The Moonlight Dreamers by Siobhan Curham

Title: The Moonlight Dreamers
Author: Siobhan Curham
Publisher: Walker Books
Date of Publication: July 7th 2016
Source: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

Synopsis:

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?

Review:

Four London girls come together at the invitation of Amber, who responds to her feelings of isolation by reaching out to others she thinks might be potential friends.

With two dads and a preference for wearing men's clothing, Amber is shunned at her private school and is the target of bullying. She loves Oscar Wilde and longs to visit his grave in Paris. Maali is Hindu girl whose mother owns an Indian sweet shop. She loves photography and longs to be confident enough to speak to boys. Sky has been homeschooled by her father, but his new love interest is changing everything. She just wants everything to stay the same. Rose is not impressed by the intrusion of Sky and her father into her life, and she doesn't want to follow in her model mother's footsteps. 

The girls vow to share their hopes and dreams, and help each other achieve them. What develops is a lovely, if tentative at first, friendship based on common ideals and mutual support.

The POV changes between the four girls, and we see their hopes and fears and what each thinks of the other.

Set in a small area of London, this is a sweet story about finding yourself and being comfortable with who you are. I found the writing a little young for my tastes, and would place this at the younger end of the YA age range.

It's really nice to read a contemporary where the focus is on friendship and family rather than romantic relationships. Three of the four girls have issues with their parents, and as they become more comfortable with who they are, they're able to work through those issues.

Recommended for younger teens.