Nonna's Book of Mysteries
Mary A. Osborne
Paperback
(Lake Street Press, June 3, 2010)
At age fourteen, all Emilia Serafini wants is to learn to paint so that she can become an artist. But paintersâ apprenticeships for young women donât exist in the Florence of Renaissance Italy. The odds appear stacked against her until she receives a fascinating book, A Manual to the Science of Alchemy. It was once her grandmotherâs and Emilia turns again and again to the Manual for guidance.When Emilia meets the wealthy, brooding Franco Villani, her life takes a thrilling, but dangerous turn. Franco will do anything to win a place in the court of the powerful Cosimo deâ Medici. Well aware that Cosimo prizes ancient manuscripts above all, Franco realizes Emiliaâs Manual would be invaluable to him in more ways than one.Infused with the mysticism of alchemy, Nonnaâs Book of Mysteries is an exciting portrait of a young woman who defies convention to seek her destiny. â I loved Nonnaâs Book of Mysteries! Itâs a wonder of a bookâ exciting, mysterious, and wise. Iâll long remember the courageous and determined Emilia who learns about choices and the consequences of choices, about the importance of struggle and perseverance, about loyalty, friendship, and love, amid the splendors of Renaissance Florence. I canât wait for another from Mary Osborne.â Karen Cushman, Newberry Award Winner, author of The Midwifeâs Apprentice.
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