Arabella, the Moon and the Magic Mongongo Nut, by Hamilton Wende

Arabella lives in a normal suburb in Johannesburg. It seems her life is going to stay normal forever -- until her father dies and she thinks she'll never get over the sadness of it. But then she discovers a hidden world filled with magical creatures in the garden, after being given a special mongongo nut by Khanyi the mealie lady. There are enemies in the garden too: hadedas, led by their king Ozymandias, who want to steal the mongongo nut for their own evil birds, but will they be strong enough to fight high up in the skies of Johannesburg, where lighting strikes and hadedas swoop down upon them?

Reviews:

"I was determined that the story would be unapologetically South African, where cultures do mingle and where the Western tradition of magic has intersected with our culture. It was very important for me to access the universal through the local." - Mail & Guardian

"After Arabella’s father dies, she thinks she will never get over the sadness of it.  But then she gets a magic mongongo nut from the Kalahari from Khanyi, the mealie lady, and Zuzi, the monkey whose parents were killed by a leopard and who now lives with Khanyi.   Arabella discovers a world of magic and friendly creatures in the garden –  Jongoo the songololo, Mr. Sweet-Steps, the chameleon, Li-Li the dragonfly and the good-hearted affectionate Parktown Prawn!" - LaurenBeukes.com

Arabella, The Moon and the Magic Mongongo Nut is a charming adventure tale set in Parkview, Johannesburg, about an 11-year-old girl who learns to cope with a life-shattering event thanks to a magical mongongo nut. Supporting characters include Khanyi, the mielie seller, a monkey, Ukhozi, the eagle, Hadedas, led by Ozymandias, “the most evil bird in the sky”. - TravelWrite

Author Hamilton Wende has perfectly captured Arabella’s character, giving poignant insight into just how difficult life choices are at that age. The hadedas are brilliantly malevolent … but fun! Lovely atmospherics abound, painting the most incredible pictures for a young imagination to enjoy. The author has a real gift for scenarios and I am sure this book will linger in readers’ minds long after the last page has been read. -JoziKids

A modern, magical story full of unexpected creatures with hadedas as the baddies. There’s a night flight over the city of Johannesburg, a magical book, plenty of suspense and surprise, and a final air-borne battle, a bit like the coming of the eagles in The Hobbit. There is also a wise warning: “Even magic has its limits.” -Children's Book Network

Author: Hamilton Wende

Publisher: Clockwork Books

Paperback, 206 pages