
Reach for this book when your child seems to be acting out due to a major life transition, such as a parent's long absence or a move. Dinah and Dorinda are sisters who decide to be 'bad' for a year while their father is away at war, a mischief they attribute to a magical wind on the moon. This 1944 classic uses absurdist humor and high-stakes fantasy to explore the very real feelings of restlessness, defiance, and bravery that children experience when they feel powerless. It is a whimsical yet profound story that validates a child's urge for independence and the complex emotions tied to family separation, making it a perfect read for those aged 8 to 12 who need to see their own inner turmoil reflected in a safe, magical world.
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Sign in to write a reviewThemes of parent-child separation and the backdrop of war.
The book handles the reality of war and parental absence metaphorically and through high adventure. The threat to their father is real, but the tone remains absurdist and resilient. It is secular in its approach to magic and resolution, focusing on the girls' agency and bravery.
A middle-grade reader who feels misunderstood by authority figures or is struggling with the 'weight' of being a good kid while experiencing stress at home (like a parent's deployment).
Read cold. Note that the book was written in the 1940s: while the values of courage and sisterhood are timeless, the pacing and vocabulary are more sophisticated than modern counterparts. A parent might see their child being uncharacteristically defiant, messy, or 'loud' and realize the child is actually processing a lack of control over their environment.
Younger children (8-9) will delight in the absurdity of the animal transformations. Older readers (10-12) will appreciate the satire regarding adult behavior and the high-stakes rescue mission.
Unlike many 'be good' stories of its era, this book celebrates the girls' naughtiness and ingenuity as the very tools they need to navigate a world gone mad.
Sisters Dinah and Dorinda Palfrey live in the village of Midmeddlecum. When their father leaves for a private mission in Bombardy during a time of war, he warns them to behave lest a 'wind on the moon' blow into their hearts. Naturally, the wind blows, and the girls embark on a series of surreal adventures. They take a potion that turns them into kangaroos, befriend a golden puma and a silver falcon in a private zoo, and eventually travel abroad to rescue their father from a tyrant's dungeon.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.