Prepare to be swept up, up and away on this high-flying
adventure from the queen of historical fiction, Emma Carroll!

Winner of the Teach Primary Book Award 2018
Shortlisted for the Young Quills Award 2019
Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Award 2019



'Carroll, an unstoppable, natural storyteller, lets her imagination
take off.' THE TIMES


'Soaring flight and the power of friendship are to the fore
in this gripping historical adventure.' THE GUARDIAN



Orphan Magpie can't believe her eyes when she sees a boy swept
off his feet by a kite ... or something that twists and
dances in the wind.


Like her, the boy – Pierre – dreams of flying over
the rooftops of Paris. His family, the Montgolfiers, are desperate
to be first to discover the secret of flight.


The world looks so different up high and suddenly Magpie knows
what she wants – to be the first to fly in a balloon above
the King and Queen of France ...





From the bestselling historical fiction author of books
including Secrets of a Sun King, When
We Were Warriors and Letters
from the Lighthouse

Discovery meets imagination in this rich and inspirational
tale based on the true story of the first hot air balloon flight
over Paris in the eighteenth century

An enchanting story of history, adventure, science and
facing your fears