A magical book in the rich and whimsical world of the Kingdoms and Empires about a girl, a threat and a pickle jar filled with gold coins by the internationally bestselling and multi-award-winning author of The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst.
'Jaclyn Moriarty is one of the most original writers we have.' Markus Zusak
Lillian Velvet lives a very lonely life with her cold and remote Grandmother. That is, until her tenth birthday, when she is given a pickle jar of gold coins, along with a note with clear instructions: don't go out, don't open the door for anyone, and don't spend all your coins in one day.
What happens next seems impossible. The coins whisk Lillian away to a different time and place. There she meets a small boy in a circus about to be crushed to death; a lively family, each member in a distinctive form of mortal danger; a boy with a skateboard; and a girl who can Whisper. And a web of dangerous magic closing tight around it all.
Why is Lillian here? How is she supposed to help these new friends? And - most importantly - what happens if she fails?
An exciting tale in the magical Kingdoms and Empires world, where seemingly disparate elements are spun until all is revealed as one delicious, tantalising whole.
About the Author
Jaclyn Moriarty is the internationally bestselling author of novels for children, young adults and sometimes slightly older adults, including the (lengthily-titled) books in the Kingdoms and Empires series: The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone, The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars, The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, The Astonishing Chronicles of Oscar from Elsewhere, and now, The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet.
Jaclyn's books have been translated into several languages, won the NSW Premier's Literary Award, the Queensland Literary Award, the Aurealis Award and named as CBCA Honour Book and Boston Globe/Hornbook Honor book. They have also been short-listed for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, the Nebula Prize and the Russell Prize for Humour Writing for Young People.
A former media and entertainment lawyer, Jaclyn grew up in Sydney, lived in the US, UK and Canada, and now lives in Sydney again. She is very fond of blueberries, chocolate and ice skating.
Industry Reviews
'What an achievement this book is. It's impossibly good (excuse the pun) and I loved it. Complex and clever, Lillian Velvet's adventure through time is expertly plotted and a joy to read. Book by book, the Kingdoms and Empires continue to become more enchanting, their deep history building on itself each time a reader is lucky enough to visit them. You can't help but fall in love with Jaclyn Moriarty's characters, and Lillian Velvet in particular is possibly the most charming hero yet. She's won my heart.' Reece Carter, bestselling author of A Girl Called Corpse
Readers will have a hard time closing this book as they race to discover whether Lillian is the one pulling the threads apart or the only one who can knit them back together...quirky, charming characters, and richly developed themes of friendship and family...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
'In the nostalgic fantasy novel The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet, a child gains friendships and fresh insights about herself through extraordinary interdimensional travels ... Kaleidoscopic ... An enticing story - one made more so by Lillian's meta-reflections on the nature of storytelling and how ineffectual she feels as a heroine who keeps being whisked away before she's able to perform any true heroics.' Foreword Reviews (US)
