It is 1917 and 12-year-old Bo Delacourt lives in impoverished circumstances with her widowed mother and older brother, Harry. Bo supplements her mother’s sewing skills with mudlarking – searching the banks of the River Thames for anything which can be sold. Harry has been conscripted into the army and is about to be sent to the Somme.
One day when she is searching at low tide at the Battersea Bridge, Bo sees something glint in the mud and can hear the river speak to her, telling her to put her hand in and pull the item out. It is a piece of jewellery, a silver full moon with pearls and rubies – a valuable item which could give them a much-needed injection of funds. But the river shows her a vision and Bo realises that she shouldn’t sell the moon.
What she has found is half of a piece. The other half is the sun. However, other people want the two halves. An old ballad claims that putting the two halves together in the river at the time of an eclipse will bring back to life a dead loved one. Frederick Muncaster who claims the jewel was stolen from his family wants his wealth back, Avery Charbonnier wants her brother back and the boy, Billy River, have all followed Bo into the present from 500 years ago. Billy finds the sun half of the jewel and Bo needs to decide what to do.
This intriguing fantasy mystery has shades of Ben Aaronovich’s ‘Rivers of London’ series without the darkness and the crimes. It can be a bit convoluted at times but the plot is engrossing and the text is well written. This book will appeal to older primary and junior secondary readers who love unusual fantasies.
Reviewed by Lynne Babbage
Age Guide 9+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jessie Burton is the multi-million bestselling author of four novels: The Miniaturist, The Muse, The Confession and The House of Fortune – all instant Sunday Times bestsellers.
Jessie’s first book for young readers, The Restless Girls, was published in September 2018. Medusa, a YA novel, was published in 2021, and was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal. Hidden Treasure, Jessie’s first middle grade novel, will be published in March 2025.
Harpers Bazaar US and Stylist have published her short stories, and as a non-fiction writer she has written essays and reviews for The New York Times, Harpers Bazaar UK, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Elle, Red, Grazia, The Independent and The Spectator.
Jessie has also worked as a judge for literary prizes, including the Costa Book Awards, the BBC National Short Story Award, and The Articulation Prize in association with the National Gallery.
As of 2024, two adaptations of her work are in development: a screen version of The Confession, and a musical ofThe Restless Girls.
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