Table of Contents
About The Book
From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes an enchanting illustrated middle grade novel in the spirit of Matilda about a lonely orphan who dreams of escaping her ghastly aunt and uncle.
Rosa has always believed there is magic in the world. Or at least, she hopes there is. She lost her parents when she was four, and her aunt and uncle moved into her home not long after, transforming it from a messy place of love and warmth to a cold world of business. Their approach to family is as phony as the plastic grass they sell, keeping Rosa at arm’s length and tucking her in at night by locking her in her room.
Now eleven, Rosa’s loneliness threatens to overwhelm her. Her only solace is the magic she sees around her, particularly in a cat named Balthazar who comes to—and through—her window. When all the teachers at her school win the lottery and quit their jobs, Rosa’s aunt and uncle seize the opportunity to put an evil plan into action. They whisk Rosa away to Venice, intending to abandon her there. Luckily for Rosa, there are cats in Venice—and a laughing boy in a gondola and a family making sure she is fed.
In Rosa’s darkest hour, can the magic she’s never lost faith in save the day?
Rosa has always believed there is magic in the world. Or at least, she hopes there is. She lost her parents when she was four, and her aunt and uncle moved into her home not long after, transforming it from a messy place of love and warmth to a cold world of business. Their approach to family is as phony as the plastic grass they sell, keeping Rosa at arm’s length and tucking her in at night by locking her in her room.
Now eleven, Rosa’s loneliness threatens to overwhelm her. Her only solace is the magic she sees around her, particularly in a cat named Balthazar who comes to—and through—her window. When all the teachers at her school win the lottery and quit their jobs, Rosa’s aunt and uncle seize the opportunity to put an evil plan into action. They whisk Rosa away to Venice, intending to abandon her there. Luckily for Rosa, there are cats in Venice—and a laughing boy in a gondola and a family making sure she is fed.
In Rosa’s darkest hour, can the magic she’s never lost faith in save the day?
About The Illustrator
Matt Rockefeller
Product Details
- Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (September 10, 2024)
- Length: 160 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665958127
- Ages: 8 - 12
Raves and Reviews
“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
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Rosa by Starlight eBook 9781665958127
- Author Photo (jpg): Hilary McKay Photograph by Bella McKay(0.1 MB)
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