Suzy Button is grieving. Grieving for her dead mother, but also for the friends she’s left behind, the father who no longer laughs and the life that she once had. In desperation she finds herself in the garden in the middle of the night, under the light of a supermoon, wishing everything would change.
And suddenly, it does.
Into school walks Rhiannon, a fearless new girl who makes Suzy her instant best friend. And Rhiannon seems to make things . . . happen. If Suzy wants something, somehow Rhiannon can make it so: friends, beach parties, midnight photoshoots under a moonlit sky . . . Suzy’s life is finally moving forward again.
But where did Rhiannon come from? She doesn’t seem to live in Sallycove. Why can’t Suzy go to her house? And why does she never have any stuff?
Suzy might be her best friend, but does she really know who Rhiannon is?
Introduction
Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick has been writing and illustrating children's books for nearly forty years. Her books contain magic and mystery alongside real life and universal truths...which makes them sound terribly philosophical, but they're incredibly readable!
Plot Summary
Suzy and her father have been stuck, since the death of her mother a year before. Nothing makes sense anymore; nothing feels real. On the anniversary of her death, Suzy sneaks outside to the full moon, and makes three wishes. She doesn't expect anything to happen, of course; it's just a way to remember her mystical, fun loving mother...
Characters
The story is completely from Suzy's point of view, and she is an excellent example of a grieving teen. She hasn't bothered to engage much with her class...but like any teen girl, she knows who the queen of the class is, who her hangers on are, and who's safe to be around. We don't get to know much about the mysterious Rhiannon, of the beautiful hair and strange manner, but she's a very intriguing character. Suzy's father, mired in grief but still clearly a caring parent, is a wonderful portrayal of adult grief, which is often skimmed over in children's stories.
Writing Style
Suzy is our narrator, and she stops every now and then to point out something she missed at the time, or something we might have missed, or to acknowledge something she should have seen but didn't. It gives the book a comfortable tone, like a best friend chatting to you on the couch, telling you something that happened last week.
There are a couple of darker moments, so watch out for those. Highlight for spoilers: Suzy finds the body of the town vagrant, who we earlier see bullied by some other teens. Later, she and some others break into the school grounds and are chased by police.
Themes and Messages
Most of the story is about coming out of grief. Suzy and her father discuss how her mother is fading from active memory, but she will never be gone or forgotten, and that's ok. There's a subplot about female friendship, in both its empowering and toxic versions; Suzy's friends help her and lift her up, while other members of the class are all about pulling others down to make themselves seem better.
Setting
It's set in (fictional) smalltown Ireland near Dublin, and it seemed to be well done. The beach and a holy site near town play large parts in the story. As an Irish person, the interactions and the setting seemed authentic. This kind of story wouldn't have flown in a big city ... it needed the small town atmosphere.
Strengths
- The language and tone are great and sucked me in straight away
- It's a beautiful story
- The touch of magic isn't overdone
Weaknesses
- One subplot wasn't resolved on the page, we just saw it had ended, which was a bit annoying to me
- Parents should be aware of the darker moments in the story
Personal Connection
I really enjoyed this. I'm lucky enough that I haven't felt this type of grief yet, and yet it seemed so real I could feel what it was like. It's a beautiful read full of magic and hope.
Further Reading/Viewing
It's aimed at a younger reader, but The Angel of Nitshill Road has a similar topic. For another magical look at a lost parent, try Into the Witchwood. For more about the myths and beliefs surrounding the moon, try Moontellers.
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