Opal Moonbaby and the Best Friend Project (book 1) - Softcover

Smith, Maudie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 144401580X ISBN 13: 9781444015805

Publisher: Orion Children's, 2016

Synopsis

Originally published as Opal Moonbaby, this is the first in a funny, warm-hearted series about friendship - and aliens! If you love Jacqueline Wilson, Cathy Cassidy or Liz Kessler, you'll love reading about Opal Moonbaby.

Martha's decided that 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 with a special mission: she needs to work out what on earth people are (and my goodness - people are strange) and make a friend. Can Martha help Opal make the Best Friend Project a success?

About this title

About the Author

Maudie Smith began her career as an actor. She spent years perching on scenery in the back of a van, while touring with a small-scale theatre company. In children's theatre, she played well-known characters such as Piglet and the Snow Queen. She recently graduated from Bath Spa University with an MA in Writing for Young People. Maudie lives in a village near Bath with her screenwriter husband, two daughters, two cats, two chickens and far too many stick insects. Visit her website http://www.maudiesmith.co.uk/ and follow her on Twitter @MaudieSmith

Tony Ross is one of Britain's best-known illustrators, with many picture books to his name, including the bestselling Little Princess stories (Andersen). He has also produced the line drawings for many fiction titles, for authors such as David Walliams, Jeanne Willis, Enid Blyton, Astrid Lindgren, and many more.

Review

"Now - I want you to remember the name of Opal Moonbaby - she's a brilliant comic creation ... Opal sparkles and she's totally original. I lovedher. And Maudie Smith gives us a great story too. She's pitch-perfect on the way that girls in this age group act."―Sue Magee, THE BOOKBAG

"I so wish I had a friend like Opal Moonbaby and a pet like Garnet. They would be so funny to hang out with! ... It¿s the best, best, best best!¿―Isabella (age 9)

"I loved this book ... I really enjoy the way Opal speaks and all the things she tells Martha and Robbie about Carnelia, her home planet ... The plot was great and has us guessing all the way through, and the ending was fantastic. I recommend this funny, great book to boys and girls who love having fun and are 7 or older." Review by 7 year old Isabella―CHICKLISH

With fantasy like this, the mostr serious critical questions is whether the willing suspension of disbelief is sustained. Here the characters are believable and their actions and responses ring true. Many of the interactions are marked with genuine humour. Opal has superhuman powers and uses them to strip pretensions from those human characters who ring false. The language used in the narrative is appropriate and consistent, with one or two daring insertions that work pretty well.―BOOKS FOR KEEPS

Who can resist this delightful, quirky, entertaining book which brings new words and phrases to our vocabulary, such as scoff capsules, hydrophones, swimbats and fantariums. Opal Moonbaby is one of the most charming children's books that I have read in a long time ... As soon as Opal stepped out of her spaceship I found her adorable. her zany and vibrant character would brighten anyone's life ... This book is truly a delight and will entertain all age groups.―SERENDIPITY REVIEWS

a little like Pippi Longstocking meets Dodie Smith ... with a sprinkle of Jacqueline Wilson-esque social commentary thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed this. It's got a certain, almost old-fashioned, charm to it―DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK...

The plot is very well paced and there are a lot of surprises in store for the reader. Opal is a fascinating character and is well balanced by the more sensible Martha ... This is a hilarious book and Smith is hugely successful in bringing Opal and her alien ways to life.―BOOKBABBLERS

Sparkling with originality and sharm, this is a heart-warming, hilarious story about friendship ... From the very first pages of this book the author grabbed my attention and she kept it right through until the last page ... There's so much to love about this book ... Reading this book I was transported back to the books I'd loved as a child.―JUNIPER'S JUNGLE

Opal Moonbaby really does seem like a classic novel. It's exactly the sort of book I would have devoured as a young girl and it really did have a similar style and tone as some of my old favourites ... Maudie Smith is a great new talent in the world of middle grade fiction and I'll certainly be looking out for more of her work in future.―WRITING FROM THE TUB

Opal Moonbaby is one of my favourite books because it is so imaginative. Opal Moonbaby is funny, creative, quirky and heart-warming.―Juliet, 10

Edition details

• Publisher: Orion Children's
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 144401580X
• ISBN 13: 9781444015805
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 192