How to Read the Molly Moon Books
Georgia Byng’s popular children’s series follows the journey of Molly Moon, an orphan who discovers a hidden talent for hypnotism that catapults her from a dreary English orphanage into global, time-bending adventures. To experience Molly’s character growth and the steady escalation of her extraordinary powers, readers should follow the series in its publication order.
However, there is one important caveat: a short story companion was published for World Book Day in 2004. For the most complete experience, this companion should be read between the second and third full-length novels.
Recommended Reading Order
- Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism (2002) - Molly discovers her hypnotic abilities, escapes Hardwick House orphanage, and travels to New York to find her best friend, Rocky Scarlet.
- Molly Moon Stops the World (2003) - Molly travels to Los Angeles and learns how to stop time to defeat Primo Cell, an evil billionaire who is hypnotizing celebrities.
- Molly Moon's Hypnotic Holiday (2004) - A short companion story set in New York, where Molly temporarily swaps the minds and lives of a millionaire and a tramp.
- Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure (2004) - Molly is kidnapped and taken to 19th-century India by Maharaja Waqt, where she learns to navigate time travel.
- Molly Moon, Micky Minus, & the Mind Machine (2007) - Molly travels to the future to rescue her long-lost twin brother, Micky Minus, from the villainous Princess Fang.
- Molly Moon & the Morphing Mystery (2010) - Molly and Micky discover the art of morphing, allowing them to swap bodies with animals and other people.
- Molly Moon & the Monster Music (2012) - Molly uses a magical coin to master every musical instrument, but must fight the coin's monstrous, corrupting influence with the help of her loyal pug, Petula.
Understanding Molly's Power Progression
One of the most unique elements of the Molly Moon series is how Molly's abilities evolve in each book. Instead of repeating the same tricks, each volume introduces a new mental or physical discipline that builds on her previous skills. Starting from the beginning is highly recommended so that these escalating powers make sense:
- Hypnotism: In the first book, Molly learns standard eye-contact hypnotism, voice modulation, and crowd control.
- Time Manipulation: The second book expands her capabilities, allowing her to freeze time and move freely through suspended moments.
- Time Travel: The third book takes time manipulation further, introducing physical travel to different eras.
- Mind Reading & Future Travel: The fourth book focuses on advanced mental connection and navigating future timelines.
- Morphing: The fifth book moves into physical transformations, allowing Molly to project her consciousness into other living things.
- Hypnotic Music: The sixth book explores sensory and auditory hypnosis, where melody is used to sway minds.
What to Know Before You Start
Georgia Byng draws heavy inspiration from classic British children's literature, blending the dark, eccentric orphanage settings of Roald Dahl with fast-paced, modern globetrotting adventures. While the books are lighthearted and filled with humor, they also explore deeper themes of self-worth, the consequences of abusing power, and the importance of loyalty. Molly is not a perfect hero; she frequently makes selfish mistakes, particularly when she first acquires her abilities, making her growth throughout the series highly relatable for young readers.
For readers looking to explore beyond the page, the first book was adapted into a feature film in 2015, titled Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism, starring Raffey Cassidy as Molly.