Exciting, funny, moving – and featuring joyous and authentic disabled representation – Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star is the middle-grade debut of 2023.
Cosima Unfortunate has spent all her life at the Home for Unfortunate Girls – a school where any disabled children, or children deemed different, are sent, whether their families want it or not. It is there that she meets her friends – Pearl, Mary and Diya – and they start to practise mini heists involving the theft of cakes, biscuits and other sweet goodies.
But when Cos finds out that Lord Francis Fitzroy, the explorer behind the Empire Exhibition, is planning to adopt them, she and her friends plot the biggest heist of their life. Instead of fondant fancies, they’re going to steal Fitzroy’s prized tiara, containing the legendary Star Diamond of India! But, as they start preparing for the day, Cosima finds herself drawing ever closer to discovering the one secret she’s always wanted to know – the truth about her parents…
'Full of adventure, warmth and rich historical detail’ Natasha Hastings
‘Fun, adventure and mysteries to solve. A heartfelt hug of a book – I loved it’
Hannah Gold, award-winning author of The Last Bear
‘I adored this book – an utterly brilliant, page-turning read. Gorgeous and powerfully inclusive, with a supremely loveable cast of characters, you’ll be rooting for Cosima from her very first heist. Expect to have your heart stolen!’
Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn
‘Cosima Unfortunate is an utterly sparkling adventure, featuring a brilliantly clever group of friends helmed by a courageous, determined heroine – a must read!’
Ravena Guron, author of The Thief of Farrowfell and This Book Kills
‘A cracking heist adventure full of supportive friendships and unlimited hope. I already can’t wait to be reunited with Cos & Co.’
Clare Povey, author of the Bastien Bonlivre Adventures
'Full of adventure, warmth, and rich historical detail'
Natasha Hastings, author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers
‘By stars, I loved this book. Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star is a rompy historical heist with a cast of furiously brilliant and disabled kids, alongside solving the mystery of who Cosima’s family are. Full of fun and memorable characters but also shines light on the way history has treated disabled children’
Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend
‘A real treat’ The Bookseller
The Bookseller's Charlotte Eyre described it as seeking to ‘subvert expectations about what disabled children can do, making them heroes of the story’
The thrilling new children’s book for 2023
Laura Noakes is a disabled writer and historian from Bedfordshire. She has written articles for Disability in Kidlit and KettleMag, and her poetry has been published in Scrittura Magazine. She was awarded her doctorate in legal history in 2021, and works at the best-named museum in Scotland, The Devil’s Porridge. She lives in beautiful Cumbria with her fiancé, Connor, and her mischievous cat, Scout.
Flavia Sorrentino lives and works as a freelance illustrator in Rome, where she grew up, and which inspires her each day to seek new ways of communication and expression. Her work has taken her across the globe, from France to America and beyond.
Exciting, funny, moving – and featuring joyous and authentic disabled representation – Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star is the middle-grade debut of 2023.
Cosima Unfortunate has spent all her life at the Home for Unfortunate Girls – a school where any disabled children, or children deemed different, are sent, whether their families want it or not. It is there that she meets her friends – Pearl, Mary and Diya – and they start to practise mini heists involving the theft of cakes, biscuits and other sweet goodies.
But when Cos finds out that Lord Francis Fitzroy, the explorer behind the Empire Exhibition, is planning to adopt them, she and her friends plot the biggest heist of their life. Instead of fondant fancies, they’re going to steal Fitzroy’s prized tiara, containing the legendary Star Diamond of India! But, as they start preparing for the day, Cosima finds herself drawing ever closer to discovering the one secret she’s always wanted to know – the truth about her parents…
'Full of adventure, warmth and rich historical detail’ Natasha Hastings
‘Fun, adventure and mysteries to solve. A heartfelt hug of a book – I loved it’
Hannah Gold, award-winning author of The Last Bear
‘I adored this book – an utterly brilliant, page-turning read. Gorgeous and powerfully inclusive, with a supremely loveable cast of characters, you’ll be rooting for Cosima from her very first heist. Expect to have your heart stolen!’
Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn
‘Cosima Unfortunate is an utterly sparkling adventure, featuring a brilliantly clever group of friends helmed by a courageous, determined heroine – a must read!’
Ravena Guron, author of The Thief of Farrowfell and This Book Kills
‘A cracking heist adventure full of supportive friendships and unlimited hope. I already can’t wait to be reunited with Cos & Co.’
Clare Povey, author of the Bastien Bonlivre Adventures
'Full of adventure, warmth, and rich historical detail'
Natasha Hastings, author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers
‘By stars, I loved this book. Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star is a rompy historical heist with a cast of furiously brilliant and disabled kids, alongside solving the mystery of who Cosima’s family are. Full of fun and memorable characters but also shines light on the way history has treated disabled children’
Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend
‘A real treat’ The Bookseller
The Bookseller's Charlotte Eyre described it as seeking to ‘subvert expectations about what disabled children can do, making them heroes of the story’
The thrilling new children’s book for 2023
Laura Noakes is a disabled writer and historian from Bedfordshire. She has written articles for Disability in Kidlit and KettleMag, and her poetry has been published in Scrittura Magazine. She was awarded her doctorate in legal history in 2021, and works at the best-named museum in Scotland, The Devil’s Porridge. She lives in beautiful Cumbria with her fiancé, Connor, and her mischievous cat, Scout.
Flavia Sorrentino lives and works as a freelance illustrator in Rome, where she grew up, and which inspires her each day to seek new ways of communication and expression. Her work has taken her across the globe, from France to America and beyond.
Subscribe to get Email Updates!
Thanks for subscribing.
Your response has been recorded.

"We Believe In The Power of Books" Our mission is to make books accessible to everyone, and to cultivate a culture of reading and learning. We strive to provide a wide range of books, from classic literature, sci-fi and fantasy, to graphic novels, biographies and self-help books, so that everyone can find something to read.
Whether you’re looking for your next great read, a gift for someone special, or just browsing, Midland is here to make your book-buying experience easy and enjoyable.