Children's Fiction Orphans & Foster Homes
The Secret Starling
- Publisher
- Candlewick Press
- Initial publish date
- Jun 2021
- Category
- Orphans & Foster Homes, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Girls & Women
- Recommended Age
- 10 to 14
- Recommended Grade
- 5 to 9
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781536213652
- Publish Date
- Jun 2021
- List Price
- $22.99
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781536230307
- Publish Date
- Dec 2024
- List Price
- $11.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
A tattered ballet slipper found under the floorboards of Braithwaite Manor may be the key to Clara’s sinister family secrets in this delightful, lightly Gothic mystery for fans of Maryrose Wood and Claire Legrand.
Clara Starling lives a life of dull rules, deadly routine, and flavorless meals under her cold uncle's strict regime—until the day Uncle disappears, leaving Clara alone in his old mansion. When streetwise orphan Peter and his rescue cat arrive unexpectedly, the children seize the chance to live by their own rules. But when the pair’s wild romps through the halls of Braithwaite Manor reveal a single, worn ballet slipper, they are hurled into a mystery that will lead to London’s glittering Royal Opera House and the unraveling of twisted Starling family secrets of poison, passion, and murder. Diabolical villains, plucky orphans, and glamorous ballet stars populate this absorbing adventure with a classic feel.
About the authors
Jo Rioux was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. An artist from an early age, she was eventually drawn to children’s books, illustrating Swordquest for HarperCollins and the graphic novel series A Sam and Friends Mystery for Kids Can Press. Her love for the comic medium spurred her to author her first graphic novel series, Cat’s Cradle. She lives in the lush suburbs of her hometown, where, when not working at her drawing desk, she can be found nestled within a pile of books.
Editorial Reviews
Set in the 1970s, the story has its lighter moments, but it becomes more intense when events take a sinister turn. The lively cast of characters includes imaginative village children, a villainous exballerina, and a prince of Russian danseur. And while the ending may surprise some readers, it's sure to delight them as well. Eight full-page illustrations add to this mystery’s considerable appeal.
—Booklist
Ballet intrigue and a neglected manor in the wild Yorkshire moors take center stage in a tale of who am I and whodunit. . . . Events unfold quickly, with Rudolf Nureyev’s defection from the Kirov Ballet a key plot element. Rioux’s atmospheric, full-page, black-and-white artwork lends a nostalgic feel to the work.
—Kirkus Reviews
