Cosima lives with her friends in the Home For Unfortunate Girls. They all have one thing in common: they are disabled or different in some way and, as a result, have been sent to the school. Life is not pleasant but Cosima and her friends Pearl, Mary and Diya pass the time planning and trying to execute mini-heists (this largely involves them finding ways to steal cakes and biscuits). However, one day, Cosima discovers that Lord Fitzroy is planning to adopt all of the girls she begins to worry that his motives are far from honest. Whilst visiting the Empire Exhibition, Cosima stumbles upon Fitzroy's most precious item: a tiara containing the Star Diamond of India. Immediately, Cosima's mind goes into overdrive and she and her friends begin to plan their most daring heist of all: stealing the tiara. But as they get close, are they putting themselves in too much danger and will Cosima ever discover who her real parents actually are?
This is a wonderful book with the most fantastic set of characters: I guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy hating the owners of the Home For Unfortunate Children as well as Lord Fitzroy, willing them to get their comeuppance. However, as much as you will loath them, I know that you will quickly come to love Cosima and her friends who are certainly not about to let a little thing like being disabled or different prevent them from doing everything they want to - their spirit and determination is to be admired. I found Diya and her inventions wonderful and couldn't wait to see what she was going to invent next and how she adapted things from the little they had to suit her needs. However, it is Cosima, as the main character, who I truly loved: not knowing who her parents were clearly impacts most of what she does and definitely drives her own; however, she is far from perfect and some of the choices she makes in the book lead to problems for herself and her friends - I always enjoy reading characters who are like this as I feel it helps readers to see that nobody is perfect and that we all make mistakes.
The book is a combination of just the right amount of adventure and excitement, mixed with friendship, bravery and daring-do. It's a brilliant read that ha already created a stir in school so I can imagine it won't stay in my trolley long when I take it in this week.
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