The Secret of Lillian Velvet

Jaclyn Moriarty

Book cover for The Secret of Lillian Velvet
Book cover for The Secret of Lillian Velvet

The Secret of Lillian Velvet

The Secret of Lillian Velvet

Jaclyn Moriarty

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Description
Here are only a few of the wonderful, strange, and mysterious elements in this breathtaking visit to the Kingdoms and Empires: A very proper girl named Lillian Velvet, living a very lonely life with a nasty Grandmother. A jar of coins, each with the power to take Lillian on a journey to a different time and place...and also to grant a single wish. A small boy in a barn about to be crushed to death by a load of hay. A family, each member in mortal danger, who are strangers to Lillian (but whom clever readers will recognize). And a web of dangerous magic closing tight around all. Who IS this Lillian Velvet? And what is her secret?

Only Jaclyn Moriarty has the ability to make readers laugh even while they grip the sides of their chairs in suspense. In The Secret of Lillian Velvet she is at the height of her storytelling powers, spinning, spinning, spinning seemingly disparate elements until all is revealed as one delicious, tantalizing whole.

P R A I S E

★ "Enticing... In the nostalgic fantasy novel The Secret of Lillian Velvet, a child gains friendships and fresh insights about herself through extraordinary interdimensional travels."
--Foreword Reviews (starred)

"Absorbingly rich and strange."
--Kirkus

"Sparkles with energy, warm humor, and outrageous metaphors."
--Horn Book

About the Author

Jaclyn Moriarty is the award-winning author of uniquely creative and readable books for adults and young readers including The Year of Secret Assignments, the Colors of Madeleine trilogy, The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone, and The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst. One of the talented and popular Moriarty sisters (including Liane and Nicola), Jaclyn lives in Sydney, Australia. She is very fond of chocolate, blueberries, and sleep

Critical Reviews

[STAR] "An expertly written exploration of an Afro-Latine family's history and the pantheon of West African gods. Marrero's debut beautifully weaves together themes of family trauma, first crushes, spirituality, and history as Maya embarks on her journey of self-discovery. An uplifting, beautifully rendered story of family bonds and embracing the unknown." - Kirkus (starred)

"A spirited debut about finding oneself, familial love, and forgiveness." - Booklist

[STAR] "Beguiling... Maya's lively voice dazzles amid a standout cast that includes her lovably unruly cousins as well as memorable neighbors and classmates of varied Black and Latine heritages. In this evocative multigenerational tale, Marrero cultivates a rich N.Y.C. setting that feels like a character in itself, bursting with even richer depictions of cultural traditions." - Publishers Weekly (starred)

[STAR] "Enticing... In the nostalgic fantasy novel The Secret of Lillian Velvet, a child gains friendships and fresh insights about herself through extraordinary interdimensional travels." -- Foreword Reviews

"Absorbingly rich and strange." - Kirkus

"Sparkles with energy, warm humor, and outrageous metaphors." -- Horn Book

[STAR] "Readers will have a hard time closing this book... A must-have for any middle grade collection with fantasy lovers, and those who enjoy the likes of Roald Dahl, Neil Gaiman, and Lemony Snicket." -- School Library Journal (starred)

Publishing Information

Publisher: Levine Querido
Pub date: 2023-10-10
Length: 448 pages

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