Book Review of Mazes on the Moon
The Children’s Book Review
Mazes on the Moon
Written by Derek Reid
Ages: 8-12 | 100 Pages
Publisher: Sky Candy Astronomy Press (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1-0690636-2-5
What to Expect: Space exploration, high-stakes adventure, interactive problem-solving, lunar science, and quirky humor.
A once-in-a-lifetime Moon vacation turns into a race against time as a young explorer must thwart a rogue comet and save the lunar city of Lunaris through a series of high-stakes mazes.
In Mazes on the Moon, the reader wins a prestigious sweepstakes to visit the futuristic domed city of Lunaris. The trip begins at the spectacular LunaLand theme park with Jax (a friend prone to hilarious word mix-ups) and BOLT (an advanced android with a “degree in everything”). However, the vacation quickly shifts from gravity-defying roller coasters to an “urgent-ish” mission when a rogue comet named Abyssion is discovered on a collision course with the Moon. The trio must venture into the treacherous “Dustlands” to activate an ancient defense system known as the Moon Engine to save their new home.
Author Derek Reid successfully balances humor with genuine tension, maintaining a playful, “laugh-out-loud” tone throughout the disaster-fueled plot. He uses clever meta-narrative techniques to hook the reader immediately, and BOLT’s obsession with “plushies” and Jax’s constant malapropisms, such as calling her “eternally grapefruit” instead of “grateful”, provide consistent levity even as the stakes rise. Reid skillfully weaves educational facts about Apollo missions and lunar science into the narrative, making the learning feel like a natural part of the adventure.
The layout is clean and energetic, ensuring that the puzzles never feel disconnected from the unfolding drama—each page is designed to maximize interactivity. While the fifty mazes included in the book serve as the primary visual engagement, creative typography and imagery also help represent digital data and communications from characters like Dr. Wobble. Visual cues, such as BOLT’s flickering LED panels and the “shiny, oversized key to the city,” will easily prompt children to visualize the quirky technology of Lunaris.
Mazes on the Moon is a stellar example of how to blend a compelling narrative with activity-based learning. It offers a complete story arc that rewards the reader’s problem-solving with a satisfying, heroic resolution. This book will be most enjoyed by young explorers who love space, puzzles, and stories that don’t take themselves too seriously while still offering a “big-screen” sense of adventure.
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About the Author
Derek Reid is a proud stargazer and creator of the award-winning documentary TV series “Sky Candy,” from which his story-powered puzzle books for kids draw their heavenly inspiration. He lives in Toronto, Canada with his amazing wife and two rascally cats who, fingers crossed, hope to become the world’s first catstronauts.
