“Hilary McKay's Rosa by Starlight is a glittering, magical little jewel of a book—the rare sort of tale that reminds me why I love stories so very much. This is a book for bedtime and for storytime and for sitting in the shade of an apple tree on a warm day. Highly recommended for readers of all ages—young readers and grownups alike will be enchanted by Rosa and her adventures and her enormous heart. I was.”

– Lora Senf, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of the Blight Harbor books

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.

– Booklist, 7/1/24

Eleven-year-old Rosa was not quite four years old when three things happened: her parents died, an unknown aunt and uncle came to take care of her, and she experienced magic when a cat named Balthazar visited her room the night after her aunt and uncle showed up. Rosa’s new family dampens her spirit but her love of fairy tales and belief in magic persist. An unexpected trip to Venice leaves Rosa feeling more alone than ever until the city’s cats come to her aid. Rosa finds herself in a “velvet sea of cats” as they help her find her way home—a true home. This whimsical book is full of magic and humor. McKay’s writing is lush with descriptive language and clever wordplay. Pigeons haven’t flown away, they’ve flung themselves into the sky. A plane hasn’t hit turbulence, it “quite suddenly…dropped out of the sky and fell down a flight of invisible giant stairs.” Adding to the whimsy are superb illustrations by Rockefeller. His drawings reflect the mood of the scene with easily interpreted facial expressions. VERDICT A delightful story, this would be a great read-aloud and a possible segue to Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books.

– School Library Journal, 7/1/24

"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 

"A wistful, comforting treasure of a story destined to become a classic."

– Emma Carroll, bestselling award-winning author of Letters to the Lighthouse