Publishers Weekly
02/08/2021
In the Hatmaker House in London, everyone except for Cordelia Hatmaker, 11, believes that her father, Captain Prospero Hatmaker, was lost at sea during “an ingredient-hunting expedition” for hat components. Sending a quest pigeon with a note, Cordelia remains optimistic; after all, her father’s adventurous life has inspired her own. Cordelia and her family make up the Hatmaker Guild, which serves the Crown by creating magical hats that influence behavior. But trouble brews in England, as King George’s bizarre recent impulses have increased tensions with France. Commissioned to create Peace Clothes along with the other Maker families (Bootmakers, Cloakmakers, Watchmakers, and Glovemakers), and faced with the threat of being banned from making anything ever again, the Hatmakers hope to help prevent conflict before King Louis declares war on England. But the Guilds have never excelled at collaboration, a burglar lurks, and an evil figure looms. Merchant’s action-packed, intricately described debut relies on fantasy tropes—the princess in distress, the threat of winding up in the Tower of London, and good versus evil—making characters and plot feel thin, but readers new to the genre may find this an engaging endeavor. Back matter includes a detailed glossary of ingredients for apprentice hatmakers. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 9–12. (Feb.)
Booklist
"An engaging ode to the bonds of family and friendship, the power of teamwork, and the magic that we all have inside ourselves."
School Library Journal
02/01/2021
Gr 3–6—A challenging but innocent fantasy. Cordelia Hatmaker comes from a long line of magical Hatmakers, who create hats that encourage the wearer to adopt a specific mood or take a certain action. There are love hats, confidence hats, and more. When Cordelia's father is lost at sea as he attempts to return with a vital ingredient for a hat for the king, and the other "makers" in town are burgled, Cordelia must save the kingdom. This whimsical story is full of fun nonsense, but the vocabulary is surprisingly complex. The simple mystery and uncomplicated emotional elements seem at odds with the length of the book. This novel would be ideal for younger elementary students who are reading at a high level. However, most students will grow out their desire for whimsy and innocence before they are ready for the complex vocabulary and length. VERDICT An additional purchase.—Jeri Murphy, C.F. Simmons M.S., Aurora, IL
Kirkus Reviews
2020-11-27
In her debut novel, British actor Merchant creates an elaborate fantasy world around a family of magical milliners.
Cordelia Hatmaker, almost 12, is smitten with grief at the apparent loss at sea of her beloved father. Despite the tragedy, Cordelia’s extended family members continue to fulfill their duties as Hatmakers to the Crown. Their hats are works of art, custom-made using rare ingredients to magically influence the moods and intentions of their wearers. The family’s present task is to create a Concentration Hat for the king, who turns out to be none other than England’s King George in full insanity mode. Cordelia’s compassion for others leads to friendship with a member of the archrival Bootmaker family as well as a street urchin named Sam. The friends work together to overthrow a complicated plot to wage war on France spearheaded by the dastardly Lord Witloof, who stands to profit from war by manufacturing cannons. This is an action-packed story with an appealing role model in feisty, determined Cordelia, who acquires confidence in fighting evil and protecting family and friends. Magical elements, complicated plot twists, and colorful characters will appeal to Philip Pullman and Harry Potter fans, although the subject matter is on the younger side for the reading level. A cliffhanger ending implies a sequel. All characters present White. Illustrations not seen.
A swashbuckling romp for lovers of history and magic. (glossary, note about ingredients) (Fantasy. 9-12)
