The Staircase by Ann Rinaldi

The Staircase

Paperback – Picture Book, June 1, 2002

Ann Rinaldi

HarperCollins · Paperback · June 1, 2002

How could Lizzy Enders's father abandon her at a girls school run by nuns?

Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
An 1870s school story pairs a chapel staircase legend with questions of faith and perception.
Themes
Belonging and religious difference, Faith, Appearances versus reality
Genres
19th-Century U.S., Christian Stories, Girls & Young Women

About this book

How could Lizzy Enders's father abandon her at a girls school run by nuns? She's surrounded by Catholics--but she's Methodist! Shunned by the other boarders, Lizzy befriends a wandering carpenter named José, who with just three tools--and unflagging faith--builds an elaborate spiral staircase in the new chapel in mere weeks. When he disappears without a trace, Lizzy realizes that the way she sees things is not always the way they are.

Continue reading

Inspired by the legend of the "miraculous" staircase in the Chapel of Loretto in Santa Fe, Ann Rinaldi skillfully blends the mystery surrounding the staircase's builder with the daily trials of a spunky thirteen-year-old girl growing up in the 1870s.

Faith and Mystery

An 1870s school story pairs a chapel staircase legend with questions of faith and perception.

Come here for

  • A young outsider’s view of belonging and belief
  • The mystery around a carpenter and his staircase

Expect

  • Daily trials at a girls’ school run by nuns
  • A story where appearances may not tell the whole truth

Where it sits

19th-Century U.S.97%
Girls & Young Women30%
Christian Stories23%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • US Biographies
  • Boys & Men
  • Girls & Young Women
  • Wars & Military History
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • 19th-Century U.S.
  • Horror & Ghost Stories
  • Mysteries & Detective Stories
  • Christian Stories
Authors
Ann Rinaldi
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
June 1, 2002
Format
Paperback
Theme
Belonging and religious difference · Faith · Appearances versus reality
Reading lane
US Biographies