Moons Revenge

by Joan Aiken

The Moon's Revenge

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Joan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.

She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).

Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.

Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.

Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.

Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Seppy longs to play the fiddle in this original fairy-tale from Joan Aiken, the celebrated children's author best-known for such works as The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Midnight Is a Place . The seventh son of a seventh son, Seppy was expected to become a coach maker like his father, and keep his music as a hobby. Sneaking out late one night to visit the ruined old house in his seaport town, a house rumored to be haunted, he asks the voices inside how he might become the best fiddler in the country, and is advised to throw his shoe at the moon, each night for seven nights. His actions, in doing so, leave ugly marks upon the moon, angering that celestial body. The moon takes its revenge by declaring that the boy will go barefoot for seven years, that his baby sister (the as-yet unborn Octavia) will be mute until he restores the shoes he has thrown to their original storage place (the family's grandfather clock), and that he and his family will face a grave danger in the future. Years later, when that danger emerges in the form of a terrible sea monster, it is Seppy's fiddling that defeats the intruder, saving the entire town in the process...

I recall reading and enjoying The Moon's Revenge years ago, when I was indulging in a Joan Aiken binge, and remember enjoying it immensely. This recent reread only cemented my pleasure in the fantastic tale, which utilizes so many classic fairy and folktale elements, from the idea of the seventh son of the seventh son having special abilities and a special fate, to the story-line in which a terrible monster in lulled by the beauty of music. The illustrations here, done by the marvelous Alan Lee. whose work illustrating Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings won him the honor of designing the sets for the Peter Jackson films based on those same books, are absolutely beautiful. There is a magical quality to Lee's work, making it particularly suitable for works of fantasy, and that certainly manages to come across here. I loved his moonlit scenes, and his country ones. His monster is fierce, and his ghostly king creepy. In short, his illustrations captures the charm and enchantment of Aiken's tale to perfection. This is one I would recommend to Aiken fans (in whose number I count myself), to fairy-tale lovers, and to anyone who enjoyed Alan Lee's gorgeous illustrations.

[X · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this when I was maybe 12 and have loved it since. It's a fairy tale sort of story about a boy who wants to be the best fiddler in the land. Following the advice of whispered voices (devils? angels?) in an abandoned room, he throws his shoes at the moon, thereby bringing the moon's wrath upon him and eventually his village in the form of a seven year curse. Alan Lee's beautiful illustrations help to bring the story to life.

[Morgan]

Cute enough story but the best part is Alan Lee's illustrations.

[laurenpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fiddle, a monster and lots of shoes: you can't go wrong!

This is without a doubt my all time favorite children's book! My kids adored it when they were young, and still do. I have such fond memories of reading it to them! We would go to the SDSU library once a week and read this book. Sigh. Smile.

The story is sweet and adventurous and the artwork is truly lovely.

Incidentally, this story does an excellent job of showing how if you love music you will practice a lot, and if you practice a lot, you will get to be an excellent musician. Who knows whether this story made a difference or not (I can't help but think it did!), but my children are now excellent musicians.

[Sem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4 stars are for the illustrations. The story is daft.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has everything! Magic, music, a dragon, a bargain, and a child who would benefit from speech therapy. Strongly recommended. :)

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have scared the crap out of me if I'd read it when I was little. It's an odd fairy tale that doesn't make much sense and leaves a lot unexplained, so while parts of it are satisfying, it leaves something to be desired. The illustrations are gorgeous, but there were parts of the story that were not illustrated and I wished for a few more pages.

[GIDDINGS LIBRARY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short fairy tale was charming and very entertaining. Kids who are reading independently, but not reading chapter books yet or are new to chapter books, will love this beautifully illustrated picture book.
Find it at the Giddings Public Library under: JF AIK

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful eerie tale of music and monsters with beautiful illustrations.

[Grumpy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story and lovely illustrations.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Team Alan Lee all the way. He could illustrate a pack of MSG and I'd still give it 4 stars.

[Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grabbed solely because of the promise of illustrations by Alan Lee, but the story is also charming.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sep longs to play the fiddle as expertly as his grandfather did. One frosty night at midnight, he goes to an empty house believed to be inhabited by devils. Sep whispers through the door, "How can I learn to be the best fiddler in the country?" A voice answers him, "Each night for seven nights, throw your shoe at the moon." So, each night he throws one shoe at the moon and leaves the other on the sea wall. On the seventh night, after he throws the last shoe, the moon looks down on him in anger. Sep runs home afraid and climbs under his covers. The moon comes and fills his room. It tells him that it will grant his wish, but it will also punish him for marking its face with his shoes. The very next day a little sister is born and for seven years she is mute. For seven years, whenever Sep puts on a pair of shoes they immediately fall apart. However, Sep's fiddling talent grows, and he plays every chance he gets. At the end of the seven years, a huge sea monster, who wears the shoes left on the sea wall, comes to destroy the town. Sep's sister, Octavia, speaks for the first time and tells Sep how to save the town from destruction.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book quite by chance, looking for something to read to my son (he's four). Although there are some ins and outs of the story that are still beyond him, he loves it, and has asked for it again and again (as four-year-olds do).

As for me, I love it too; it's beautifully told, and the illustrations are beautiful as well (I have a hard time with children's books with ugly or deliberately crudely executed illustrations; kids need beautiful things too--perhaps even more than grown-ups, who at least can judge for themselves). The boy hero is great: he's brave and ambitious (he wants to be the best fiddler in the whole country), and he works hard and also is helpful and compassionate. A great story to read aloud, and one kids will still enjoy when they're old enough to read for themselves.

[Gerriane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 7 or 8 and I loved the illustrations! The story itself is also beautiful but it's been such a long time since I've read the book that I've forgotten most of it. All I remember is a dragon, shoes, a fiddler and his sister.

MUST.FIND.COPY.

For those who already have a copy/have seen a copy, READ IT RIGHT NOW! I promise you it'll be a ride to remember.

[R.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to my son in 1987.

I felt the story was well-written and beautifully illustrated, but it is far too complicated for young children or even early readers. It is perfect for later grades or even middle-school. But by middle-school children don't necessarily want a picture story book.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... kids' book. A fairy tale about a boy who angers the Moon to get a wish. It "explains" why the Moon is all marked up. Good for what it is.

[Luckless · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a children's picture book, for more advanced readers, I loved Aiken's story. It felt like a real Fairy Tale and is always a delight to re-read. A Porquoi Tale that I find a lot of fun, I'm sure others would enjoy it.

[Kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was marvelous! Quite a different story, well-told, with excellent pictures.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a small child and I loved it. I still remember it now as an adult. Must read it again some time.

[Kami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fairy tale books like this. One of my daughter's Christmas books.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite childhood books.