The Cabinet of Wonders

by Marie Rutkoski

A simple girl named Petra lives with her father and pet spider in a very small village filled with artisans and poor families that rely on their skills and magic to survive. Her father's magical gift of manipulating metal with his mind is amazing, but Petra wonders what magical gift she was born with. After being commissioned by the prince of Bohemia to build an astronomical clock, her father is taken to Prague where he begins his masterpiece. Many months pass and Petra's father is brought back home in the back of a horse-drawn wagon. She is stunned to see that his head is bandaged and his eyes are gone, stolen by the prince! The prince wears them as he attempts to complete the final part of the clock. Without telling her family, Petra makes a plan to travel to Prague, get a job working in the castle, and steal back her father's eyes. How can a twelve-year-old girl do this alone? Will she return to her family safe?

This powerful combination of history and fantasy is sure to have readers believing in Petra's determination and cheering her on as she attempts to avenge her father! I was completely absorbed in the story, finding myself thinking about what would happen next even when I wasn't reading! Rutkoski builds worlds and characters that are captivating, while she weaves in just enough history to make the story believable. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and share this new treasure with my students!

2010-2011 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee