Tales by Moons-light: Stories from Before the Great Melt

Gr 3-5–Seven tales of the fictional world of Urth before “the great melt,” a catastrophe that reformed the land into islands. This is a companion novel to a new science fiction and adventure series named “Tales by Moons-Light,” which describes adventures to a world on the other side of the galaxy from ours. The prologue introduces readers to the keeper of the stories, who has rewritten these ancient tales specifically for the children of Earth. The seven tales engage readers immediately, making this sci-fi tale accessible for non-genre fans. Urth’s two moons are centered heavily; for those who admire the night sky or favor astronomy, these connections can prove helpful. While moon science is certainly an important element, each entry also focuses on important lessons of righteousness, perspective, and morality. Readers will be inspired by the cunning characters who strive for what is right and good. Ballard supplements her series well with these short stories, providing further history and context to the setting of her fictional world.