Any child can spark magic, but only the elite are allowed to kindle it. Those denied access to the secrets of the kindling ritual will see their magic snuffed out before their thirteenth birthday.
Miss Posterity’s Academy for Practical Magic is the best kindling school in New York City ― and wealthy twelve-year-old Emma Harris is accustomed to the best. But when her father dies, leaving her penniless, Emma is reduced to working off her debts to Miss Posterity alongside Izzy, a daring servant girl who refuses to let her magic be snuffed out, even if society dictates she must. Emma and Izzy reluctantly form a pact: If Izzy teaches Emma how to survive as a servant, Emma will reveal to Izzy what she knows about magic.
Along the way, they encounter quizzes that literally pop, shy libraries, and talking cats (that is, house dragons). But when another student’s kindling goes horribly wrong, revealing the fiery dangers of magic, Emma and Izzy must set aside their differences or risk their magic being snuffed out forever. Heartfelt, fast-paced, and utterly absorbing, The Gilded Girl is a sparkling novel about determination, spirit, and the magic of friendship. Izzy's story continues in the follow-up, The Tarnished Garden.
"Emma’s true personality comes to the fore in extremis, and she learns compassion for others, regardless of class. With plenty of drama and heroic rescues, this fantasy holds a lot of appeal for magic-loving readers, including fun touches like bland food that becomes delicious with the touch of a crystal and rooms that move around, Hogwarts style.... Fast-paced and warmhearted with a satisfying conclusion." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 8 - 12 |
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Author | Alyssa Colman |
ISBN | 0374313938 |
Publication Date | Apr 6, 2021 |
Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) |
Series Name | Gilded Magic |
Language | English |