Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dense but compelling blend of history and fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE MOON AND THE SUN tells the story of Marie-Josephe, a young woman who joins the court of King Louis XIV at Versailles so that she can assist her brother Yves in his study of "sea monsters" he has captured at the king's command. The king believes that eating of these mermaid-like sea creatures will grant immortality. Marie-Josephe has been put in charge of caring for the one creature who survived the journey from the sea, and as she does, she learns to communicate with it. She discovers that it thinks, feels, and forms bonds of family and friendship just like humans do. Can she convince Yves, King Louis, and Pope Innocent that killing the creature to study and eat it would amount to murder and endanger their mortal souls?
Is It Any Good?
This skillful blend of historical fiction and fantasy packs a lot of food for thought into mature themes while still being a compelling read thanks to a believable, likable main character. Although The Moon and the Sun wasn't marketed to a young adult audience when it was first published, teens will relate to Marie-Josephe as she struggles for personal freedom, starts to have romantic feelings, and fights for what she knows is right. Suspense builds over the fate of the sea creature, which keeps the pages turning while we explore lots of aspects of humanity and society. Integrity, trust, faith, colonialism, slavery, gender equality, scientific study, power, and even more important themes are explored along the way.
It's a little hard at first to keep track of the large cast of characters, especially since many are called both by their names and by their titles. But there's a helpful list at the front to refer to, and the web of relationships and court positions of historical figures may inspire some readers to learn more about them. The writing is sometimes lyrical, often sensual, and sometimes it just gets the job done, which is no small feat given the scope and breadth of the story and characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Moon and the Sun. How much is too much? Is it realistic? Does it matter if it's real-world or fantasy?
What about the sexy stuff? Is there too much?
Blending elements like historical fiction and fantasy can be tricky. Does this book do it well? Do you like the blend, or would you rather have one element or the other? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Pocket Books
- Publication date : September 1, 1997
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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