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A review by skylarkblue1
Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star by Laura Noakes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a sweet tale of perseverance and determination. Of intelligence and creativity. A diverse cast of characters fighting to be seen and to be free.
Cosima and her friends live in a sort of home, but one specifically for disabled kids. Ones who are taken by their families by law to live under the care of a matron. Unfortunately for Cos, their carers are abusive and cruel towards all the kids. To make time go by easier, the gang each use their skills and creativity to cause some mischief and pull off some light heists. Inventions, planning, stealth and more get exercised in these little outings until one day those skills are needed for real to help save the children.
So much adventure and inventing! It really uses it's setting so very well and does a fantastic job of balancing incredibly important and serious topics, while at the same time keeping it lighter-hearted and fun. The fun parts didn't diminish the serious topics at all in my opinion, and really helped to make the characters fully rounded and 3d feeling!
The representation of disability is so authentic, and incredibly relatable for chronically ill/disabled people in general too. One point Cos describes her disability as a zigzag and that's so true for many of us! I don't have hEDS/Hypermobility but my disabilities very much can be a zigzag easily and I could really relate to the chronic pain Cos goes through. The disabilities aren't specified in the book, which really fits the time period (1899) and honestly, I kinda prefer that. You don't need to have a label to be disabled, and to have struggles with them. You're valid regardless.
Cosima and her friends live in a sort of home, but one specifically for disabled kids. Ones who are taken by their families by law to live under the care of a matron. Unfortunately for Cos, their carers are abusive and cruel towards all the kids. To make time go by easier, the gang each use their skills and creativity to cause some mischief and pull off some light heists. Inventions, planning, stealth and more get exercised in these little outings until one day those skills are needed for real to help save the children.
So much adventure and inventing! It really uses it's setting so very well and does a fantastic job of balancing incredibly important and serious topics, while at the same time keeping it lighter-hearted and fun. The fun parts didn't diminish the serious topics at all in my opinion, and really helped to make the characters fully rounded and 3d feeling!
The representation of disability is so authentic, and incredibly relatable for chronically ill/disabled people in general too. One point Cos describes her disability as a zigzag and that's so true for many of us! I don't have hEDS/Hypermobility but my disabilities very much can be a zigzag easily and I could really relate to the chronic pain Cos goes through. The disabilities aren't specified in the book, which really fits the time period (1899) and honestly, I kinda prefer that. You don't need to have a label to be disabled, and to have struggles with them. You're valid regardless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Abandonment, Colonisation, Genocide, and Alcoholism