The stand-alone sequel to ‘Moojag and the Auticode Secret’, endorsed by award-winning authors Patience Agbabi, Alex Falase-Koya, Ben Davis, and Daniel Aubrey.
A multigenerational story, featuring a neurodivergent cast and audhd, non-binary, POC, main characters, for readers 8 years and over.
When Nema returns to Gajoomdom, she discovers three forgetful grannies who have totally lost track of time. If she and Moojag can’t help them remember, everyone’s memories are in danger. But turns out not everyone is who they thought they were. Who will they rescue? Will they rescue them in time to save their perfect Real World from the nasty Conqip?
‘Lost Memories’, inspired by the author’s grandmother, and living with dementia and disability during the pandemic, shows us the impact of loss and the power of memory, as well as the importance of future technology when used for good.
My Review
Nem follows Moojag back into Gajoomdom to help him rescue the Pofs, only to find themselves rescuing their gran, and two other older people. We also learn more about Aldon and Brix, although Travis remains a mystery. Moojag is no longer hiding his wings. With the help of PIE suits, the grannies and the youngsters get out of Gajoomdom just in time to warn everyone else about an impending explosion.
It’s a manic adventure of memory loss and recovery, family secrets and explosions. I read this novel fairly quickly, compared to Auticode Secret it’s shorter and more tightly written. I can definitely see improvements in the author’s skills as a writer. The story is fun and has an important message about memory and family knowledge. Sometimes what we think we know about ourselves can be wrong and memories can be faulty.
Another fun adventure for Nema and Moojag, excellent for neurodivergent children who need to see themselves in stories.
N.E. McMorran is a British-Cypriot award-winning autistic author, and designer, who previously worked at the BBC and taught in London nursery, primary and secondary schools. She founded and directed the Cyprus magazine publishing company AccessArts Publications Ltd and, more recently, founded the award-winning London based independent Spondylux Press, run by autistic female and non-binary professionals to support neurodivergent creatives.
The author’s debut novel, ‘MOOJAG and the AUTICODE SECRET’ which won the NAUTILUS BOOK AWARD 2021 and PURPLE DRAGONFLY 2024, was inspired by her experiences growing up in a neurodivergent family, as well as a mother and home educator, and the journey to late autism diagnosis.
In 2021 she worked with Peter Street on his childhood biography, ‘Goalkeeper: Memoir of Poet Peter Street’, later shortlisted for the 2023 RUBERY AWARD.
Her second children’s novel ‘The Lost Memories’, stand alone sequel to ‘Auticode Secret’, published in Oct 2023, won the series a second NAUTILUS AWARD in 2024, as well as Firebird Awards in their ‘Neurodivergent’, and ‘Cli-fi’ categories. The third and final Moojag instalment, ‘The Sloth Guardians’, is out December 2025.
Inspiration behind the MOOJAG series, and its ‘Gajoom’ and ‘Pof’ characters…
As a young child, Nema listened in awe to her parents’ made-up stories about giant animated rock candy, and greedy fairies who magic-up sweet treats. After moving to Cyprus, in her late 20s, she decided to write a book based on their stories: ‘The Gajoomstiks’ and ‘Poof Poof’. She wrote a few pages, but life happened and she put it away when she became a mum. She started to tell her boy, her own made-up stories, and in 2013 she picked up the story again. Inspired by her son and their journey, as an undiagnosed autistic single mum, she spent the next seven years working on Moojag, teaching herself how to write fiction along the way, until finally completing ‘The Auticode Secret’ in 2019.
Everything Is Better With Dragons 