Cosima has lived her entire life at the Home for Unfortunate Girls, a school where girls who are disabled or a little bit different are sent to live. While most of the other girls have families that come to visit, she has no memory of her parents and no clues to help her find them – not even a last name. But Cosima is nothing if not resilient, and she spends her days planning elaborate heists with the help of her closest friends, Diya, Pearl, and Mary. And it is during one of these heists that Cosima overhears Lord Francis Fitzroy, the world-famous explorer, tell Miss Stain that he wants to adopt all the Unfortunate girls.

Cosima and her friends are immediately suspicious of Lord Fitzroy and his intentions. In order to figure out what Lord Fitzroy is up to, Cosima and her friends hatch their most daring plan yet: stealing the centrepiece of Lord Fitzroy’s Empire Exhibition – his prized tiara, which contains the Star Diamond of India.

On the surface, Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star looks like an adventure novel, but between the pages you’ll find thoughtful discussions about the impacts of colonisation, families of all different kinds, undercover female reporters, and authentic representations of multiple disabilities. It’s a fast-paced and exciting adventure that feels a bit like a cross between Lemony Snicket (the brilliant inventions and greedy villains!) and A Little Princess (finding the best in others and the dreary Victorian setting). Cosima is excellent at planning heists, but her real gift is seeing precisely what each of her friends is good at and bringing out the best in them. A book for everyone aged 9+.