Which is more dangerous – a future you can’t see, or one that you can?
London, 1913
Twelve-year-old Maud Mulligan knows there’s no future for her in London, in the rat-infested slum where she grew up. But in the tunnel under the river are fortune tellers, Seers, who will tell your fortune for a few pennies. And then there is Mr Mandalay, Seer to the king and anyone else rich enough to afford him.
When Mr Mandalay sees Maud in a foretelling for a wealthy factory heiress, the heiress believes Maud can save her family from financial ruin. But how? And why?
In a world shaken by suffragettes, scientists, and the threat of war, what could a girl like Maud do to change anyone’s future – or even her own?
Now based in Adelaide, Catherine Norton is an award-winning author whose past lives have seen her travelling around the globe and working in a wide range of industries. Her colourful background no doubt contributes to her ability to construct such a vibrant tale, full of nuanced and believable characters in a setting that feels real in its richly described detail.
This enchanting adventure story is set to become a favourite. At once gentle and exciting, we are thrust into Maud’s unfortunate world with immediacy and urgency from the very first page. Little Maud makes a wonderful protagonist as she walks the tightrope of survival – I fell instantly in love with her, and read on eagerly in hopes that we would get to see her reach a happy ending. The colourful cast of supporting characters – both friends and foes – are each just as memorable and richly rendered.
The London setting is magical and other-worldly, pitched perfectly to capture and ignite the imagination of young readers. Norton manages to convey so much about class and inequality in her descriptions of streetscapes alone.
This is children’s historical fiction at its finest, with real-life events and details brought to vivid life. Fans of Jackie French’s historical fiction, especially her inspirational Girls Who Changed the World series, will love this book.
The gorgeous hardback format, along with the inspiring tale it contains, makes The Fortune Maker a magical gift for any young reader aged 10+.
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