Thursday 12 April 2012

103. Opal Moonbaby by Maudie Smith


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+
Read it if you like: Pippi Longstocking

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