Book Review: Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star by Laura Noakes

At the Home for Unfortunate Girls, Cosima—Cos for short—has lived all of her life within the confines of daily chores and schoolwork, sheltered away from society like the other girls at the home. They have been told by The Stains, who run the home with wickedness, that they don’t belong in public. That because they are disabled, or appear different, that they must stay there, whether their families want that or not—it’s the only way. But that doesn’t stop Cos and her friends dreaming about life and dreams beyond the home, conducting mini heists, pranks and inventions to make their lives better and happier for themselves. Whilst all the other girls have families, or even relatives out there, Cos isn’t called Number One for nothing—she was the first at the home as a baby and has no one to even consider visiting one day.

But when a rare visitor, an explorer and creator of the Empire Exhibition,  turns up at the home and sparks an interest in them, namely wanting to “adopt” them, called Lord Francis Fitzroy, Cos, Diya, Mary and Pearl—among their other friends—are horrified, especially since it seems to not be an adoption, but something rather sinister. It takes all their courage and strength, the group banding together to plan the biggest heist of their lives to solve a deeply rooted mystery that surrounds not only Lord Francis Fitzroy and the Stains, but how it ties into Cosima’s past, and maybe even her future.

Overall, Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star was one of those reads that feels like a warm hug. I was taken on a whirlwind ride of clever inventions, beautiful friendships and a magnificent story that soared as high as the starry night sky. I adored the connection between Cos and her friends (especially Diya) and Myles was a lovely addition to the gang. As someone with a chronic illness and anxiety disorder since I was young I found myself seeing so many similarities in lots of the girls, whether it was chronic pain or the sadness that comes with judgement from people sometimes, and it just made me feel so deeply. I cannot tell you just how magical, fun, needed and spectacular this book is. This will be your favourite Middle Grade book of the year. Five stars doesn’t feel like enough!