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, NYT-bestselling author of the Skandar series

From the Costa Award-winning author of The Skylarks’ War, comes 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

Publisher Review

A wistful, comforting treasure of a story destined to become a classic. — Emma Carroll, bestselling award-winning author of Letters to the Lighthouse 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 magical story, beautifully told and illustrated too. With cats and Venice and – at the end – kindness. — Tom Palmer Even in the darkest of times, there are cats and magic and starlight! This is a book to be treasured – I loved it. — Lucy Strange, author of Our Castle By The Sea and The Island at the Edge of the Night Rosa by Starlight is magical not least because of Hilary McKay’s magic touch. From the first line, I was under its spell … — Nicolette Jones 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 A quirky, dreamy and melancholy tale about a young girl finding her place in the world — Charlotte Eyre * The Bookseller * A star-filled story of courage, belonging and the particular magic of feline friends. A treasure of a tale, beautifully told.” — A.F. Steadman, NYT bestselling author of the Skandar series Rosa’s world has become very small since her parents passed. An unfamiliar aunt and uncle
come to claim her and the family house, but the uncaring grownups are interested only in
monetary success and keeping their life as tidy and uncomplicated as possible. Rosa’s presence
is, of course, a massive complication in their eyes, and they disapprove of the lovely girl’s
general existence. Despite her increasingly dire circumstances, Rosa’s belief in magic never
wavers-a conviction formed by a seemingly impossible encounter with a neighboring cat. An
initially disastrous trip to Venice turns into a madcap (and slightly murderous) adventure, and
Rosa combines magic and mettle to take the reins of her extraordinary life. The wonderfully
quirky tale has shades of Matilda, particularly in the outrageously villainous relatives, but the
feline focus and Italian excursion give it a fantastic flavor all its own. The story’s shorter length,
quick pacing, and sweet illustrations will easily appeal to younger readers, as will the whimsical
peculiarities of Rosa’s world. An incredibly creative case for doing things scared and on one’s
own terms. — Emily Graham * Booklist *