The Moonlight Child - Karen McQuestion - A Short Summary & Review

The Moonlight Child - Karen McQuestion - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

How Niki discovered Mia.

 A short summary:

The Moonlight Child begins with a discovery that upends a life. Niki Olsen, isolated and wary, finds a mysterious young girl named Mia hiding in her home. The child is frightened, secretive, and clearly running from something, but as Niki slowly earns her trust, it becomes clear that Mia’s situation is far more dangerous than it first appears.

As the bond between the two grows, the novel reveals a web of addiction, neglect, and institutional failure. What unfolds is not just a rescue story, but an examination of how easily vulnerable children slip through the cracks, and how much courage it takes for an ordinary person to step in when systems do not.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Life as an honest person could be difficult, but life as a criminal always caught up to you."

- Karen McQuestion, The Moonlight Child

Questions to ponder while reading:

Have you ever considered fostering?

How do you treat those close to you?

My review:

This novel was surprisingly engrossing. What begins as a quiet mystery quickly deepens into an emotionally charged exploration of responsibility, choice, and the long shadows cast by addiction.

Karen McQuestion writes with restraint, allowing the tension to build through small moments rather than spectacle. The damage caused by addiction is depicted honestly, not just its impact on individuals, but the collateral damage left in its wake, especially for children who have no voice or protection.

What lingers most is the uncomfortable recognition that this story feels plausible, too plausible. The book raises urgent questions about the adequacy of Child and Family Services and the limits of intervention, asking what happens when bureaucracy moves more slowly than harm.

The Moonlight Child is haunting not because it is sensational, but because it feels real. It’s a novel that pulls you in, keeps you turning pages, and leaves you thinking long after the final chapter.

_____________________________________________________________________________

About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

✨ #TakeTheBackRoads

Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!