by Betsy Cornwell (Author)

A New York Times Bestseller

Nicolette's awful stepsisters call her "Mechanica" to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother's knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have pushed her into a life of dreary servitude. When she discovers a secret workshop in the cellar on her sixteenth birthday--and befriends Jules, a tiny magical metal horse--Nicolette starts to imagine a new life for herself. And the timing may be perfect: There's a technological exposition and a royal ball on the horizon. Determined to invent her own happily-ever-after, Mechanica seeks to wow the prince and eager entrepreneurs alike.

But with her cruel stepsisters determined to stand in her way, can one brilliant inventor change her own fate?

• YA Fantasy Novel: Perfect for young adult readers who love smart heroines, dazzling inventions, and a fairy tale with a steampunk twist.
• Inventor Protagonist: Meet Nicolette--known as Mechanica to her stepsisters--a girl who plans to trade her life of servitude for a future built from gears, gadgets, and her own two hands.
• Magical Creatures: When Nicolette discovers her mother's secret workshop, she also finds an unexpected friend: Jules, a tiny, sentient metal horse with a clockwork heart.
• Magic vs. Technology: In a world that has quarantined magic, Nicolette must rely on her mechanical skills to impress the prince at the upcoming royal ball and technological exposition.

Author Biography

Betsy Cornwell is the author of Tides, a YA novel inspired by selkie mythology. She graduated from Smith College and was a columnist and editor at Teen Ink before pursuing an MFA in creative writing at Notre Dame, where she also taught fiction writing. She lives in Ireland. Visit her website at www.betsycornwell.com.

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