At 16, ‘good girl’ Zillah searches for the truth behind the accident that left her rebellious older sister, Nik, in a coma. She suspects a magical elixir called Moondust is involved, and she’s determined to push boundaries to uncover the truth – even if she doesn’t know who to trust.

While beautifully written, the story at times felt a little rushed, and I wished there had been more depth in certain plotlines. The twist, though surprising, didn’t resolve as strongly as I’d hoped. A real highlight was the character development – I loved how vividly Zillah came to life.

Moonlight and Dust is an excellent read, and I loved the little touches of romance here and there. This is a book I never had to force myself to pick up. I found myself drawn to it at any time of day, its words flowing effortlessly into reality.

Reviewed by Ada, Year 10, Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Vic

Age Guide 14+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasmin is a Torres Strait Islander and African American author and editor. She has completed a Master of Writing Editing and Publishing at the University of Queensland and a Master of Philosophy (in creative writing). She has spent time as a black&write! editor intern and was a winner of a 2019 Next Chapter Fellowship with the Wheeler Centre and 2022 Nakata Brophy Prize. She has written for Overland, Kill Your Darlings, SBS Voices, Griffith Review and has had work highly commended for the 2020 ABR Elizabeth Short Story Competition.

Jasmin’s passions have always been writing and reading and she is the proud author of Ash Barty’s ‘Little Ash’ Series.

Visit Jasmin McGaughey’s website