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Rosa By Starlight

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Book Synopsis

From the Costa Award-winning author Hilary McKay, comes the story of a young girl looking for magic in the world, and the feline family who help her to find it. A gorgeous, hardback gifty package, highly illustrated by the wonderful 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…

Our Review Panel says...

Rosa by Starlight is a book about how a young girl tries to understand her emotions when her life changes in monumental ways. This is mixed in with a little bit of magic and some feline friends who help along the way.

Rosa loses her parents at the start of the story and has a period of uncertainty as she waits to find out who will care for her moving forward. Eventually, a distant Aunt and Uncle are chosen to care for her – but they don’t like her. Rosa’s whole life is changed from a loving environment to one where she isn’t treated very well and she now spends a lot of time on her own.

Rose makes friends with a cat called Balthazar and this is where the first sparks of magic begin to appear. After a while, Rosa goes to Venice with her Aunt and Uncle. Her Aunt and Uncle are hoping they can lose Rosa while they are there because they don’t want the responsibility of looking after her anymore. Rosa starts to understand that she is lonely compared with the people around her as she has no one she can turn to. There is no one to help her when she is upset. Her Aunt and Uncle continue to treat her terribly, showing no concern for Rosa or her well-being.

While in Venice, Rosa makes friends with a different cat and magic starts to surround Rosa again. Both the cats and a little magic help Rosa to understand some of her feelings. The story does have a happy ending although it is a surprise to find out what will happen to Rosa next.

The book is full of beautifully descriptive language, imagery and illustrations to support the reader in creating the magical scenes in their minds. One for cat lovers and fans of stories where emotions and magic collide.