Rose Series, Book 1

August 1, 2013
In this orphan-makes-good mystery/thriller with a magical twist, Rose and her compatriots--an apprentice magician, a spoiled 7-year-old and a shape-shifting talking cat--work together to figure out who has been kidnapping local children and come up with a plan to rescue them. At the tender age of 10, Rose, who has lived an impoverished and cloistered life in an orphanage, goes into service as the second housemaid at the home of renowned and wealthy magician and alchemist Mr. Aloysius Fountain. Rose, who had barely been outside the orphanage gates, slowly adjusts to her new circumstances, which are luxurious to her modest eyes. Rose's growing knowledge of the world outside the orphanage, her own burgeoning and increasingly emphatic magical power, and her relationships with other members of the household turn out to be more engaging and suspenseful than the story's mystery. The climactic battle, which features the power of hope, is talky, still explaining at a time readers should be enveloped in action. Still, Rose is sympathetic and a pleasure to root for, the secondary characters have room to grow, and the ending can be read as a new beginning, leaving plenty of room for a sequel. Character and the day-to-day workings of a wealthy household overshadow magic and plot in this engaging tale of an orphan servant-girl. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-When you're an orphan, even magical abilities can be of little use. While Rose can conjure fantastic images to cheer up her disheartened friends, she sees no real value to her strange power. Desiring the simple comforts of a steady job and a warm bed, Rose happily leaves the orphanage for a coveted position as a housemaid to the wealthy alchemist, Mr. Fountain. Her new life is anything but normal as she discovers that her employer's house is alive with magic. Stairs move and cats speak, though none of the other staff realizes it. Afraid that she will lose her job if her magical talents are discovered, Rose keeps them hidden. She soon meets Freddie, the alchemist's apprentice, who recognizes her special ability. When Rose's friends from the orphanage go missing, along with many other children, Rose and Freddie must work together to solve the mystery. Set during the Victorian era, this novel is filled with realism and detail. Rich vocabulary and a particularly scary encounter with a powerful witch set this title apart from other books in the genre. Fans of light fantasy and mystery will devour this intriguing story and eagerly await the sequel.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

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