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Rosa By Starlight

Hilary McKay Keith Robinson

$19.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English
Macmillan
25 November 2025
'A star-filled story of courage, belonging and the particular magic of feline friends. A treasure of a tale, beautifully told.' - A.F. Steadman, author of the Skandar series

From the Costa Award-winning author of The Skylarks' War, comes Rosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay, 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
By:  
Illustrated by:   Keith Robinson
Imprint:   Macmillan
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 196mm,  Width: 129mm,  Spine: 15mm
Weight:   172g
ISBN:   9781529074581
ISBN 10:   1529074584
Pages:   240
Publication Date:  
Recommended Age:   From 9 to 11 years
Audience:   Children/juvenile ,  Children / Juvenile
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Hilary McKay won the Costa Children's Book Award for The Skylarks' War, the Guardian Fiction Prize for The Exiles, and the Smarties and the Whitbread Award for The Exiles in Love and Saffy's Angel respectively. She is also the author of Straw Into Gold, A Time of Green Magic and The Swallows' Flight, a companion novel to The Skylarks' War, among many critically-acclaimed titles. Hilary studied Botany and Zoology at the University of St Andrews, and worked as a biochemist before the draw of the pen became too strong and she decided to become a full-time writer. Hilary lives in Derbyshire with her family.

Reviews for Rosa By Starlight

A wistful, comforting treasure of a story destined to become a classic. -- Emma Carroll, bestselling award-winning author of <i>Letters to the Lighthouse</i> Beautiful, captivating, such a joy to read I didn't want it to end! -- Sophie Anderson, bestselling author of <i>The House with Chicken Legs</i> and <i>The Snow Girl</i> 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 <i>Our Castle By The Sea </i>and <i>The Island at the Edge of the Night</i> 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 <i>The Ice Children</i> 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 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. -- Emily Graham * Booklist * Hilary McKay’s new novel is a Dahl-like delight for any child * The Telegraph * Hilary McKay, the Costa award-winning author of The Skylarks' War, spreads love and stardust over a magical story of adventure, friendship and courage which will break your heart and put it back together again. * Lancashire Post *


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