Anne Ursu
The Lost Girl
Nominated for the Minnesota Book Awards 2020
When you’re an identical twin, your story always starts with someone else. For Iris, that means her story starts with Lark. Iris has always been the grounded, capable, and rational one; Lark has been inventive, dreamy, and brilliant—and from their first moments in the world together, they’ve never left each other’s side. Everyone around them realized early on what the two sisters already knew: they had better outcomes when they were together.
When fifth grade arrives, however, it is decided that Iris and Lark should be split into different classrooms, and something breaks in them both. Iris is no longer so confident; Lark retreats into herself as she deals with challenges at school. And at the same time, something strange is happening in the city around them, things both great and small going missing without a trace. As Iris begins to understand that anything can be lost in the blink of an eye, she decides it’s up to her to find a way to keep her sister safe.
Anne Ursu, author of the National Book Award nominee The Real Boy, returns with another staggering, heartbreaking story of the power of fantasy, the limits of love, and the struggles we face to cope with the change inherent in growing up.
Film Rights
AvailableContact Tina Dubois for more information
Roxane Edouard manages the translation rights for The Lost Girl
Audio Rights
AvailableThe audio rights are handled by HarperCollins.
Translation Rights Sold
The Lost Girl is a jewel of a book—hard, bright, sharp, and precious. It reminds us of the boundless and subversive power of sisterhood and the inherent magic of girls.
Newbery-Medal winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon
National Book Award nominee Ursu laces her story with fairy-tale elements and real-life monsters, while taking great care to cast girls in an empowering light and as authors (and heroes) of their own stories. It is a layered, mysterious tale that will speak to many and brushes the world with magic.
Full Review
When the world makes no sense, I read books by Anne Ursu. When the world makes all the wrong kinds of sense, I read books by Anne Ursu. If you crave a story with the wit, wisdom, and magic to unriddle the world, then you need to read The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu.
Award-winning author of A Festival of Ghosts
Anne Ursu writes a tour-de-force about sisterhood, finding power and the (sometimes misguided) lengths we go to for the people we love.
East City Bookshop, Washington, D.C.
The Lost Girl is especially timely as it applauds what makes girls’ relationships with each other unique and dynamic—their compassion, honesty, and courage—and, by demonstrating the strength and solidarity of these bonds, we are all of us encouraged to stomp and make noise!
Books, Bytes & Beyond, Glen Rock, New Jersey
I raced through The Lost Girl, breathless. And when I was finished, I found myself full of hope. It’s a beautiful, riveting, important book.
Award-winning author of Orphan Island
Nobody does middle grade fiction like Anne Ursu. Find a young reader and share some 5-star reading magic.
Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior, Minnesota AGES
This suspenseful mystery offers a story of empowerment, showing how one girl with the help of others can triumph.
Ursu unleashes a sharp, timely, age-appropriate critique of the myriad ways in which patriarchal culture devalues female agency, especially that of young girls. The novel finely balances the importance of self-reliance with the power of collective action, finding in the figure of Gretel (of Hansel and Gretel) a fairy-tale role model who takes control of her narrative and can inspire others to defy witches, monsters, or oppression. The message comes across loud and clear that “sometimes you need to bring the whole house down” in order to be heard.
Charming illustrations throughout reflect both the girls' subtle physical differences and larger adventures. Ursu's fans will find much to love.
A beautiful, timeless tale of love conquering darkness in the midst of mystery and the angst of change. A must-have for any middle grade collection.
Ursu ends this passionate and complex story with a celebration of sibling autonomy, youthful agency and the power of friends.
