About Zooming Time, Opal Moonbaby! by Maudie Smith

About Zooming Time, Opal Moonbaby! by Maudie Smith
Buy About Zooming Time, Opal Moonbaby! by Maudie Smith at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Confident Readers
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: The sequel to the billiant Opal Moonbaby and a real treat for the tween girl. Highly recommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 320	Date: February 2013
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1444004793
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Martha feels lonely without her Best and Only Friend, Opal Moonbaby. That's obviously a rather unusual name but it's not the only thing about Opal which is unusual. She's an alien from Carnelia and she originally came to earth as part of a challenge. She had to make a human friend and despite the fact that Martha was determined that she would never have another friend, the relationship somehow worked. When we last saw her she was on her way back to Carnelia and Uncle Bixie. Martha was heartbroken to see her go - and I'll confess to being just a little bit upset myself. But don't worry - she's back!

You see Opal Moonbaby is a brilliant comic creation. She learned English rather quickly and her use of it is somewhat, er, idiosyncratic. You'll understand what a treat you're in for as soon as Opal lands, looks around her and utters that well-known phrase: Home, Sugary Home. You'll also realise that this is a book for the girl who is comfortable with reading and can appreciate what great fun words can be. I giggled my way through the book - and at my age that is Simply Not Dignified.

This time she arrived in the domestipod, which is where she was to live for her year on earth. Yes - Opal is back with Martha for a whole year and she's going to school with her too. That's not quite as easy as it sounds: Opal has to have Garnet, her mingle, with her if she's to survive. (I know - I'm sorry but I really can't explain everything to you, can I? If you read the book you'll understand.) She's an alien - and she's a child living on her own. Somehow everyone has to think that Opal is living with her Uncle and that she's, er, human. The snag is that Opal doesn't do keeping quiet, behaving properly or keeping things under her hat (well, in her trousers, actually...) and we wouldn't love her half so much if she did. Then, of course, there are the Mercurials, who've also arrived from Carnelia and it's safe to say that they're not there to give Opal some support.

Opal's the star of the book but it's strength lies in the fact that Martha is a splendid creation in her own right. Every class has the child who worries, who takes responsibility and who tries to look after others. That's Martha and it's the combination of Opal and Martha which makes for such a good story. I really enjoyed it and I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

If you haven't read the original Opal Moonbaby then you really should read it first - and then you can have double the fun.

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