The identity of the woman the world calls Mona Lisa has ignited speculation since Leonardo da Vinci created her portrait and left it untitled, unsigned, and undated. In this richly embroidered romance set in Renaissance Florence, Napoli imagines the young life of the woman behind the famous smile. Thirteen-year-old Elisabetta, the daughter of a wealthy silk merchant, is starting to think of marriage when Leonardo da Vinci, a family friend, introduces her to young heir Giuliano de’ Medici. The teenagers share an instant attraction that deepens into friendship and, finally, love. Political turmoil that escalates into war threatens the young romance, though, and Elisabetta is caught between her passionate attachment to Giuliano and her dutiful obligations to her family. Napoli skillfully draws readers into the vibrant settings, from opulent Florentine palaces to rustic hillside villas, with tangible, sensory details that enliven the novel’s intriguing references to history and art. Elisabetta’s strength and individuality, as she grows into marriage and motherhood, will captivate readers, as will her wonderment over love’s complexity. Grades 8-11. --Gillian Engberg
*review pulled from Amazon.com*
Book Specs:
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (October 16, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0525479996
ISBN-13: 978-0525479994
This was the first book I read by Donna Jo Napoli. I really enjoyed the book and thought it to be very well written. As a matter of fact, I can now say that I have read several other books by her (see Bound and Hush) and I really really like Napoli's style of writing. I agree with the age level that is recommended for this book.
I also checked out her website and saw the Napoli writes children's books as well. I have read some of those and found them to be delightful. Some of her other YA novels, I might not use until 10th or 11th grade, but I would definetly use her novels in a classroom setting.
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