← Back to search
Cover of Moondial

Moondial

Helen Cresswell (1987)

SubgenreHigh Fantasy
Age groupMiddle Grade 8-12
Content ratingPG
Pages (Quick Read (<250))
Setting
CSM age10
Goodreads3.85
Buy on Amazon ↗Buy on Bookshop.org ↗Buy on Apple Books ↗

Content levels

ViolenceMild
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

Child HarmChild AbuseEmotional Abuse

Positive tags

Coming of AgeHealing ArcSelf-DiscoveryHopeful Ending

Heroine archetypes

Coming-of-Age HeroineTime Traveler

Protagonist archetypes

Time-Displaced

Tropes

Time TravelPortal FantasyFish out of WaterMentor FigureComing of AgeHaunted Location

Themes

Time and MemoryEmpathyChild WelfareHealingConnection Across TimeBreaking Cycles

Synopsis

While staying with her mother's godmother, Minty finds herself drawn to a mysterious sundial which takes her back in time and links her life to that of two unhappy children she meets in two different centuries.

Is Moondial appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 10 and up.

A thoughtful time-travel story where a girl helps troubled children from the past. Contains themes of child neglect and unhappiness across different eras, but focuses on healing and empathy rather than graphic content.

What to know going in

This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include child abuse, child harm, and emotional abuse.

Who'll love this

Readers who love mysterious time-travel stories and helping characters in trouble will connect with Minty's journey to change the past.

Tags

Time Travel FantasyHistorical FantasyGhost Story