Opal
Moonbaby by Maudie Smith
Published
March 2012 Hachette Australia
From
the publisher:
Martha's decided friends
are stupid. Especially if they're anything like Colette and Chloe. She never
wants another friend. Ever. But it's the first day of the summer holidays, and
there's not that much to do... until she spots a strange little furry creature
who leads her to Opal Moonbaby. Opal's been sent down from her planet on a
mission: to work out what on earth people are (and my goodness - people are
strange) and to make a friend.
This book starts with a bang, quite literally. Early one morning the half asleep milkman
ends up driving his milk float into a tree to avoid hitting a girl with beams
of light coming from her violet eyes and her flying cat. That is how we meet Opal Moonbaby.
Opal Moonbaby is from Carnelia, she is a crazy
haired, violet eyed, energetic alien, and she is here on a mission. Her mission is to study Earth and it’s
inhabitants…and to make friend. She has
her sights on Martha, but Martha is adamant that she never wants to make a
friend again.
This book is part madcap alien romp, and part
sensitive look at friendship.
Opal’s
alien ways will have you laughing. Her mix ups with our language, such as “hold
your houses’ (horses) and “as sure as legs is legs” to name a few, are
guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, and the antics in the supermarket
will have you laughing out loud.
Intertwined
with all of this alien craziness we have Martha. Martha who used to be friends
with Chloe, until Collette came along and deemed Martha too babyish to be part
of their club. Opal Moonbaby makes
Martha realise that just because one friendship went a bit pear shaped, doesn’t
mean you can’t try again.
For what is
essentially a fun simple book, Martha shows a great deal of character at the end of the book, when she
has a chance to be every bit as mean to Collette as she has been to her…she
chooses to be kind.
Who will like this
book: Girls
age 8+
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