The last time the world made sense to Peijing was the last night she and her family were in Singapore. It was the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she was making mooncakes with her grandmother (Ah Ma). The following day, however, Peijing and her five-year-old sister, Biju, along with their mother, father and grandmother, all must leave the only place they’ve ever known for the hot, foreign land of Australia.

Once in Australia, everyone struggles: Ah Ma doesn’t always know where she is or who the people around her are, Ma Ma is sad and withdrawn, Ba Ba is still working all the time, and Biju struggles to find herself. Peijing feels honour-bound to keep the family together and happy, but what does happy look like in this foreign land?

All Four Quarters of the Moon is an ode to sisterhood, storytelling and the small moments of magic that happen every day. Peijing feels so much pressure to do everything just right, but in the end, her acts of rebellion are what bring the most joy and love to her family. Narrated by Biju, the fables that begin each chapter give the book a feeling of timelessness and wonder, and I loved the empathy and love of Peijing and Biju’s relationship; the connection they share and their familial ties to storytelling make up the true magic in this novel. For ages 9+.

Jennifer Fraioli is a bookseller at Readings Emporium.