Nine is an orphan who has been forced into a life of pickpocketing just to survive. She has no family, no home, and no name of her own — “Nine” is simply what she’s called. When she steals what looks like a small, house-shaped ornament from a lady at the market, she has no idea she’s about to change her life completely.
A House That Grows
When Nine knocks on the tiny door of the ornament, it doesn’t stay tiny for long. The ornament grows into an enormous, magical house — one filled with mysteries, strange inhabitants, and a curse that seems impossible to break. Amy Sparkes builds a richly imagined magical world where nothing, including the house itself, behaves the way Nine expects.
The house comes with its own set of odd rules and an urgent ticking clock: if Nine can’t break the curse before time runs out — before the clock strikes fifteen — she may lose everything all over again.
Found Family and Unlikely Courage
For a girl who has never had a place to belong, the house’s strange inhabitants offer something Nine has never had: the beginnings of a found family. As she works to understand the curse and save the house, Nine also has to learn to trust others — a much harder task for someone who has survived alone for so long.
Readers who love magical houses, found-family stories, and clever, resourceful heroines will find plenty to enjoy in Nine’s determined fight against the curse.
Perfect For
3rd through 5th grade readers who love fantasy, magical worlds, and stories about characters finding a place to belong. A great next step for fans of magical-house and curse-breaking adventures.