Book Review of Amelia Moon and the Sundance Shadow
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The Children’s Book Review
Amelia Moon and the Sundance Shadow
Written by R.J. Roark
Illustrated by Carolyn Rose Sullivan
Ages: 9-12 | 246 Pages
Publisher: Inner Citadel (2026) | ISBN: 979-8991935487
What to Expect: Grief, family heritage, mystery, friendship, coming-of-age.
In this middle-grade novel, fantasy is rooted in a real and lovingly rendered corner of Wyoming, moving between bonfire nights and astrophotography contests on one hand and ancient bloodlines and shadow-creatures on the other.
Ever since her mother’s death, thirteen-year-old Amelia Moon has worn her mother’s family heirloom – a mysterious pendant left for her, along with a letter that explains nothing. Despite her disturbing nightmares, she’s always assumed that the old local legend of the Sundance Shadow was just that—a legend. But when her nightmares of the Shadow start bleeding into her waking hours, and the necklace begins to feel warm against her skin, she realizes the legend might be more than a story.
With her best friend Veyla, who has never met a mystery she could leave alone, Amelia follows a trail of family secrets, hidden history, and ancient inheritance that stretches back further than either of them could have imagined. What she and Veyla uncover will change everything Amelia thought she knew about her mother and her hometown—and herself.
Amelia is an endearingly reluctant heroine, grounded enough in ordinary grief that her extraordinary discoveries feel earned, while Veyla’s sharp curiosity and offbeat enthusiasms make her the perfect foil for Amelia’s reticence. Crucially, although this is a story permeated by magic, the magic system is secondary to themes of family, heritage, and loss, ensuring that readers always feel grounded in the reality of developing emotions even as the adventure sweeps them along. The prose is accessible without being simplistic, well-suited to confident middle-grade readers ready for a longer, twistier read, and the pacing builds toward a climax that offers a satisfying ending while still leaving plenty to anticipate.
Amelia Moon and the Sundance Shadow is perfect for young readers hungry for a hidden-world adventure with real-world roots.
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About the Book Cover Illustrator
Carolyn Rose Sullivan is a Chicago artist living in West Cork, Ireland. With an MFA in stage design, she has been a working theatre maker, costume designer, and theatre educator for the last fifteen years. Her freelance illustration and painting career is now blooming in Ireland with the completion of a postgraduate degree in Irish Folklore from the University of Cork College. Whether in performance, as sculpture, or as image, Carolyn’s work is story-centered and rooted in a mythic experience of existence.
For more information, visit https://www.carolynrosesullivan.com.
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