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In one vast and sparkling city, everyone can fly - well, almost everyone. A few, nicknamed leadfeet, are sentenced by a trick of nature or fate to forever spend their lives closer to the ground. But one night, a girl named Gurl -- a leadfoot, an orphan, a nobody -- discovers that she can do something much better than fly. She can become invisible. This amazing power will help her uncover the secret mysteries of the city. But even with her newfound talent, Gurl can't seem to hide from a giant rat man with a taste for cats, a manipulative matron with a penchant for plastic surgery, and a belligerent boy named Bug. Gradually Gurl learns to control her power and teams up with Bug to figure out who and what she is. Their quest will take them on a wild ride through this magical city, where they'll confront chatty birds and mind-bending monkeys, an eccentric genius with a head full of grass and a pocket full of kittens, and the handsome but lethal Sweetcheeks Grabowski -- the gangster who holds the key to Gurl's past... and the world's future.
In a sprawling metropolis where flight is the norm, an orphaned girl named Gurl discovers she possesses the rare and dangerous ability to turn invisible. As a 'leadfoot'—someone unable to fly—Gurl has spent her life on the fringes of society, but her newfound power thrusts her into the center of a dangerous conspiracy. She must navigate a city filled with eccentric threats, including a predatory rat man and a ruthless gangster, while attempting to uncover the truth about her origins. The narrative follows Gurl and her companion, Bug, as they maneuver through a world of magical creatures and high-stakes secrets, relying on wit and stealth to survive the forces seeking to exploit her talent.
This novel presents a imaginative take on the urban fantasy genre by contrasting the commonality of flight with the unique, isolating nature of invisibility. The narrative style emphasizes a whimsical yet perilous atmosphere, drawing readers into a city that feels both magical and grounded in its own internal logic. The character dynamics between Gurl and Bug provide a steady emotional anchor amidst the rapid-fire introduction of bizarre creatures and villainous figures. The work is likely to appeal to those who enjoy world-building that prioritizes creative environmental details alongside a classic quest for self-discovery.
Page Count:
336
Publication Date:
2006-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks
ISBN-10:
0007210078
ISBN-13:
9780007210077
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