This is a reinvention of the most radiant, vital kind; an inspirational re-working of The Twelve Dancing Princesses to devour over and over, and to share aloud.
Following the death of his wife, Queen Laurelia, King Alberto “became the sort of person who ate a whole cake without offering anyone else a slice, and who punished his girls for things that weren’t their fault at all.” While Queen Laurelia had “been the one watching them, nurturing their imaginations, their educations”, the King takes away his daughters’ freedoms in the name of keeping them safe. The palace is transformed into a tomb, and “only melancholy was allowed to illuminate the girls’ days”. But brave, clever Frida stands up to her father. “This isn’t fair, and you know it,” she protests. “You cannot tell us how to grieve”. And then, with the grace and strength of a lioness and the potency of her imagination, Frida leads her sisters in a fight to re-find life.
The writing pirouettes with the lithe power of a devoted dancer, with Angela Barrett’s elegant illustrations in perfect accord. What a sumptuous, stirring celebration of sisterhood this is.
The Restless Girls Deluxe Slipcase Edition Synopsis
A stunning deluxe edition of Jessie Burton’s dazzling feminist fairytale. Illustrated by Angela Barrett, this extra-special edition includes an exclusive print and gorgeous sprayed edges, all enclosed in a beautiful slipcase.
An essential gift, this inspirational story is a modern classic to be handed down from mother to daughter for generations For her twelve daughters, Queen Laurelia’s death in a motor car accident is a disaster beyond losing a mother. Their father, King Alberto, cannot bear the idea of the princesses ever being in danger and decides his daughters must be kept safe at all costs. Those costs include their lessons, their possessions and, most importantly, their freedom. But the eldest, Princess Frida, will not bend to his will without a fight and she still has one possession her father can’t take: the power of her imagination. And so, with little but wits and ingenuity to rely on, Frida and her sisters begin their fight to be allowed to live.
This is a magical modern retelling of an old fairytale – the exquisite text and illustrations work in perfect harmony - Jacqueline Wilson
It’s critical what we read our kids ... Jessie Burton has very cleverly has taken a fairytale that was already standing and loved, but has reframed it. It’s asking you to think of yourself and value yourself in terms other than the way you look, and just that – that one tiny aspect of the book – alone, was, to me, just a complete revelation - Thandie Newton
A tale to read to your children (of both genders) over and over, and for them to read to theirs. It’s a book that glows - Katherine Rundell
A beautifully realised, whirling adventure full of the dark glitter of growing up, The Restless Girls is a fierce fairytale for the rebel girl – and boy – generation - Kiran Millwood Hargrave
A story of love, loss, grief, and a desperate yearning for freedom, told with breathtaking compassion and wisdom - Louise O'Neill, author of The Surface Breaks
A riveting feminist retelling, filled with excitement, imagination, magic, and just the right touch of darkness. These twelve fierce heroines will be a pleasure to return to again and again - Madeline Miller
[Burton] fleshes out this traditional fairytale with personality ... Angela Barrett’s illustrations, meanwhile, add an exotic visual richness to Burton’s painterly descriptions of the princesses’ enchanted underworld - Irish Times
A feminist fairytale about finding one's inner lioness and about picking a battle very much worth fighting …This brilliant reimagining of Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses completely subverts the fairytale genre. Gone are insipid, demure ‘weaker sex’ princessy-princesses and enter feisty and passionate girls who trail-blaze their way into a better life ... This would be perfect for children in upper key stage 2 and would work well alongside our sequences for The Sleeper and The Spindle, The Lost Happy Endings and The Princess’ Blankets - The Literary Curriculum
I read The Restless Girls with my young niece and nephews. Long after they had fallen asleep, I was still reading ... Refreshing and empowering and utterly impossible to put down … An exciting and magical tale of joy, love and the courage of twelve girls to be wholly themselves - Dr. Alaa Murabit
Author
About Jessie Burton
Jessie Burton was born in 1982 and went to school in south London. Her favourite subjects were story-writing, sleeping and ice-cream eating. After studying at Oxford University, the highlight of which was playing a rose and a fox inThe Little Prince, she went on to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She worked hard for nine years as an actress and a PA before her first novel, The Miniaturist, was published. The Miniaturist was translated into over thirty languages and has sold over a million copies around the world. Her second novel,The Muse, was published in July 2016 and is also a no.1 bestseller. She shares her home with a cat called Margot and some very nice friends – some real, others quite imagined.
