Rosa by Starlight Written by Hilary McKay. Reviewed by Radhika, Age 9

This unforgettable masterpiece of a book flew me through the vicissitudes of 11 year old Rosa’s turbulent life and how she finds heart-lifting magic just when she needs it.

After her benevolent parents were killed in a tragic accident when she was only 4, her long lost aunt and uncle appear on her doorstep and her life changes forever. Her malicious aunt locks her into her bedroom every night but Rosa soon finds a way to escape through her bedroom window. As she scrambles out of her window into the velvety, abyss of the night, the small, comforting shadow of Balthazar the cat, who she’s sure is magic, is waiting for her.

One day, her aunt and uncle have to go to Venice. The school trip that Rosa’s been counting down day for is cancelled out of the blue because the teachers won the lottery. Her aunt and uncle are forced to take Rosa with them but she is not allowed to pack anything and has to stay in a different hotel to them. The stars watch this injustice apoplectically and all the cats that seem ubiquitous in Venice spur Rosa on to embrace the change in her life doubtlessly…

This book took me on a journey through the starry night skies as the stars whisper in their secret language to Rosa, underneath the magical apple tree as Rosa flies over the endless kingdoms of her fairytales in her books and through the cobbled streets of Venice watching the gondolas sail over the canals.

This is a story of magic, cats in abundance and overcoming problems all entwined together like the branches of a flower studded apple tree which has luscious, golden apples which hang protectively over Rosa like guardians while she reads. I loved the magical, heartwarming illustrations and how thought provoking the front cover was. Indigo swirls are woven into the songs of the stars, shining and winking over Rosa as she gazes in rapt attention at the moon on Rialto bridge. My favourite illustration was the one on pages 8 and 9 which is Rosa’s first encounter with Balthazar (see below).

The main protagonist Rosa is resilient, caring and cautious. My favourite character was the pampered cat Balthazar, with his knowing looks and adoring staff, his coloured menus and patterned, green cushion and, most of all, the way he throws off his collar irritably and how it sometimes gets caught in mini whirlwinds that appear in the middle of the street. I also liked how he would press Rosa’s window and a cat shaped space would appear for him and the descriptions of how he talked. I loved how sparks fly from his fur when he was stroked.

I loved the Venetian setting with its cobbled alleyways and quaint canals. Rosa’s aunt and uncle sold plastic grass. I found it infuriating that their business thrives in this world, and they hate it when Rosa has her own opinion on these things.

This story has an element of Roald Dahl’s classic, Matilda, and I would recommend it to fans of Alyssa and the Spell Garden and people who love thought-provoking books (and cats).

I loved how Hilary McKay has weaved a gossamer thought provoking web of literature and how she included the furry feline friends we come to know and love. The evocative descriptions were effervescent with vocab and magic. They transport you into Rosa’s unjust world and give you a chance to put it right.

If I had to describe this book in three words I would say its about cats, magic and finding your true self. A must-read book for ages 9-10 with a hidden meaning and lots of cats.