beatly rounded off.
I really feel the author has missed a trick here. Approached differently, this would have made an excellent foundation to a magic-fantasy based series.

[Alex R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an unexpected delight! The Sunshine Stone is a beautifully written coming-of-age fantasy that blends magic with heartfelt emotion. The protagonist, Lila, is a dreamer stuck in a world that doesn’t believe in magic—until she stumbles upon a mysterious stone that changes everything.

Henderson’s writing is lyrical without being overly flowery, and the characters feel incredibly real. The friendships, the quiet moments of self-discovery, and the way magic is woven into everyday life make this book feel special. It’s one of those hidden gems that deserves way more attention. If you love books that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale, this one is for you!

[Malta · Rating 5 out of 5]

per.fec.tion. i'm so sold