The Moon Crystal (G L MacDonald II) Ava MacDonald. MG Science Fiction Hardcopy RRP $18.01 available on Kindle ASIN: B0HD1TLK95
Reviewed by Karen Hendriks
Author Ava MacDonald is an autistic 11-year-old from Missouri, USA. One day she found a clear stone, held it up towards the full moon, and it sparkled and glowed. And that’s when the idea to write about a moon crystal possessing hidden, cosmic powers struck.
The book’s dedication reads, ‘For every child who has ever looked at something ordinary and imagined an entire universe inside it.’ Which is exactly what Ava did.
The Moon Crystal is an imaginative
science-fiction adventure about courage, friendship, and discovery. An ordinary
girl called Ava goes on an extraordinary journey, and the fate of Earth, and possibly
an entire galaxy, lies in her hands.
Ava MacDonald has created a sci-fi world that is
both complex and believable, which is remarkable considering her age. Ava is the unmistakable
heart, voice, and heroine of this story. I think
she’s written about what she herself imagines doing in this epic battle to save
the Moon Crystal from falling into the wrong hands. It suits the target age group perfectly, and the perspective feels authentic and
real. The plot centres on Ava, the main protagonist, and her unique encounters. Her friend Brooklyn and a team of brave allies help her as she learns
to control the Moon Crystal’s incredible power. The chapter
headings give readers a clear lead-in to what lies ahead. The
narrative pacing at times could be tightened, but the world-building shines. The
author delivers a highly imaginative setting filled with alien armies, traps,
space robots, and secrets.
Overall, the story is a great read. I
would have liked to see Ava’s friend Brooklyn develop a stronger independent voice. However, I love that she remains loyal, true, and dependable throughout the story.
The battles are not gory or overly frightening, making them perfectly age-appropriate. The
characters stay true to their traits, yet plenty of surprises let the reader travel to another world and escape
into their
imagination. While the prose is well-crafted, some sentences
could be shortened to improve the flow. The book could have been a
little shorter, but overall, I think this is an exceptional achievement for an eleven-year-old author who has built such a believable, immersive world.
The Moon Crystal is
written for children ages 9-12. This book is a wonderful representation of
what someone autistic can do when they turn a deep, focused passion into a
real-world achievement. Any middle-grade reader who loves sci-fi will really
appreciate this book. Ava made her dream a reality, and now she shines a light
for others too.
Here it is on Amazon:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Buzz Words Books would love to hear what you think.