A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth

Description

The most magical children's book debut of 2020, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and illustrated by award-winning Chris Riddell Imogen should be nice to her little sister Marie. She should be nice to her mum's boyfriend too. And she certainly shouldn't follow a strange silver moth through a door in a tree. But then . . . who does what they're told? Followed by Marie, Imogen finds herself falling into a magical kingdom where the two sisters are swept up in a thrilling race against time - helped by the spoiled prince of the kingdom, a dancing bear, a very grumpy hunter . . . and even the stars above them. Thrilling, sharply funny, and with characters you will fall in love with, A Clock of Stars is a timeless fantasy from an astonishing new voice - and the beginning of an unforgettable journey . . .

Francesca Gibbons has been telling tall tales for as long as she can remember. She had the idea for The Shadow Moth when she was a child. Now it's the first book in her middle-grade trilogy, A Clock of Stars, due to be published by HarperCollins in October 2020. Fran did most of her growing up in Staffordshire. She read English at the University of Bristol and now lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. She also works as a freelance copywriter. Chris Riddell, the 2015-2017 UK Children's Laureate, is an accomplished artist and the political cartoonist for the Observer. He has enjoyed great acclaim for his books for children. His books have won a number of major prizes, including the 2001, 2004 and 2016 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medals. Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse won the Costa Children's Book Award 2013. Chris has been honoured with an OBE in recognition of his illustration and charity work. He lives in Brighton with his family.

"An utterly wonderful, timeless magical adventure packed with all the best things about children's fiction." - Anna James, author of Pages & Co. "A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth fluttered straight into my heart. Sometimes you pick up a book and know - from the very first pages - that you're reading an instant classic. This is one of those books. Prepare to be spellbound." - Carlie Sorosiak, author of I, Cosmo "Utterly irresistible and hugely imaginative, the first instalment of a thrilling, funny fantasy series finds two misbehaving sisters plunged into a magical kingdom to face a deadly threat." - Waterstones Best Books of 2020 "...a sparkling debut... boasts a funny, engaging voice, a strong sibling dynamic and a bold, intransigent heroine" Guardian