Jepp, Who Defied the Stars - Hardcover

Marsh, Katherine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1423135008 ISBN 13: 9781423135005

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH, 2012

Synopsis

New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2012
The Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Books of 2012
 

“This highly unusual story about a highly unusual hero will also feel like your story. Few of us are imprisoned dwarfs, but all of us want to guide our own lives.” Jonathan Safran Foer, New York Times best-selling author of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
 


“Rich, absorbing storytelling a terrific read in every way.” Nancy Werlin, National Book  Award Finalist and author of Impossible

 

"Delightful characters, unique setting, and lovely prose. This is historical fiction at its best!"   Ruta Sepetys, New York Times best-selling author of Between Shades of Gray

 
Fate:
Is it written in the stars from the moment we are born?
Or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands? 
 

Jepp of Astraveld needs to know.

He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become a captive in a luxurious prison: Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the Spanish Infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that as a court dwarf, daily injustices would become his seemingly unshakable fate. If the humiliations were his alone, perhaps he could endure them; but it breaks Jepp’s heart to see his friend Lia suffer.

After Jepp and Lia attempt a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe in a kidnapper’s carriage, Jepp fears where his unfortunate stars may lead him. But he can't even begin to imagine the brilliant and eccentric new master a man devoted to uncovering the secrets of the stars who awaits him. Or the girl who will help him mend his heart and unearth the long-buried secrets of his past.

Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real histori­cal characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is the tale of an extraordinary hero and his inspiring quest to become the master of his own destiny.

About this title

About the Author

Katherine Marsh is the Edgar Award-winning author of The Night Tourist and The Twilight Prisoner. She spent a decade as a journalist, including as a reporter for Rolling Stone and as managing editor of The New Republic. For her latest novel, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, Katherine drew on her childhood fascination with the portraits of court dwarfs by Spanish painter Diego Velazquez. A New York native and a Yale graduate, she currently lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and two children.

Review

Real history is effortlessly woven into her fiction... Marsh transforms [Jepp's] "footnote" of a story into an epic search of love, family, respect, and a destiny of one's own making. * Publishers Weekly * A beautifully written coming-of-age story, inspired by real historical characters. A truly great read. * Recommended Reads, Children's Books Ireland * Narrating a young adult novel from a dwarf's perspective is nothing short of inspired ... Marsh transcends genre to create an engaging narrative complex enough to keep not-so-young adults turning its pages. * The New York Times * This highly unusual story about a highly unusual hero will also feel like your story. Few of us are imprisoned dwarfs, but all of us want to guide our own lives. * Jonathan Safran Foer, author of EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED and EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE * With a strong central character in Jepp, this is an unusual and powerful coming-of-age story about first love and taking control of your future. * Booktrust * In this work of historical fiction, Marsh has created a loveable hero who overcomes both physical disability and social constraints to find not only love but a place of standing in this world. This is an uplifting novel that explores an interesting and little-explored historical geography. * We Love This Book * A powerful and romantic historical novel based on the true story of the world famous astronomer Tycho Brahe. -- Julia Eccleshare * Lovereading4kids * Jepp is an itinerant dwarf who travels around Europe. "Marsh's elegant historical fiction has a moving message," says Marianne * The 50 Best Books for Christmas, Independent * Delightful characters, unique setting, and lovely prose. This is historical fiction at its best! -- Ruta Sepetys, author of BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY Jepp, who defied the Stars, is not only an intelligent and thought-provoking book, it's also refreshingly different and a terrific read. * Buzz about Books *

About this edition

• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1423135008
• ISBN 13: 9781423135005
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 400