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Twelve-year-old Agnès lives alone, awaiting her father’s return from across the sea. After a chance encounter with an ageing artist and inventor, she learns of his plan to build a flying machine and resolves to help him achieve it.
This is a story for anyone who dreams big. Agnès is a girl with grit and determination who battles against the odds to achieve something truly great. In doing so, she and her friend, Pepin, learn much about life and love, and what really matters. It is a story about not giving up.
Many of the characters are based on real people, including Leonardo, Melzi, King Francis, Queen Claude, Anne Boleyn and Maturina the housekeeper. There is a section at the back of the book with factual information about them all.
Lilly – 8 Years old
I really loved this book. I loved this book because it made me love reading even more than I did before I started reading it and I used to love reading a lot! I read this book every night until I was so tired that I could not keep my eyes open. When I was done reading this book I was very sad that it was over.
Barry Cunningham OBE – Publisher of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
It’s rare that imaginative historical fiction for children can take off with such power and passion as this – Agnes is a wonderful character and I was deeply engaged in her story.
Lucretzia
This book was bought for my 10 year old granddaughter at Christmas. She absolutely loved it, it has a fantastic story line. A great book.
Ruby Overhill-Cossu
Thrilling and exciting, you never know what’s going to happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone. Personally I think it is the best book I have read. I think it is a great way to mark 500 years since Leonardo Da Vinci came to his death. He must have been a wonderful person.
Faith Abell-Weck
I really enjoyed the book. It is very detailed and realistic. While I was reading this book I could picture the entire thing in my head. I love this book. It is now one of my favourites. I loved the part when Agnes rebuilt the flying machine and it flew! I hope you make more of these amazing books.
Andrew Thiriot
What started with an interest in the language and culture described became a connection to the protagonist – a young girl named Agnes, struggling to find her way in a harsh world. I love dreams and this story is full of them. Set against a backdrop of set backs and unexpected paths, perseverance , friendship and hope shines through. Being part of something bigger than ourselves changes us. It left me wishing it were 100% percent real. Magical. If children read these kind of adventures they will be entertained and enriched.
Gervase Phinn – Author and Educator
I very much enjoyed the story. It was a captivating tale, well-researched, full of interesting characters and entertaining incidents. There was real pace to the story. All good novels should have an angel and a devil. I warmed to little Agnes and found the dark and brooding Marshal Lupus a wonderful villain. It is a cracking good read.
Elaine Scaife
I’ve finished Agnes and absolutely loved it. It made me cry at the end. It is a wonderful story of courage, friendship, heartbreak, resilience, and survival against all odds. I fell in love with the character of Agnes right from the start of the novel, and was rooting for her throughout. I am hoping she goes on to have many more amazing adventures.
Ken Berbert
Loved this historical fiction novel – my grandchildren did too! A fun and educational journey to another place and time. No generation gaps here as we learn how both young and old can help each other, learn from each other and find success together
