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Rosa by Starlight
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?
160 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2024
11 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Hilary McKay
136 books387 followersHilary McKay was born in Boston, Lincolnshire and is the eldest of four girls. From a very early age she read voraciously and grew up in a household of readers. Hilary says of herself as a child "I anaesthetised myself against the big bad world with large doses of literature. The local library was as familiar to me as my own home."
After reading Botany and Zoology at St. Andrew's University Hilary then went on to work as a biochemist in an Analysis Department. Hilary enjoyed the work but at the same time had a burning desire to write. After the birth of her two children, Hilary wanted to devote more time to bringing up her children and writing so decided to leave her job.
One of the best things about being a writer, says Hilary, is receiving letters from children. She wishes that she had written to authors as a child, but it never occurred to her to contact them
Hilary now lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. When not writing Hilary loves walking, reading, and having friends to stay.
After reading Botany and Zoology at St. Andrew's University Hilary then went on to work as a biochemist in an Analysis Department. Hilary enjoyed the work but at the same time had a burning desire to write. After the birth of her two children, Hilary wanted to devote more time to bringing up her children and writing so decided to leave her job.
One of the best things about being a writer, says Hilary, is receiving letters from children. She wishes that she had written to authors as a child, but it never occurred to her to contact them
Hilary now lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. When not writing Hilary loves walking, reading, and having friends to stay.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 30, 2024
✰ 2 stars ✰
“Very poor indeed. Have you ever wondered, Rosa, what happens to ignorant, lazy children when they finally grow up?”
Rosa shook her head. She’d often wondered about running away but never about growing up.”
With traces of Roald Dahl's dark & whimsical humor, Rosa by Starlight had the potential to charm me with magical cats and a sympathetic eleven-year-old orphan, but it wasn't entirely able to do so. It is rather disappointing to admit how very odd this is.
Disoriented. That's the best way I can sum up my feelings after completing it; my mind and the writing did not blend together all the magical exploits or the whimsical dangers that Rosa embarked on, once she and her caretakers arrived in Venice. 🥺 See, it presents this illusion of how Rosa's past is what made her have the uncanny ability to do some rather extraordinary talents; but, it did not quite translate well. It did not evoke that spark of awe in me, when it was revealed, nor was I particularly amused by cats that held the potential to be something more than what they actually proved to be. It all felt like loose threads that I had to grasp at to hold them together, otherwise they would fly away. 😟
“Her twenty euros, which had to last at least a week, wasn’t enough to last a day.
Had they known, her aunt and uncle?”
Rosa was -- she wasn't a dim-witted child, more like a naive and kind-hearted child, who wished upon stars and embarked on starry adventures, in the hopes that someday her life could be different. 🥺 That a little change would help her break away from her controlling relatives. It was painful to see how she was manipulated by her innocence - because she could never imagine that people were capable of such cruelty and immoral actions - towards her, especially. Her childlike fascination and curiosity was both a delight and a problem for those who had to be prone to witness it. The author, however, effectively portrayed how sinister and cruel and uncaring her aunt and uncle were and Rosa's distraught and fear upon realizing how she has been willfully abandoned and that her very presence is a problem they are very keen on eradicating at all cost. 'Yet they were certainly conscious. Their eyes were upon her, and they were terrifying.' That scene on the bridge - the dawning realization of what is about to happen to her was viscerally captured to the point that her shock and distress was a palpable feeling. 😢
“Rosa knew now what “foreign” meant. Everything was more intense.
Rosa thought, It’s because it’s abroad.
Somewhere a voice was singing.
It wasn’t abroad. It was loneliness.”
And I do get what the author was attempting to show. How her loneliness had always existed within her, but she had never fully grasped it, until she arrived in a foreign land that made her realize how very much alone she was. How she wished there was someone who cared enough for her to know that she was alright and well-taken care of. 😞 'It’s because I’m tired,” she said bravely, and cured the tears by seeing if she could make one fall directly into the canal.' It's not only just about her aunt and uncle keeping her devoid of any friends, or making her only have the bare minimum to survive - all horrific acts that boiled my blood, but... It's the challenge of having to fend for herself, for her to be able to interact of her own free will, and speak up for herself - literally - is where the magic shined. 💫💫 And Rosa was able to finally break free of the shackles her so-called relatives had placed upon her - a cruel awakening that once the magic became alive - literally - it kinda moved into a direction that was not about suspending disbelief, but having to believe that this was what it was supposedly leading up to. 😕
“Well, you won’t find the answer in fairy tales,” said her uncle. “They’re neither useful nor educational nor anything like real life. And if that’s all you’re reading, I’m afraid I must dispose of them at once.”
For it was also the explanation leading up to that chain of events that was jarring and well, disorienting; neither here, nor there - not quite hinting towards it, just delivering unto the reader. The ending surmises what the prologue provided, but one without a conclusive ending that made Rosa's plight that did not sway my heart into believing in the magic that soared in Rosa. I think if a little more back-story than just various allusions hinted throughout - a more proper conclusion that emphasized how the magic had existed - would have made me feel a little more charmed by it. I do think the cover is quite lovely. 🤩 And the author did a decent job in vividly describing Venice - the gondola, the smells, the tastes, the sounds, the air, itself - in order to evoke how lost yet new all the sights were that Rosa was taking in. It felt alive and transported me to the streets that were devoid of the plastic green grass that her scheming and conniving guardians were hoping to enrich the Venetian streets with. I just wish I could have felt the same for the story itself. 🙍🏻♀️
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“Very poor indeed. Have you ever wondered, Rosa, what happens to ignorant, lazy children when they finally grow up?”
Rosa shook her head. She’d often wondered about running away but never about growing up.”
With traces of Roald Dahl's dark & whimsical humor, Rosa by Starlight had the potential to charm me with magical cats and a sympathetic eleven-year-old orphan, but it wasn't entirely able to do so. It is rather disappointing to admit how very odd this is.
Disoriented. That's the best way I can sum up my feelings after completing it; my mind and the writing did not blend together all the magical exploits or the whimsical dangers that Rosa embarked on, once she and her caretakers arrived in Venice. 🥺 See, it presents this illusion of how Rosa's past is what made her have the uncanny ability to do some rather extraordinary talents; but, it did not quite translate well. It did not evoke that spark of awe in me, when it was revealed, nor was I particularly amused by cats that held the potential to be something more than what they actually proved to be. It all felt like loose threads that I had to grasp at to hold them together, otherwise they would fly away. 😟
“Her twenty euros, which had to last at least a week, wasn’t enough to last a day.
Had they known, her aunt and uncle?”
Rosa was -- she wasn't a dim-witted child, more like a naive and kind-hearted child, who wished upon stars and embarked on starry adventures, in the hopes that someday her life could be different. 🥺 That a little change would help her break away from her controlling relatives. It was painful to see how she was manipulated by her innocence - because she could never imagine that people were capable of such cruelty and immoral actions - towards her, especially. Her childlike fascination and curiosity was both a delight and a problem for those who had to be prone to witness it. The author, however, effectively portrayed how sinister and cruel and uncaring her aunt and uncle were and Rosa's distraught and fear upon realizing how she has been willfully abandoned and that her very presence is a problem they are very keen on eradicating at all cost. 'Yet they were certainly conscious. Their eyes were upon her, and they were terrifying.' That scene on the bridge - the dawning realization of what is about to happen to her was viscerally captured to the point that her shock and distress was a palpable feeling. 😢
“Rosa knew now what “foreign” meant. Everything was more intense.
Rosa thought, It’s because it’s abroad.
Somewhere a voice was singing.
It wasn’t abroad. It was loneliness.”
And I do get what the author was attempting to show. How her loneliness had always existed within her, but she had never fully grasped it, until she arrived in a foreign land that made her realize how very much alone she was. How she wished there was someone who cared enough for her to know that she was alright and well-taken care of. 😞 'It’s because I’m tired,” she said bravely, and cured the tears by seeing if she could make one fall directly into the canal.' It's not only just about her aunt and uncle keeping her devoid of any friends, or making her only have the bare minimum to survive - all horrific acts that boiled my blood, but... It's the challenge of having to fend for herself, for her to be able to interact of her own free will, and speak up for herself - literally - is where the magic shined. 💫💫 And Rosa was able to finally break free of the shackles her so-called relatives had placed upon her - a cruel awakening that once the magic became alive - literally - it kinda moved into a direction that was not about suspending disbelief, but having to believe that this was what it was supposedly leading up to. 😕
“Well, you won’t find the answer in fairy tales,” said her uncle. “They’re neither useful nor educational nor anything like real life. And if that’s all you’re reading, I’m afraid I must dispose of them at once.”
For it was also the explanation leading up to that chain of events that was jarring and well, disorienting; neither here, nor there - not quite hinting towards it, just delivering unto the reader. The ending surmises what the prologue provided, but one without a conclusive ending that made Rosa's plight that did not sway my heart into believing in the magic that soared in Rosa. I think if a little more back-story than just various allusions hinted throughout - a more proper conclusion that emphasized how the magic had existed - would have made me feel a little more charmed by it. I do think the cover is quite lovely. 🤩 And the author did a decent job in vividly describing Venice - the gondola, the smells, the tastes, the sounds, the air, itself - in order to evoke how lost yet new all the sights were that Rosa was taking in. It felt alive and transported me to the streets that were devoid of the plastic green grass that her scheming and conniving guardians were hoping to enrich the Venetian streets with. I just wish I could have felt the same for the story itself. 🙍🏻♀️
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2025
This was as sweet, dark, and magical as a classic fairytale, and it was CRAWLING with cats as a bonus. 😉
October 15, 2024
The beginning was intriguing. The ending was satisfying but the middle was boring. I wish the cats had been more magical. I wish the magic had been explained better. Wonderful idea, but needed different editing to tie the story together for young readers.
April 27, 2025
Rosa by Starlight
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.42/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.42/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 7
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
November 10, 2025
I did not love this. From the beautiful cover I expected something warm, magical and heartwarming. It was actually dark and melancholy. The horrible relationship Rosa had with her aunt and uncle was very dark to me, especially at the end, and those general feelings of negativity overpowered everything else about the story. The ending was positive and hopeful but not enough to redeem the book.
July 25, 2025
For some reason this had been sitting on my TBR pile far too long so I took it to bed with me one night and read it in one night. And I really enjoyed my trip to Venice.
This book is written with so much care and empathy that you won’t be able to stop yourself rooting for Rosa.
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?
You couldn’t help but feel for Rosa, an orphan, someone who is unloved by her aunt and uncle, and someone who is locked in their bedroom every night.
She is the typical book orphan, with a grim life.
But she believes in magic, and maybe something special will happen to her….
There were parts that reminded me of Roald Dahl’s Matilda and James and the giant peach.
This book would better suit an older MG reader 10 +
This book is written with so much care and empathy that you won’t be able to stop yourself rooting for Rosa.
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?
You couldn’t help but feel for Rosa, an orphan, someone who is unloved by her aunt and uncle, and someone who is locked in their bedroom every night.
She is the typical book orphan, with a grim life.
But she believes in magic, and maybe something special will happen to her….
There were parts that reminded me of Roald Dahl’s Matilda and James and the giant peach.
This book would better suit an older MG reader 10 +
January 28, 2025
I occasionally read middle grade books.They can be very satisfying reads, and they go quickly. When I saw this book cover on a UK bookstore site, I ordered the book. Rosa is a 12-year-old girl who lost her parents in an accident when she was four. Her aunt and uncle, who she never met, take over the family home and care of Rosa. However, she is housebound, and she is only allowed out for school, Rosa loves cats, and she is able to sneak out by climbing down a drainpipe next to her window. Her aunt limits her food and dietary choices. This is clearly an abusive situation, but she doesn't tell anyone at school.
Her class is going to trip to Wales for an entire week. Surprisingly, her aunt and uncle allows her to participate. Unknown to Rosa they have planned to be away for that week.They have an artificial grass company and are going to Venice where they expect to become rich selling their plastic grass in this water bound city. But on the day of the trip, it is suddenly canceled. Rosa's aunt and uncle are furious but have to take her with them. Once in Venice, they put Rosa in an inexpensive hotel by herself. From here, her adventures begin.
Rosa is a delightful character and no city is more charming than Venice. It was a great, quick read.
Her class is going to trip to Wales for an entire week. Surprisingly, her aunt and uncle allows her to participate. Unknown to Rosa they have planned to be away for that week.They have an artificial grass company and are going to Venice where they expect to become rich selling their plastic grass in this water bound city. But on the day of the trip, it is suddenly canceled. Rosa's aunt and uncle are furious but have to take her with them. Once in Venice, they put Rosa in an inexpensive hotel by herself. From here, her adventures begin.
Rosa is a delightful character and no city is more charming than Venice. It was a great, quick read.
February 22, 2025
This was utterly enchanting. I'm really hoping my students will read it because it's exactly the kind of book I think more kids need to read-magical, sweet, imaginative, thoughtful, and well written (no dumbing down of vocabulary!) There's a touch a Matilda element (cruel adults in charge a child, squashing her intelligence and joy of life), which is fun. It feels somewhat fairy tale like-don't think too hard about realities of life. For example, the cat that lives next door has staff and selects his meals from a menu presented to him each day. Don't question that-it just is.
Loved it.
Loved it.
September 30, 2025
Four stars for beautiful, descriptive writing.
I found the story itself though to be rather disappointing. It would have worked better had the story been edited further. I think younger kids would enjoy the book except for the lengthy descriptions.
I found the story itself though to be rather disappointing. It would have worked better had the story been edited further. I think younger kids would enjoy the book except for the lengthy descriptions.
November 11, 2024
It is a heartwarming story with beautiful illustrations. 3.5 stars 🌟
October 26, 2024
Not my cup of tea. The style of writing in this book reminds me a touch of Ronald Dahl with its heavy metaphoric descriptions. I'm ok with a fantasy but this fantasy seemed slightly chaotic and strange.
March 28, 2024
After The Skylark’s War and at The Swallows Flight, Hilary McKay has taken a different path with this magical fairytale- like adventure
Rosa has magical powers or can see the extraordinary within the ordinary- this begins with a neighbourhood cat called Balthazar who brings new wonders into her life after being orphaned. She finds that her earlier childhood fades as she is taken under the control of an evil aunt and uncle who want to cover the world in artificial grass.
Rather like a traditional tale, Rosa finds herself alone and often locked in her bedroom but she develops ability to climb from her room and join Balthazar- she finds a connection with the cat and a form of communication .and friendship
Her aunt and uncle decide that Venice needs the world of astroturf and embark on a journey to The City of Canals and soon abandon Rosa. She attempts to navigate a strange city and a place with a different language whilst still finding herself drawn to the feline world…. More adventures ensue and the magic around her grows stronger
This is story of hope after tragedy and recognising that it’s ok not to follow the crowd and be yourself.
Hilary McKay has written a wonderful tale- a lovely read for 8-11 year olds who still love a story that is full of fantasy and adventure , gives a nod to the fairytales of the past and has a heroine who is determined to succeed at all costs but with a heart of kindness.
A lovely book to read alone or a bedtime / class group read
Rosa has magical powers or can see the extraordinary within the ordinary- this begins with a neighbourhood cat called Balthazar who brings new wonders into her life after being orphaned. She finds that her earlier childhood fades as she is taken under the control of an evil aunt and uncle who want to cover the world in artificial grass.
Rather like a traditional tale, Rosa finds herself alone and often locked in her bedroom but she develops ability to climb from her room and join Balthazar- she finds a connection with the cat and a form of communication .and friendship
Her aunt and uncle decide that Venice needs the world of astroturf and embark on a journey to The City of Canals and soon abandon Rosa. She attempts to navigate a strange city and a place with a different language whilst still finding herself drawn to the feline world…. More adventures ensue and the magic around her grows stronger
This is story of hope after tragedy and recognising that it’s ok not to follow the crowd and be yourself.
Hilary McKay has written a wonderful tale- a lovely read for 8-11 year olds who still love a story that is full of fantasy and adventure , gives a nod to the fairytales of the past and has a heroine who is determined to succeed at all costs but with a heart of kindness.
A lovely book to read alone or a bedtime / class group read
November 24, 2024
As I was reading this book I stopped to take a look at the reviews to see if I was missing anything.
It’s such a jumble of ideas and styles that I couldn’t quite get ahold of what the author was trying to achieve.
It’s got a strong Dahl element, with extremely vile Aunt and Uncle, deprivation, neglect and loneliness along with the magic but there’s no real story. Things happen but it doesn’t feel held together- rather like an unbaked cake, it has all the ingredients but it’s not a story.
It’s a shame as she writes really beautifully and I’ve enjoyed her other books but this one read more like a writing exercise rather than a story. Write something about cats … go.
It’s such a jumble of ideas and styles that I couldn’t quite get ahold of what the author was trying to achieve.
It’s got a strong Dahl element, with extremely vile Aunt and Uncle, deprivation, neglect and loneliness along with the magic but there’s no real story. Things happen but it doesn’t feel held together- rather like an unbaked cake, it has all the ingredients but it’s not a story.
It’s a shame as she writes really beautifully and I’ve enjoyed her other books but this one read more like a writing exercise rather than a story. Write something about cats … go.
June 17, 2025
3.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟✨
I chose this as a quickie listen on BorrowBox—mainly because it was available immediately and I fancied something light and whimsical. It didn’t disappoint on that front: Rosa by Starlight is sweet, magical, and filled with charm.
The Venice setting adds a lovely touch of romance and mystery, and the story had real potential to blossom into something deeply enchanting. However, a few elements didn’t quite land for me. The aunt and uncle’s coldness felt a bit two-dimensional—I’d have loved more insight into their motivations or backstory to make their behaviour more believable. And while I was hoping for a bigger role for the cats (especially in such a magical setting!), they sadly felt more like window dressing than true characters.
The last third of the book also felt rushed. The magic, while delightful, seemed to come on too suddenly—I’d have preferred a slower, more gradual build-up to fully savour it.
That said, it was a charming escape and an enjoyable quick listen!
I chose this as a quickie listen on BorrowBox—mainly because it was available immediately and I fancied something light and whimsical. It didn’t disappoint on that front: Rosa by Starlight is sweet, magical, and filled with charm.
The Venice setting adds a lovely touch of romance and mystery, and the story had real potential to blossom into something deeply enchanting. However, a few elements didn’t quite land for me. The aunt and uncle’s coldness felt a bit two-dimensional—I’d have loved more insight into their motivations or backstory to make their behaviour more believable. And while I was hoping for a bigger role for the cats (especially in such a magical setting!), they sadly felt more like window dressing than true characters.
The last third of the book also felt rushed. The magic, while delightful, seemed to come on too suddenly—I’d have preferred a slower, more gradual build-up to fully savour it.
That said, it was a charming escape and an enjoyable quick listen!
November 18, 2025
I thought this was going to be a five-star MG, but it just wasn't finished. And I think it could so easily have been finished given a few thousand more words! Drop more hints about Sophie and explain more about her relationship with the Mancinis (the ending feels odd without additional information on this). Let us know *why* the aunt and uncle "pounced" -- what's in it for them apart from the house and a place to base their business? Was the parents' accident actually murder or truly an accident? And so on.
I love and adore Hilary McKay forever for bringing us the Cassons, and I feel awful for even daring to want to make big sweeping edits, but! This would be so good if all the components folded in and really came full-circle. It seems like they're going to until about three-quarters of the way through, and then they don't. And it made me sad. (I did really love all the teachers winning the lottery. Hilarious.)
So, three stars, because I still had a wonderful time with it, but it could have been extraordinary.
I love and adore Hilary McKay forever for bringing us the Cassons, and I feel awful for even daring to want to make big sweeping edits, but! This would be so good if all the components folded in and really came full-circle. It seems like they're going to until about three-quarters of the way through, and then they don't. And it made me sad. (I did really love all the teachers winning the lottery. Hilarious.)
So, three stars, because I still had a wonderful time with it, but it could have been extraordinary.
October 8, 2024
This was a sweet story with a kind of mythological everyday-magic quality to it that reminded me of Roald Dahl. For that reason, it almost works. The over-the-top terrible relatives, the whimsical cat interactions, the very literal found family. I enjoyed the story. It made me smile.
But as a lifelong fan of Hilary McKay, I just kept wondering . . . where was SHE in this book? I was so excited to see that she had published another novel, but her characteristic voice felt mysteriously absent. I suspect she wanted to write something that felt very new to her, something like a classic children's book with a hint of oddness, and in that I think she succeeded. But I don't read Hilary McKay books to be reminded of Danny, the Champion of the World--I read them because McKay's usual writing style is so unique, so moving, so funny that no other writer can replicate it. I hope it returns in a future story.
But as a lifelong fan of Hilary McKay, I just kept wondering . . . where was SHE in this book? I was so excited to see that she had published another novel, but her characteristic voice felt mysteriously absent. I suspect she wanted to write something that felt very new to her, something like a classic children's book with a hint of oddness, and in that I think she succeeded. But I don't read Hilary McKay books to be reminded of Danny, the Champion of the World--I read them because McKay's usual writing style is so unique, so moving, so funny that no other writer can replicate it. I hope it returns in a future story.
August 2, 2024
Written for Tweens (8-12) and young teens. This tale of magic, cats, and longing will tug at your heartstrings.
When Rosa's parents die, her aunt and uncle come to live with her. They aren't very loving, they don't really seem to care too much about Rosa. But cats and Rosa's own, strong sense of self are her strengths. It's cats that help her along the way.
No, the cats don't talk but they definitely appreciate Rosa's attention.
Rosa's adventure is a joy to read, especially the happy ending. The pictures by Matt Rockefeller are also charming and add flavor to Rosa's adventures.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
When Rosa's parents die, her aunt and uncle come to live with her. They aren't very loving, they don't really seem to care too much about Rosa. But cats and Rosa's own, strong sense of self are her strengths. It's cats that help her along the way.
No, the cats don't talk but they definitely appreciate Rosa's attention.
Rosa's adventure is a joy to read, especially the happy ending. The pictures by Matt Rockefeller are also charming and add flavor to Rosa's adventures.
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
November 29, 2024
Magic cat books were absolutely my go-to read as a kid. This one hits all the marks. Rosa is orphaned young and taken in by a previously unknown and rather suspiciously arriving aunt and uncle who treat her abominably. Rosa has a special relationship with cats (and the natural world, generally). When her guardians take her to Italy with every intent of abandoning her there, Rosa finds unexpected solace not only with some very magical cats but with an Italian family. Despite some of the trauma Rosa endures, this is a pretty light ultimately feel-good fantasy with Roald Dahl touches of the absurd.
Book Pairings:
Carbonel: The King of the Cats by Barbara Sleigh was a childhood magic cat favorite.
And for grown-ups: The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki.
Book Pairings:
Carbonel: The King of the Cats by Barbara Sleigh was a childhood magic cat favorite.
And for grown-ups: The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki.
June 23, 2024
I feel after reading this book that I'd like my time spent reading it reimbursed.
At first I kept reading because I thought something might happen...but honestly even by the end of the book, bar a trip to Venice, basically nothing happened.
The author has a decent Enough writing style, but to me it comes across as someone who has written for adults for many years, then turned to children's books, and hasn't quite made the switch successfully.
I wish I had something positive to say, but honestly I was bored throughout waiting for something interesting to happen, disappointed by the end, and just glad it was over with.
At first I kept reading because I thought something might happen...but honestly even by the end of the book, bar a trip to Venice, basically nothing happened.
The author has a decent Enough writing style, but to me it comes across as someone who has written for adults for many years, then turned to children's books, and hasn't quite made the switch successfully.
I wish I had something positive to say, but honestly I was bored throughout waiting for something interesting to happen, disappointed by the end, and just glad it was over with.
February 17, 2025
Magical story about Rosa (Mundi), an orphan (at 4) with dastardly, possibly-plotting relatives. Six years after her parent's death, her cold (nameless) aunt & uncle decide to go to Venice to cover it in their fake grass. When her school's summer camping trip in cancelled (all the teachers win the lottery), they reluctantly take her, leaving her alone in a tiny hotel with an Italian family, and later try to drown her in a canal.
Magic pops up to support her at critical points--right after her realtives show up, a cat neighbor comes through her window (in a cat-shaped gap), and in Venice the San Marco lion comes to life to rescue her, along with hundreds of cats.
Magic pops up to support her at critical points--right after her realtives show up, a cat neighbor comes through her window (in a cat-shaped gap), and in Venice the San Marco lion comes to life to rescue her, along with hundreds of cats.
September 8, 2024
Rosa by Starlight is a pleasant read that had the potential to be even better. Rosa is a sweet little child whose kindness and innocence were not marred by the years of neglect and indifference by her aunt and uncle. The aunt and uncle gave me major Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon vibes from Harry Potter. I loved the cover and the book reminded me of the Roald Dahl books I used to read when I was young. Although Rosa had a happy ending, I was left unsatisfied. I wish there were more explanations regarding the magic and about Baltazar.
November 28, 2024
This is a magical book perfect for cat lovers. It had a very Roald Dahl/ Lemony Snicket-esque feel to it with the evil aunt and uncle and orphan child but it left me with lots of unanswered questions.
How does Rosa stop things? How could Bathazar talk or slip through windows? Also I’d love to know more about the orange kitten that was saved 20 years before.
Overall it was a quick, fun read, tense in places and heartwarming in others. I hope there is a sequel and we can catch up with Rosa and her new life in Italy.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan children’s books for my arc.
How does Rosa stop things? How could Bathazar talk or slip through windows? Also I’d love to know more about the orange kitten that was saved 20 years before.
Overall it was a quick, fun read, tense in places and heartwarming in others. I hope there is a sequel and we can catch up with Rosa and her new life in Italy.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan children’s books for my arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2025
Did the author just... give up? That was a really abrupt and rather lame ending. The beginning build up was interesting and enjoyable, the middle became confusing, and the ending just didn't tie much up for a child. My kid was left with a multitude of absolutely unanswered questions - and if you can't answer a 6 year old's questions maybe you shouldn't be writing juvenile literature.
Was seeming like it might get around 3 stars up until the last 4 chapters didn't do any of the tying up I expected. Kid says book gets 1 star, but the cats can have 5 stars. The cats were pretty good.
Was seeming like it might get around 3 stars up until the last 4 chapters didn't do any of the tying up I expected. Kid says book gets 1 star, but the cats can have 5 stars. The cats were pretty good.
August 22, 2024
This was a lovely story - sweet and gentle but as with all good stories, a hint of darkness. It reminded me of the whimsical, magical books I loved from my childhood - Edward Eager’s Half Magic etc and Barbara Sleigh’s Carbonel series (and not just because of all the cats!). I think cat-loving children will adore this and Venice is beautifully brought to life as well. The cover and the UK edition illustrations are gorgeous too - I’m jealous of the sparkling hardcover!
November 6, 2024
Rosa, a cat-loving orphan, is taken to Venice by her "aunt" and "uncle" who abandon her at a little family-run hotel. Rosa would soon be in desperate straits, except for the kindness of the Mancini family and the care of the city's many, many cats.
I like McKay's writing, but this one felt a little scant compared to some of her earlier books. Still, I know some cat-crazy youngsters for whom this will be, well, catnip.
I like McKay's writing, but this one felt a little scant compared to some of her earlier books. Still, I know some cat-crazy youngsters for whom this will be, well, catnip.
January 8, 2025
3.5 stars, but rounded up because it's lovely. I just wish it had been longer. There's a lot of mystery and not all of it is explained. I have to assume the gaps are deliberate, because McKay is too much a master of her craft to be careless. And in some ways I like being left wondering. But sometimes I might like a bit more explanation. Rosa is delightful and I loved all the cats and the scenes in Venice, which is one of my favourite cities in the whole world.
January 8, 2025
What a gem of a book! Just perfect! Very well written, insightful, warm, fresh.
The only downside: it's marketed to children. This book is like a delicate, warm pastry to be nibbled at and savored, but it's marketed to kids, which, as far as I know, would stuff their faces with corn sugar chocolate.
Hopefully, this book would make a child happy. It definitely made me.
The only downside: it's marketed to children. This book is like a delicate, warm pastry to be nibbled at and savored, but it's marketed to kids, which, as far as I know, would stuff their faces with corn sugar chocolate.
Hopefully, this book would make a child happy. It definitely made me.
January 10, 2025
My kids and I really enjoyed reading this together. It does have some scary themes, like people mistreating and sometimes trying to hurt the main character. We liked how magical it was, and we couldn't wait to read every day to find out what would happen.
September 30, 2024
A sweet, magical story perfect for those longing to belong and who love cats. 🐈⬛
October 3, 2024
Charming. Absolutely charming. One of my favorite sentences was: 'Rosa shook her head. She’d often wondered about running away, but never about growing up.'
Loved it.
Loved it.
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