Harley Hitch and the Missing Moon

Harley Hitch lives in Inventia – an exciting world full of science and technology where robots and machines live alongside humans. With her trusty robo-dog companion, Sprocket, Harley has already impressed in one adventure, and, in The Missing Moon, she has an even bigger mission on her hands.

Harley is absolutely determined that, this year, she is going to win Pupil of the Year. This means she has to focus completely upon her lessons and follow all her teachers’ instructions closely: she also has to stop colouring her hair and chasing after adventures on a whim!

Her best friend and two grandfathers are a little concerned that she’s starting to lose the things that make her special and unique and, when a visit from a famous circus coincides with the catastrophic disappearance of the moon (along with a number of other important Inventia items), they urge her to follow her impulse for excitement.

Harley is an endearing protagonist, whose enthusiasm and curiosity are infectious. Her series is a celebration of STEM, especially for girls, but this sequel is less focused upon STEM themes. Inventia is an interesting setting full of machines and scientists, but the story itself is less original, and rarely requires Harley to draw upon her impressive skills.

Nevertheless, Harley has much to teach readers. She is not willing to let prejudice bias her judgment, even when everyone else is blaming outsiders for Inventia’s problems, and her story reminds children to celebrate whatever it is that makes them special…even if it means not being pupil of the term.