The Secret of the Yellow Moon: A Clean Adventure Fantasy With Traditional Values Set in a Magical World

by IJ Alston, GL Alston

In a breathtakingly creative fantasy world of magic-wielding mermaids and unicorns, an 11-year-old girl must overcome adversity and self-doubt to discover the truth about her family’s darkest secret. Alice and her brother Davis are suddenly dragged away from their everyday lives, when their family is inexplicably attacked on Halloween night. They soon discover that an ancient family secret threatens to bring evil and despair to those they love.

Aided by a fantastic and loyal cast of mythical creatures, including a wisecracking Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog, powerful unicorns and a magical mermaid friend named Majesty, Alice and Davis begin their hero’s quest to save their family. Their amazing adventures take them to strange lands where they encounter equally strange characters. They must quickly learn who to trust and how to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles put in their way. But, most importantly, Alice has to learn to stand up for herself and fight for what’s right, in order to succeed.

The Secret of the Yellow Moon is a whimsical and action-packed children’s and YA fantasy novel that will immerse you into an epic struggle of good vs evil, where two normal siblings are thrust into a desperate race against time… and only the secret of the Yellow Moon can save them.

Can Alice overcome her insecurity and stand up for herself, when everything is against her, or will darkness prevail?

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"When we believed in mermaids, talking dogs, and elemental magic, and the story of an insecure 6th grader on a magical adventure, who had the courage to face up to a bully in her 6th grade class, that made this coming of age story a lot of fun to read."

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2021

Reviews

[Nikki Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Enjoyed the time with my grandson more than this read. I characters were engaging but the story was too slow for me. I'd give it a 3.

My grandson, however, stated he thought, "The plot was pretty good. It was't a 5-star, Grandna . I think it deserves 4-stars. So that equals 3.5 and we round up to 4."

So there we go.

[Greg Alston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret of the Yellow Moon is a humorous fantasy novel written in the style of the Harry Potter series. The characters are real kids who face real middle school issues, but they operate a world that includes interactions with mythical characters such as mermaids, unicorns, Egyptian gods, and secret orders pitted in the battle between good and evil.

The book is an easy read, with just enough big words to make a child stretch their vocabulary without disrupting the reading experience. Each chapter ends with a surprise that makes the reader want to instantly begin reading the next chapter to find out what happens.

But the Staffordshire Bull Terriers steal the show with their unique blend of dopey loyalty and funny wisecracks.

A fun story to read together as a family, because the issues discussed are kid friendly and based on traditional values. Enough serious scenes to make you fear how the story will turn out. But enough silly humor to keep the narrative light and fun.

[coala · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Secret of the Yellow Moon by IJ Alston, readers embark on an enchanting adventure led by siblings Alice and Davis. When their mother is kidnapped on Halloween, they uncover a family secret and face dark forces in a world brimming with unicorns, mermaids, and a talking dog named Todd.

The blend of heartfelt humor, fantastical lore, and Alice’s personal growth makes this a delightful tale for young readers who enjoy whimsical, action-packed stories of good versus evil. The pacing keeps the reader engaged, moving seamlessly between heartwarming sibling dynamics and thrilling encounters. Moments of self-discovery and bravery are interwoven with scenes of magical wonder, making this book both relatable and fantastical. Todd, the charming talking dog, adds a layer of comic relief, while the deeper themes of courage and family loyalty resonate beyond the magical veneer.

This book is a joy for fans of adventurous, feel-good fantasies.

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this story, but once I did I really enjoyed it. I love the close relationship between the siblings and I adore Todd, the Staffy. I could tell that this is a book where there would be a sequel and I’m glad it left off with a fairly clean ending, no dramatic cliffhanger. I hate being left hanging but I don’t mind a nice, clean ending that lets me know another book is coming and leaves me feeling satisfied. There is a lot of whimsy in this book with shape-shifting magical people and talking animals. It’s a fun book for an adult so I think it will be a popular one with kids. Definitely one I would hand my 3rd grader. I think he would really enjoy it.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

[Ella-Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alice thought fitting in at school would be a hard feat, but little did she know the adventure that was about to unfold. With her brother Davis and their dog Todd in tow, they must venture to a land of magic in hopes to rescue their mom and stand up for what is right.

I loved this action packed adventure filled with mythical creatures at every turn. I love love love the moon color of the day and the mystic mystery throughout the book. I cannot wait to see where this adventure takes Alice, Davis and Todd!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Staffies

I'm on the fence with this one. All of the concepts were really cool but I'm unsure about the execution. It felt a little all over the place. It might be the age group it was written for. I would still recommend it for middle grade readers.

[Bibliohiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a quick, action packed book. I like how even though the kids were scared; they did what they needed to do. I can’t wait until the sequel comes out.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a fun book

I loved to read about unicorns and mermaids. It was so fun! And all about the dog was fun too.