The Gypsy Crown - Advance Proof - Kate Forsyth

The Gypsy Crown Author: Kate Forsyth Emilia Finch & her cousin Luka are gypsies. For them, that means they live a strongly traditional life, rich w/story, music, dance, & magic, governed by the laws of the clan & the ways of the road. To the repressive Puritanical government of 17th century England, however, the gypsies are thieving, fortune-telling vagrants who are most likely allies of the devil. While the Finches have managed to steer clear of trouble, it finds them when they decide to raise dowry money for 1 of their daughters, by performing in Kingston square one ill-fated market day. A series of terrible events lands the family in jail, charged w/murder. Only Emilia & Luka manage to escape, promising to bring back help & free them. The only problem is -- how? Emilia believes in the legend of the charms: it is said that the luck of the Rom has turned sour ever since a long-ago gypsy matriarch broke her chain of charms, giving 1 charm to each of her 5 children. Since then, the gypsies have been persecuted & the families have dispersed. If they can gather the charms from the families, Emilia thinks, the strong magic of the Rom will somehow bring her family freedom. Luka, on the other hand, is more practical – he wants to enlist the help of the other clans to help the Finches escape. Emilia & Luka must race through the countryside, navigating a hornets' nest of Rom-hating Puritans ... Advance Proof Softcover - 400 pages Publisher: Disney-Hyperion, Jul 15, 2008