When children start to become independent and enthusiastic readers, books for middle-grade readers help them to explore a wide variety of themes that include growing up, identity, courage, friendship and more, using characters that are around the same age group so that they are relatable. The Moon Crystal by eleven-year-old Ava McDonald (her first published book) fits beautifully into this category and is a fast‑paced, sci-fi adventure that spans the universe. The story begins in a world that all young readers will be familiar with – school corridors and classrooms. But it quickly expands into a galaxy of danger, mystery, courage, self‑discovery and making choices.
Ava is the young protagonist of the story. An ordinary girl who starts her journey on the last day of fourth grade (Year 5 in the UK), when her teacher tells her a strange legend about a powerful gem known as the Moon Crystal that drops from the sky and picks its own guardian. This is the moment that sparks her transformation from her ordinary school life into something out of this world extraordinary. It starts with experiencing vivid dreams and visions that encounter alien visitors and a powerful blue gem, but then pulls her into a galaxy-hopping adventure.
Overall, The Moon Crystal is a fast-moving space adventure (although I did find that for me it moved a bit too fast and could have benefitted from more detail in places). With its blend of friendship, loyalty, courage and imaginative cosmic adventure, young readers (age 8+) will enjoy the action with its space travel, hidden laboratories, cosmic battles and conflicts.
For a story that has been created and written by an eleven-year-old (with editing by her family) I think it is very good, a fantastic sci-fi adventure with great world-building and themes of being brave, being kind, being more confident and self-discovery.
Ava is a compelling character as she is not fearless but requires lots of courage. She is just an ordinary schoolgirl that is thrust into unfamiliar situations involving space travel, alien armies, futuristic robots and magical crystals, but she grows with each challenge, shaping her bravery and courage to deal with each situation with grace.
Brooklyn is Ava’s best friend and adds a warm and humorous element to the story while keeping it grounded. This element brings in themes of friendship and loyalty.
I loved the different alien characters, especially the flawed antagonist Queen Sirentade who adds tension and intrigue.
I enjoyed reading The Moon Crystal. The story is very imaginative, created and written by a child, it is one that other children will enjoy. As an adult reader I thought that it needed a bit more detail in some place to fill missing gaps in the story, but where I thought bits where missing (if seemed to jump ahead a too far in places) it didn’t change the overall feel and outcome of the story and was a fun read.
Middle-grade readers will enjoy this space hopping adventure, written by someone their own age. It’s a fast-paced adventure with space travel, aliens and cosmic battles that will keep young readers entertained.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: £9.99 (Paperback) / £9.59 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
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