The Moonlight Dreamers by Siobhan Curham

A inspirational, heart-warming book about four girls trying to find their place in the world. Siobhan Curham celebrates very different but like-minded friends in this captivating novel.

Amber craves excitement and adventure. Instead, she’s being bullied at school for having two dads, and life at home isn’t much better. Inspired by Oscar Wilde, Amber realizes that among the millions of people in London, there must be others who feel the same as she does; other dreamers – moonlight dreamers. After chance encounters with Maali, Sky and Rose, Amber soon recruits the three girls to the Moonlight Dreamers. It’s high time they started pursuing their dreams, and how better than with the support of friends? 

Straight from the off, I knew this would be a great story. Curham successfully blended the incredible diversity of London and the common tribulations to teenagers, showing how people can look so different on the outside but feel the same on the inside. Case in point, Sky and Rose: brought together by their parents dating, they appear exact opposites but soon discover that you can't judge a book by its cover. 

Then there's Maali, who just wanted somewhere she could fit in and make new friends. And Amber, who started all of this to find kindred spirits and support. I loved how at the core it was about proper friendship, not the typical bitchy rivalry between girls. And they might have started on the wrong foot, especially with Rose just gatecrashing, but they discover something about themselves and each other in their friendships.

I adored this story. Like I said, it was all about the power of friendship but the girls all had their own individual troubles to handle, like Amber and her two dad's arguing, Sky's dad seeming to change for his new relationship with Rose's mum, the idiotic thing that Rose did for her boyfriend and him using it against her, and Maali plucking up the courage to offer her heart. It was all about growing up, becoming your own person and not just accepting but celebrating their differences. All in all, a powerful story that everyone can relate to, and should read. 

Published 7th July 2016 by Walker.