Rosa By Starlight
from the Costa award-winning author of The Skylarks' War
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
'A star-filled story of courage, belonging and the particular magic of feline friends. A treasure of a tale, beautifully told.' - A.F. Steadman, author of the Skandar series
From the Costa Award-winning author of The Skylarks' War, comes Rosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay, the story of a young girl looking for magic in the world, and the feline family who help her to find it. With gorgeous black and white illustrations by Keith Robinson.
Rosa lives in a world where she discovers there is magic. It arrives with Balthazar, a large black cat, just when she needs it most. Even so, it takes all her courage to stay hopeful and adventurous when her dreadful aunt and uncle move into her life.
And when she finds herself abandoned in the ancient city of Venice, can magic help her then? Perhaps it can.
The stars are watching, and there are lots of cats in Venice . . .
'Beautiful, captivating, such a joy to read I didn't want it to end!' - Sophie Anderson, bestselling author of The House with Chicken Legs and The Snow Girl
'A charming Ghibli-esque tale of a girl whose only friends are cats. Surprising and magical in equal measures.' - M. G. Leonard, bestselling author of The Adventure on Trains Series, The Twitchers series, and The Ice Children
*Hilary McKay won the Costa Children’s Book Award in 2018 with The Skylarks' War
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Orphaned at age four, Rosa Mundi has been raised by her aunt and uncle, cruel people who have dampened her spirit over the years by locking her in her room at night and proving more interested in promoting their artificial lawn business than caring for a child. Her only friend is Balthazar, an enigmatic, helpful black cat. Now 11, she's taken by her aunt and uncle to Venice, where they plan to expand their business. Upon arrival, they abandon Rosa at a hotel run by a family that only speaks Italian. Short on funds and alone in a foreign country, Rosa must find a way to fend for herself. But when the street cats of Venice come to her aid, she discovers an innate power and a new sense of belonging. McKay (The Swallows' Flight) employs dream logic and surrealist imagery reminiscent of Roald Dahl to blend fairy tale whimsy with aching portrayals of adolescence. Over-the-top characters, lush descriptions, and casual incorporations of magical elements buoy the sometimes fraught scenarios that Rosa finds herself in as she contends with street thieves, unfamiliar customs, and the realities of being brought up by neglectful relatives. Main characters are white and Italian. Ages 8–12.
