Nonna's Book of Mysteries

by Mary Osborne, Rachael McHan (Illustrator)

Overview

At age fourteen, all Emilia Serafini wants is to learn to paint so that she can become an artist. But painters' apprenticeships for young women don't 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 once was her grandmother's 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 de' Medici. Well aware that Cosimo prizes ancient manuscripts above all, Franco realizes Emilia's Manual would be invaluable to him in more ways than one. Infused with the mysticism of alchemy, Nonna's Book of Mysteries is an exciting portrait of a young woman who defies convention to seek her destiny.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936181162
Publisher:	Lake Street Press
Publication date:	06/03/2010
Series:	Alchemy
Pages:	354
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Mary A. Osborne is the award-winning author of Nonna's Book of Mysteries and Alchemy's Daughter. A registered nurse, Ms. Osborne lives in Chicago.

What People are Saying About This

Robert Hellenga

"Nonna's Book of Mysteries is a young adult novel that will appeal to readers of all ages in its celebration of icon writing, fresco painting, alchemical wisdom, and Renaissance Florence. "Spunky" doesn't do justice to Emilia, the young heroine, whose fierce determination to make her own way in a man's world grows out of her deep rooted vocation as a painter."--(Robert Hellenga, author of The Fall of a Sparrow and The Italian Lover, recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and a PEN syndicated fiction award)

Karen Cushman

"I loved Nonna's Book of Mysteries! It's a wonder of a book- - exciting, mysterious, and wise. I'll 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 can't wait for another from Mary Osborne."--(Karen Cushman, Newberry Award Winner, author of The Midwife's Apprentice).

Sonia Choquette

"Nonna's Book of Mysteries is an exciting journey into the long-lost world of art, mystery, and magic. Filled with twists, turns, and surprises throughout, it will keep you riveted to your seat with every page. A marvelous read and one that will stay with you long after it is over."--(Sonia Choquette, Ph.D, author of The Answer Is Simple . . . Love Yourself, Live Your Spirit and Your Heart's Desire)

Louise Marley

"Nonna's Book of Mysteries is the tale of a charming character who struggles against the strictures women faced in the fifteenth century. Emilia's journey is one rich with historical and artistic and alchemical details. Mary Osborne's thorough research beautifully informs this novel. I'm so glad there will be more in her alchemy series!"--(Louise Marley, author of Mozart's Blood)

Editorial Reviews

Heirlooms are not to be bartered with lightly. "Nonna's Book of Mysteries" is the tale of a woman with dreams before her time in the form of Emilia. But in the Renaissance, women's dreams are meaningless, and she finds that her one treasure, an ancient book from her Grandmother, is in fear of falling into the hands of a man who only wants to use it for power. Using the secrets of the book, Emilia tries to defend her treasure and tries to find her dreams. "Nonna's Book of Mysteries" is a fascinating and fun read, not to be missed. (June 2010)

Midwest Book Review

"Truly, through the process of alchemy, many miracles shall be wrought." Emilia Serafina, the heroine of Nonna's Book of Mysteries, clings to these words from her great-great-great grandmother's strange book, A Manual to the Science of Alchemy. Though not an alchemist, the fourteen-year-old might just need a miracle to escape a loveless marriage and fulfill her dream of becoming a painter in Renaissance Italy.
Though her passion to paint is stronger than anything, painting apprenticeships in Florence in the 1400s are not available to females, and as the book opens, Emilia's attempt to disguise herself as a boy has just failed. Utterly devastated, and faced with her father's intention to marry her off, she follows the advice of her mother to consult the old, mysterious book recently passed down to Emilia. In it, her mother tells her, she will find a deep wisdom, passed along from generation to generation of women. The words of alchemy might well come to be a guide for her everyday life. Though initially the book seems odd, filled with science and philosophy from ancient Greece and Egypt, Emilia soon finds hope and strength from its passages, and understands that, as the book says, “[the alchemist] is charged with the responsibility of writing the story of his life.” Soon, her talent and passion earn her an apprenticeship with a kind foreigner, and when a handsome and wealthy patron, Franco Villani, seeks her hand in marriage, Emilia is initially thrilled. However, she soon realizes that Francois a dangerous man, and when her treasured book is stolen, Emilia must once again find a way to break through the nigredo, the “phase of utter darkness” in the alchemical process, and find a way to find true love and happiness.
Mary Osborne's historic details and descriptions of Emilia's everyday life make Renaissance Florence a vivid and accessible place, and may even inspire some readers to learn more about the art and culture of the period. The charming characters, compelling plot, and the suspenseful and sometimes magical atmosphere make the book an easy read for advanced tween and teen readers. Symbolic parallels between Emilia's journey and the processes of alchemy and iconography add depth. Perhaps most memorable are the strong messages of empowerment and the rewards of determination and strength of spirit.
In Nonna's Book of MysteriesAlicia Sondhi, Emilia defies what is expected in order to create a life filled with happiness. Readers will enjoy a unique storyline, identify with Emilia's personal struggles to become a good person, and be encouraged to step beyond expectations to pursue their own passions and happiness despite the odds. (June 2010)

ForeWord Reviews - Alicia Sondhi