Rosa by Starlight - by Hilary McKay

About the Book

When eleven-year-old Rosa Mundi meets a talking cat, she discovers a world of magic that may save her from her odious aunt and uncle who leave her stranded in Venice.

Book Synopsis

"Beautiful, captivating, such a joy to read I didn't want it to end!" --Sophie Anderson, bestselling author of The House with Chicken Legs

From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes a "delightful" (School Library Journal) 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?

Review Quotes

"A wistful, comforting treasure of a story destined to become a classic."--Emma Carroll, bestselling and award-winning author of Letters to the Lighthouse

"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

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"

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"

"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

About the Author

Hilary McKay is the award-winning author of The Time of Green Magic (which received five starred reviews), The Skylarks' War (which was a Boston Globe Best Book and received three starred reviews), Binny Bewitched (which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and received two starred reviews), Binny in Secret (which received three starred reviews), Binny for Short (which received four starred reviews), and six novels about the Casson family: Saffy's Angel, Indigo's Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, Forever Rose, and Caddy's World. She is also the author of The Swallows' Flight, Rosa by Starlight, and Wishing for Tomorrow, the sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess. Hilary lives with her family in Derbyshire, England. Visit her at HilaryMcKay.co.uk.