Greta Zargo and the Death Robots from Outer Space

Eleven year old Greta Zargo lives alone due to an error in her parents’ Last Will and Testament, although her Aunt Tabitha, an inventor, keeps an eye on her when she remembers. Greta is an investigative reporter currently (currantly?) trying to find out who stole the cakes. Unknown to Greta, some silver robots are approaching Earth from the planet Cestrypip posing the question ‘Please may we have your planet?’ on the worlds they land on en route. Will Greta prevent them from taking over the Earth? Jam and peanut butter-packed with wordplay, this book’s deadpan humour is reminiscent of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, although in this case the relevant manual is known as Harknow-Bumfurly-Histlock Big Book of Galactic Facts.

Sequel: Greta Zargo and the Amoeba Monsters from the Middle of the Earth (9781408881774), Bloomsbury £6.99.