Book Review: Moonlight and Dust by Jasmin McGaughey

Jasmin McGaughey, a Torres Strait Islander and African American author from Queensland, uncovers belonging, identity, coming-of-age and magic in her young adult debut novel, Moonlight and Dust, releasing in July 2025 by Allen & Unwin.  

‘I swear to never tell a soul about what happens at Craigmont parties, or about Moondust.’  

Moonlight and Dust shares the story of Zillah Donald, a Torres Strait Islander high schooler who leaves the loneliness of her fancy private boarding school to move back to her home in Cairns. Zillah’s older sister, Nik, has been distant ever since Zillah moved home. On top of ignoring Zillah, she has also been sneaking out and acting recklessly. 

Celebrating the New Year, Zillah goes to a party hoping to spend more time with Nik. Nik shows up late and is in a terrible mood. Feeling defeated and not at all in the mood to party, Zillah calls for a ride home. As she is about to leave, she hears cheering and the shouting of Nik’s name. Running to see what is going on, Zillah gets there just a moment too late. She stands helplessly as she watches Nik fall off the balcony into the pool, resulting in her needing to be hospitalised. 

Zillah moved back home to find community, so despite Nik not being there to guide her through the ways of Craigmont High, Zillah is determined to make friends. Not long into her time at Craigmont, she is invited to an initiation for ‘BEW’, also known as ‘Black Enviro Warriors’. BEW was shut down by the school for being considered ‘exclusionary’ towards white students, but the kids in it are determined to make a difference and keep it going, even if they have to do so secretly. Zillah finds the initiation weird, having to swear not to tell a soul about…Moondust?  

At the first party with BEW, Zillah discovers that moondust is an elixir with magical properties. As Zillah finds out more about Moondust, she begins to wonder if it had anything to do with Nik’s accident. And if it did, all of her new friends are in real danger.  

Moonlight and Dust had me hooked from the first chapter when Zillah reflects on her experience with an American questioning why Aussies don’t pronounce their T’s and D’s. It brought about an insecurity in Zillah’s mind - how she didn’t feel comfortable having an Australian accent in Australia. She craved to have a black accent or an Island accent. Zillah finds that her words don’t belong anywhere.  

This internal struggle reflects the larger journey that Zillah takes throughout this novel. Having been isolated from her family, her home and her people for the last five years at a boarding school where she was one of five black kids, Zillah does not know her place in this world. Zillah also feels further disconnected, feeling clunky speaking her native language.  

After doing some research, I found Jasmin McGaughey talking about learning her Aka’s (Grandmother’s) language and even living, working and studying in Brisbane for a bit, much like Zillah’s stay in a Brisbane boarding school. It seems that much of McGaughey’s experience has been woven into the character and journey of Zillah. This shines through in the realness of the novel. As a reader, it is so clear the passion and care that went into Moonlight and Dust. It is no surprise that, having experienced many of the same things as Zillah, McGaughey does a beautiful job of writing her story.   

Moonlight and Dust at surface level is an engaging speculative fiction mystery that any teen would devour. However, it is so much more, weaving through seamlessly Torres Strait Islander languages and culture, sharing stories and experiences that often go untold. It is also just so fundamentally Australian. I need more Australian authors to take notes from McGaughey and not shy away from their ‘Aussieness’. Let’s hear more about throwing up Vegemite people! (When you read Moonlight and Dust, you’ll get that.)  

A refreshing addition to the young adult genre, Moonlight and Dust should be added to any Australian’s TBR list when it comes out in July.  

You can buy the book here.

Taya Dardengo 
Acquisitions Associate