A young boy creates his own world to try to cope with his traumatic past.
Ricky has withdrawn from the world into his own inner space. Placed in a foster home which is full of sunshine and goodness, he is uncertain how to become part of family life. He often retreats to his favourite hideaway, a special chair in the attic, and adopts the pose of the Moon King. From this situation relationships slowly begin to grow ... but it is not a smooth path and at times Ricky just wants to leave it all behind.
'A sensitive portrayal of a child's struggle to rebuild his life'
-- Best Books'Original and fascinating story . . . stylishly and thematically, Parkinson's novel credibly demonstrates the power of the imagination to reshape and transform experience'
-- The Irish Times * The Irish Times *'written sensitively and beautifully, The Moon King is sure to be another winner'
-- Dublin Echo'Siobhan Parkinson is a cunning and practiced hand at storytelling, and getting under her characters' skin, and this is a dead cert for readers from ten upwards'
-- Books Ireland * Books Ireland *'... a superb book. It explores the world of foster care and damaged children as it follows the story of Ricky, an abused child, who is settled in foster care with the noisy, vibrant Kelly family. Ricky has turned inward, and hides himself ... Ricky's thoughts are presented in the disjointed inner-speech of a wounded child, with his thoughts in a different typeface from the narrative text. This is an adventurous book, and a brave choice of topic for both author and publisher.'
-- Children's Books in Ireland * Children's Books in Ireland *