"And it belonged to Andromeda Starwell, one very determined twelve-year-old who had an extremely dangerous and daring plan that she’d told absolutely no one about."
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Andromeda's Moon by Ben and Annie Grimley M31 Press
book review by Mihir Shah
Auburn-haired Andromeda Starwell has a plan to get famous: sneak into the U.S.S. Explorer spacecraft and take pictures on the 150th anniversary of landing on the moon. The fearless twelve-year-old, with her beloved cat Pickle, climbs ridges, zips down towers and runs through tunnels, eventually making it inside with hardly a moment to spare. There's just one problem: Andromeda can't get out before the launch, and is stuck on the spaceship.
At age twelve, Andromeda is constantly seeking the advice of her cat—who doesn't talk—generally resulting in her doing what she wants. The various scenes at the Apollo Base will leave the audience in awe as the authors use forceful imagery and compelling descriptions of Andromeda and Pickle as they, along with the help of their friends Pixie and Rad—the four-armed, cowboy-hat wearing robot—turn into sleuths investigating the robbery of the Lavalight Crystal. Will Andromeda and her friends be able to find the culprit, or will the crystal fall into the wrong hands and melt Apollo Base into molten moondust? Who will believe a twelve-year old even if Andromeda does get to the bottom of the mystery?
Amidst the chaos at the base, Andromeda and her friends find themselves in precarious, albeit hilarious situations. In fact, the character dynamic between Andromeda, Pickle, Pixie, and Rad is what's truly special about this children’s novel. Despite the numerous predicaments Andromeda wiggles away from, her confidence, and determination to unearth the mystery is commendable. The spirit and energy with which the character is portrayed is quite reminiscent of the ultimate sleuth, Sherlock Holmes.
Overall, Andromeda's Moon is the perfect combination of well-developed characters, hilarious moments, adventure sequences, and a mystery that will leave the audience on the edge of their seats until the final page—and perhaps even after.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review