The Moonlighters

This middle-grade fantasy novel introduces Theo, a ten-year-old who, after running away from a school trip, finds himself adrift in London. He's quickly drawn into the world of Alistair Goodfellow and the Moonlighters, a group of young runaways who live in a magical hotel and embark on quests for enchanted items. The story explores themes of belonging, found family, and self-discovery, while also delving into the complexities of trust and the potential dangers hidden within seemingly whimsical adventures. Parents should be aware of the initial premise of a child running away and the underlying mystery surrounding Alistair's true intentions, which adds a layer of suspense and moral ambiguity.

Peter Pan meets Oliver Twist in the magical new book by rising star Lee Newbery, author of Waterstones Children's Book of the Month, The Last Firefox. When ten-year-old Theo runs off from a school trip to London's Natural History Museum and decides to pay his gran a surprise visit, he discovers the surprise is on him - his gran is on holiday and Theo finds himself alone in the big city with nowhere to turn. Enter Alistair Goodfellow, a mysterious, flamboyant young person with a charismatic twinkle in their eye. Alistair offers Theo a room at the Casablanca Lily - by day, a run-down and unloved hotel; by night, a palace of magical wonders. Each night, Alistair sends their found family of runaways and ne'er-do-wells, the Moonlighters, out into London in search of lost magical artefacts, gifting them their own magical powers as a reward. Theo is quickly enthralled, but there is more to Alistair than meets the eye, and soon Theo comes to realize that the items Alistair is hunting could be more dangerous than he'd ever imagined . . .