Fate: Is it written in the stars from the moment we are born? Or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands? Jepp of Astraveld needs to know. He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become a captive in a luxurious prison: Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the Spanish Infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that as a court dwarf, daily injustices would become his seemingly unshakable fate. If the humiliations were his alone, perhaps he could endure them; but it breaks Jepp’s heart to see his friend Lia suffer. After Jepp and Lia attempt a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe in a kidnapper’s carriage, Jepp fears where his unfortunate stars may lead him. But he can't even begin to imagine the brilliant and eccentric new master—a man devoted to uncovering the secrets of the stars—who awaits him. Or the girl who will help him mend his heart and unearth the long-buried secrets of his past.

Masterfully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real histori­cal characters, Jepp, Who Defied the Stars is the tale of an extraordinary hero and his inspiring quest to become the master of his own destiny. Praise for Jepp, Who Defied the Stars: New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2012 The Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Books of 2012 “Narrating a young adult novel from a dwarf’s perspective is nothing short of inspired. … Marsh transcends genre to create an engaging narrative complex enough to keep not-so-young adults turning its pages.” — New York Times Book Review “This shining gem is a must-have.” — School Library Journal, starred review “…an epic search for love, family, respect, and a destiny of one’s own making.” — Publisher’s Weekly, starred review “It is no easy trick to conjure characters who seem truly situated in the past rather than merely transplanted from the present…When it works, as it does in Katherine Marsh's ‘Jepp, Who Defied the Stars,’ the result is gold." — The Wall Street Journal “…this outstanding work of historical fiction provides readers with more than just an imagined biography. Incorporating elements of adventure, romance, tragedy, intrigue, and science, the novel conjures a place and time not commonly explored in young adult fiction …” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review “Edgar Award–winning author Marsh has written a fast-paced adventure, abundant with period details …[T]he honest and humorously self-deprecating voice of Jepp moves readers to rejoice with him as he seeks and manipulates his destiny.

” — Kirkus Reviews.