Book Review: Sisters of Glass, by Stephanie Hemphill

Hemphill, Stephanie. Sisters of Glass. 272 p. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2012. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9780375861093. 

The latest book from Printz Honor winning author, Stephanie Hemphill, provides a lovely look at 15th century Venice and centers around a fascinating topic I knew very little about before reading: glassblowing.  

Sisters of Glass, a novel in verse, tells the story of Maria, the second daughter of the Barovier family, famed for their glassmaking. Her late father proclaimed that she should marry a nobleman, and thus it must be so-- even though that role would traditionally go to the elder sister, Giovanna. The sisters clash as the family attempts to make a suitable match for Maria. Meanwhile, they've hired a handsome artisan to help maintain the family business, and Maria can't help but take notice of him, although he's far from being part of the nobility.

The setting of the Venetian island of Murano during the 15th century is vibrant, and the characters are believable. The swoon-worthy forbidden romance brings an alluring element to the plot, and many readers will relate to the turbulent yet strongly affectionate relationship between the two sisters.

I included this book in my list of Downton Abbey readalikes because the plot has a lot to do with the social customs of its era, particularly pertaining to the roles of women. It's curious how much responsibility rests on the weight of a young woman's shoulders- save the family's fortune by making a good marriage!- but they have so little agency. Readers will root for Maria and Giovanna-- they are definitely girls with goals.

Personally, one of my favorite aspects of this book was the chance to learn about the art and history of glassblowing on the island of Murano. (My BA is in Art History! I love this stuff!) The Barovier family of this book is a real part of Murano history-- the oldest glassmaking family in the world, with a tradition of glass production that can be traced back to the 13th century, according to barovier.com.

Coupe de Angelo Barovier, Museo del vetro, Murano.

Murano glass is still a sought-after art form today. Hemphill's descriptions of the island and its famous glass made me eager to visit Murano someday. I love that this rich tradition is still alive after so many centuries.

Photo of Murano by flickr user Harsh Light

I only wish this book had been longer. I could have happily read more! And the ending is perhaps a bit too convenient. But it will please those who just love a happy ending-- as well as students who are required to read a certain number of pages for a historical fiction assignment, as the verse format manages to provide a decent page count while the amount of text is light and very readable.

Sisters of Glass is a quick, engaging read, and a good introduction to the verse novel format. Look for it in bookstores everywhere on March 27. ARC for review provided by Random House Children's Books via NetGalley.
 

Classic Kidlit Romances for Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day, I'm celebrating some of my favorite couples from children's literature-- the ones I grew up reading and swooning over! Here are my top three couples that formed my young romantic ideals:


Betsy Ray and Joe Willard
Heaven to Betsy, by Maud Hart Lovelace

From the moment fourteen-year-old Betsy walks into Willard's Emporium and meets Joe, a brooding blond eating and apple and reading The Three Musketeers, we know she’s found her soulmate. He reads, he writes, he likes her hair straight... sigh! A series of misunderstandings keeps them apart over the years, but their journey to true love is delightful. Bonus points for a real-life connection: Joe is based on Delos Lovelace, Maud’s husband!

Photo from the Maud Hart Lovelace Society

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe
Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery

"Carrots!" Ahh, the epically bad choice of teasing a girl to get her attention. But honestly, is there anything sweeter than Gilbert’s unending devotion to Anne, even when she tries her best to squelch him? The guy puts up with a lot. And then once they finally get their differences ironed out and get married, they have a whole boatload of adorable kids! The 1980s CBC miniseries with Jonathan Crombie doesn't hurt Gilbert’s image, either.

Yeah, um... he's okay.

Meg Murry and Calvin O'Keefe
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle

Meg and Calvin forever! I love that Calvin sees the beauty in Meg that nobody else seems to recognize. I love that he's the nice, popular guy who doesn't hesitate to hang out with the "weird" kids (i.e. Meg and her genius little brother, Charles Wallace). He's the answer to every awkward junior high school girl's prayer. And who among us didn't identify with Meg when we first read this series?


Bookworm confession: my husband and I strongly considered Calvin as a baby name when we were expecting our son. The husband was thinking Calvin & Hobbes, but I was ALL about Calvin O'Keefe, of course!


So which great couples of children's literature did YOU swoon over when you were a kid?

Book Review: Midnight in Austenland, by Shannon Hale

Hale, Shannon. Midnight in Austenland. 288 p. Bloomsbury USA. 2012. Hardcover $22.00. ISBN 9781608196258.

When I heard that there was going to be a follow-up to Austenland (Bloomsbury, 2007), the first foray into adult-level fiction by Newbery Honor winning author Shannon Hale, I thought, "Yay! Wait... really?" Because that story wrapped up so nicely, you see. Did it need a sequel? Maybe, maybe not-- but Midnight in Austenland is a companion book, not a direct sequel. And it's so much fun!

There's a new main character, Charlotte, a recent divorcée who finds herself drawn to the titular Jane Austen reenactment vacation spot. As Charlotte immerses herself in the Regency-era lifestyle, there's an appealing blend of humor, self-discovery, and romance that fans of the first volume will love. And this time around, a new element is introduced in the form of a clever and engaging mystery. I had a great time reading this book.

I have to say, Shannon Hale is one of my very favorite authors. I read and love anything she writes, whether it's written for young readers or adults. Her writing for adults is markedly different from the books she writes for kids and teens-- it's conversational, quirky, and even a little sassy, rather than lyrical and lush. Reading one of her adult-level books feels kind of like getting a chance to hang out and chat with her.

(Speaking of which, have you listened to our Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast interview with Shannon? Love her!)

Midnight in Austenland is fresh, fast-paced, and simply an enjoyable read-- the perfect book for a cozy evening in. Brew a pot of tea and get ready for a delightful reading experience.

This book just came out at the end of January from Bloomsbury USA. ARC for review provided by the publisher via NetGalley.