Maisie is an awkward middle schooler. She attributes a lot of her awkwardness to her parents' strict rules like not being allowed to have a cell phone. That all changes when her mom announces that the family will be going to stay at her Great Aunt Hazel's home in Maryland to help take care of her in her old age. Weird things start happening that lead Maisie to the understanding that she is a Moonleaper. Details about what that means are hard to come by and difficult to understand. In the end, Maisie learns importance of history, both of the world and personal stories.

This was an interesting story that really had me confused at the beginning, especially with the parents. I'm not sure if the parents were intentionally written to be so ambiguous, but their characters were a bit of a red herring for me. Other than that, I think the story was well written and would be an important story for any middle schooler.

Moonleapers is such a fun start to a new middle grade sci-fi duology. The story follows Masie, who finally gets her first phone- though not exactly in the way she hoped. She’s moving for the summer, stuck with extra responsibility for her younger siblings, and staying with her great-aunt Hazel. But then, she starts receiving mysterious texts… from the Moonleapers, a group of secret time travelers. From there, her summer takes a wild turn.

This book was a great mix of mystery and sci-fi, with just the right amount of suspense to keep us hooked. My 11-year-old (who usually leans toward mystery books like Enola Holmes) loved it, and I thought it made for a perfect family read-aloud. The connections between Masie’s “real life” struggles and the bigger, more fantastical elements came together really well, and there were plenty of moments where we both went, “Ohhh, that makes sense now!”

At times, it felt like a lot of information was being introduced, but since this is the first in a duology, I think it set the stage nicely for what’s to come. Overall, this is a great pick for kids who enjoy mystery and want to dip into sci-fi, or for families looking for something adventurous to read together.

Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books | Quill Tree Books for the digital ARC!

I don’t usually read middle grade, but every once in a while a premise catches my attention. That’s how I’ve stumbled into some of my favorite series (like Morrigan Crow), and sometimes I’ll pick up a book in hopes it will be one of those rare reads that transcends age categories. Moonleapers had a lot of promise, and with a title like that—seriously, what a fantastic name—it was hard to resist.

The setup is clever: Maisie gets her first phone only to discover it’s not just a lifeline to friends, but a connection to a secret network of time travelers. Add in an eccentric great-aunt, a mysterious book, and a summer of upheaval, and it’s exactly the kind of hook that makes me want to dive in.

That said, this story felt very much grounded in its middle grade audience. The pacing, tone, and character development are tailored for younger readers, which is great for its target demographic, but it meant I didn’t connect with it as much as I’d hoped. It’s imaginative, accessible, and a fun adventure—I just found myself wishing for more depth to pull me in the way some cross-age middle grade stories manage.

I loved this book. It's a great read with powerful female characters. I loved it. I wasn't sure what to expect but this was a page turner. lots of twists and turns and the ancestral connection was great. highly recommended. There are puzzles to be solved and Maisie rises to the challenge. An interesting time-shifting book.

Maisie finally gets an cell phone. It's her great-aunts old cell phone and soon enough she gets mysterious texts containing riddles. The reader rides along as Maisie begins to understand the riddles.

This is a nice story that reveals details slowly keeping the reader engaged trying to figure out what it all means. While the action seemed a little slow in the middle the intrigue kept my attention. This book is appropriate for the 8-12 year old age range.

i am glad I had the opportunity to read this book before it was released. I think the main character Maisie was well written and a great adventure for children to read about. Margaret Peterson Haddix is a great author and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Maisie is finally keeping up with everyone at school! Her mom’s given her an old phone and she can’t believe her luck… until she’s told the whole family is moving to spend the summer taking care of Maisie’s great-aunt Hazel. Maisie’s only getting the phone because she’ll be responsible for her younger siblings during the entire trip! She’s ready to give the phone back with those stipulations, that is until the first puzzling text comes in. Between mystery texts and a not-completely blank book from Great-Aunt Hazel, Maisie finds herself through into the world of moonleapers.

For a book about pre-teens saving the world, this was very well written. The way the children act and the main character Maisie behaves, are true to their ages. The amazingly unhelpful-helpful Cat the Great and the energetic Little Dog were entertaining additions to the cast of already unusual characters. I was pleasantly surprised with the type of time travel in the book, a unique take on it.

Moonleapers is the first book in a duology about a girl named Masie who finally gets her first phone. She was so excited! Then the news came that she will be moving and spending the summer taking care of her great aunt hazel. This means she only got a phone because she will be in charge of her younger siblings during the trip. This was not the way she wanted to get her first phone.

While Masie is not happy about these terms and conditions to getting the phone, or the move. Something strange happens. She gets a text, not from a friend or family member, This text changes everything. Masie is no longer concerned with why she got her phone, but who these messages are coming from.

When she finds out the texts are from the Moonleapers, she gets thrown in to a world of super secret time travelers. Will she uncover their secrets and help them accomplish their big mission in time?

This middle grade science fiction novel is a great read for kiddos and adults like. This made for a great family read before bed time.

The connections that are made from the start of the story where we first meet Masie and how they connect with her trip to see her Aunt Hazel all flowed perfectly. You'll realize that many things mentioned are very intentional making the reader say "oh now i get it" or "oh that's why". The author does a great way of truly telling a great story that a middle grade reader can follow along with and find truly enjoyable. The story is easy to follow, there is a bit where you feel like you are hit with alot of information, however as i mentioned it is a duology, so my daughter ( age 11 ) as well as myself are interested in seeing where that takes us.

She is usually a mystery story reader, very much interested in Enola Holmes, this was the perfect bridge for other mystery book lovers and scifi lovers to discover more into a new genre.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books for the Digital ARC for review.

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book! Time-travel is one of my favorite genres and I feel the author did an excellent job of telling the story about moonleaping. I look forward to more books in this series!

As a fan of time travel stories, I was thrilled to discover this new series by MPH. At first, you don’t even realize time travel is at play—the reveal comes about halfway through, and it’s handled with great creativity. The storyline is engaging and the characters, especially Masie, are easy to connect with. Time travel can sometimes make things confusing, but the author ties it all together by the end in a satisfying way. This book serves as the origin story of what looks to be a promising series, centered on the mysterious gift Masie has been given. I'm excited to see where the series goes next!

Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Moonleapers, Book 1 is an engaging and suspenseful start to a duology that will captivate middle-grade readers, especially those who enjoy clever puzzles and secret societies akin to The Mysterious Benedict Society and City Spies. Haddix skillfully blends elements of mystery, adventure, and time travel into a narrative that feels fresh and accessible.

The story follows Maisie, a relatable protagonist whose excitement over receiving her first phone quickly turns to intrigue when she starts receiving cryptic messages. The premise of a secret network of time travelers, the “moonleapers,” adds an exciting layer of complexity and wonder. Haddix’s world-building here is imaginative without being overwhelming, making it easy for young readers to immerse themselves in the story.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its pacing. The unfolding mystery is well-paced, with enough twists to maintain suspense while allowing readers to connect with Maisie’s personal challenges, including the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings and adjusting to a summer away from home. The inclusion of Great-Aunt Hazel’s enigmatic book is a clever device that deepens the intrigue and ties the plot threads together effectively.

However, while the plot is compelling, some readers might find the character development a bit light, particularly with secondary characters who could have been fleshed out more to enhance emotional stakes. Additionally, the resolution of the first book leaves some threads tantalizingly open, which is understandable given it is the duology’s opener but may leave some readers eager for more closure.

Overall, Moonleapers, Book 1 is a strong and entertaining read that combines mystery, time travel, and relatable family dynamics. It sets up the series well, promising exciting developments in the next installment. Fans of clever, suspenseful middle-grade fiction will find much to enjoy here.

This story was so special! It was full of suspense, time travel, mystery, bravery, and friendship. Some of the messaging felt very timely. I really adored this!

This was fun. I was personally looking for a little more Sci Fi and a little less historical fiction, but I enjoyed this. Definitely a book that I think a bunch of middle grade readers at my library would enjoy.

Maisie's just finishing 6th grade, and she's excited when her mom gives her a phone that used to belong to her Great Aunt Hazel. However, that phone also comes with leaving their home to live at Hazel's house for the summer and strange text message riddles from an unknown person. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, and it was an interesting, almost time travel story. There were just enough details to develop more curiosity about events of WWII spies, and I learned fun facts about the origin of the name for Bluetooth. The characters of Maisie's family were pretty standard middle grade fare, but Hazel's pets were fantastic and became a key part of the story.

Moonleapers is a mysterious, fun, heartwarming coming of age story. Maisie learns to be a responsible big sister all while figuring out the mystery behind the texts she is receiving. Would be a good read for any mid to upper elementary student who loves a mystery or a good puzzle!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

This one just wasn't for me. The mystery didn't draw me in. I didn't feel compelled or moved by any of the characters. The way they were written made the mother of the mc seem q bit strange with some of her expectations, including she thought the mc would be able to remember a relative from when she was extremely young, almost at baby age.

Moonleapers is about a 12-year-old girl named Maisie. She receives a used cell phone that previously belonged to her Great-Aunt Hazel, whom Maidie hasn't seen since she was a year old. That's followed by the news that her family is moving to Maryland, and into the house that belongs to great-aunt Hazel for the summer, as Hazel is in a nursing home and not doing well. Then, Maisie receives a bizarre text on her phone that reads:

"Hey diddle diddle,
Are you ready for your riddle?"

Who on earth could have sent the message? And what does it MEAN??

Maisie finds that she has also been given a mysterious book from Great-Aunt-Hazel, called The Guide for Moonleapers, but it contains only blank pages ... and what is a moonleaper?? Poor Maisie is confused beyond words!

I very much enjoyed most of the book, although there was a place towards the end of the book that felt like huge info-dump. Too, TOO much to process. I'm happy to say that once I made it through the info-dump, the very end of the book was, in my opinion, perfect. And, I absolutely loved Cat-the-Great and Little Dog!!

A big thank you to #QuillTreeBooks, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Moonleapers has an expected publication date of September 25, 2025.

#MargaretPetersonHaddix #Fantasy #MiddleSchool #Mystery

Margaret Peterson Haddix has done it again. Starting a series that is sure to be a lot of intrigue. I loved this first book in a paranormal setting that involves 2 loveable animals! Great start to a tween series that would be perfect for those that like a little mystery with there spook.

Note: Margaret Peterson Haddix is a Christian who writes books for a mainstream audience. While Moonleapers is not a “Christian” book, it does convey some strong Christian messages, and I’m happy to recommend it.
Scripture Connection
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Gal. 6:2

Spiritual Themes
Moonleapers is a tender read with the propensity to “spur [readers] on to good works” (see Hebrews 10:24). I so appreciate the inclusion of strong biblical themes in a book geared toward a mainstream audience.

Frequent allusions to the “Hey, Diddle Diddle” nursery rhyme introduce a thread of mystery, culminating in powerful symbolism about love, compassion, and sacrifice. Throughout the story, Maisie matures as she learns about considering the needs of others before her own, and, although the verse isn’t explicitly quoted, there’s a clear and strong message about “bearing one another’s burdens.”

What I Liked
Margaret Peterson Haddix is one of my very favorite authors, and I was so excited to read her forthcoming release, Moonleapers, through NetGalley. Moonleapers was especially exciting for me, due to the time travel emphasis. I really enjoyed Haddix’s engaging with the philosophy of time in the Missing books, and I was intrigued to encounter her treatment of this theme, in a new series.

I appreciated the treatment of technology in a book for this age group. Initially, Maisie feels frustrated because she’s the “only one” at school without a cell phone. After receiving a hand-me-down device, she begins spending a lot of time on her phone, as she’s engrossed in a mystery : strange text messages from an unknown sender. At one point, Maisie’s mom expresses concern about potential cell phone addiction. Although Maisie is not becoming addicted in the sense of obsessing over apps and mindless screen time, she does take her mom’s words to heart.

Individuality and Otherness
Maisie’s characterization is both believable and relatable. Third-person narration from Maisie’s perspective includes discussion on how other people seem to haven innate understanding of how to behave and how things work. Maisie reflects that, “It was like [her younger siblings] had been born knowing how the world worked, and Maisie… still didn’t understand” (Loc. 393 of 3711). Elsewhere, upon observing that she is being watched, Maisie likens the experience to her own attentiveness to the “popular” kids at school, “the ones who somehow knew which of the Spirit Days were cool, and which ones you didn’t want to be caught dead following” (Loc. 1446 of 3711).

Haddix also captures the feelings of awkwardness that come with Maisie’s age: “I’m not a little kid anymore,” she thinks. “But I’m not an adult, either… Neither [activity] feels right.”

As a neuro-divergent reader, I find it interesting to think about how much of Maisie’s experience is universal to growing up, and how much of it has to do with her own personality/giftings. For instance, at one point, Maisie watches one of the popular kids deliberately trash a recyclable, and she immediately fishes out the bottle. That’s something that not everyone would do. Even so, I think that most readers will resonate with feelings of uncertainty, especially in the midst of a crowd.

Mystery
Whether science fiction or suspense, Haddix’s books generally incorporate a strong element of intrigue, which is one of the things I most appreciate about her writing. Moonleapers is no exception! I enjoyed threading together the clues and racing to reach my own conclusions before the revelations.

I’m also both impressed with, and grateful for, Haddix’s ability to communicate complex concepts for readers of varying ages. As an adult reader, I continue to find her writing thought-provoking, and I’m glad that she doesn’t dumb down the content, even with a middle grade target audience. This is another of the elements that makes Haddix’s writing absolutely stellar!

Favorite Quote
Here’s a succinct quote that summarizes one of the book’s major themes:

Every big action–good or bad–starts small.

Margaret Peterson Haddix, Moonleapers (loc. 3496 of 3711)

Content Notes
In evoking the voice of a middle schooler, Haddix presents an imperfect character who does demonstrate some disrespect to her parents. For example, there’s a line about a red jumpsuit that Maisie “made the mistake of letting Mom buy for her, but (wisely) never wor[e].”

Maisie’s little sister doesn’t know a cat’s gender and isn’t sure how to reference it. “Itself… Um, himself? Herself? Themself?”

Recommendation Status
Powerful and thought-provoking, Moonleapers is a beautiful middle grade read that blends speculative elements and history with a heartfelt message about selflessness and sacrifice. Margaret Peterson Haddix is a masterful storyteller, and I’m eager to read the conclusion to this delightful new duology.

Recommended, with some discretion advised, to readers who enjoy mystery, intrigue, and poignant resolution.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this middle grade time travel adventure book, but something kept me from completely suspending disbelief and really getting into it. Believable characters that showed growth, lots of action, and time travel, what's not to like? Just missed being a homerun for me.