My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

Gr 7 Up—A trip to Florence suits Hollywood-native Cat Crawford just fine for her birthday, but she is not happy about the huge sweet-16 party her soon-to-be-stepmother wants to throw. A solitary afternoon of sightseeing ends at a gypsy tent, where a fortune teller says to the teen, "A great adventure is in store for you. Be sure to keep your mind open to the lessons ahead." When she leaves the tent, she discovers that she has traveled back in time to Renaissance Italy and is now Patience D'Angeli, a distant family relative. Her one reminder of the present is her backpack of makeup and modern gadgets. She finally shares her secret with her younger cousin, who then tries to help her fit in as a proper young lady. Lorenzo, a dashing young man and fellow artist, catches her eye, but the smitten girl finds herself betrothed to a much older, creepy guy. All turns out well in the end. Girls will like the romance and the many gorgeous young men (past and present). The details of the Renaissance dress and artwork, which add to the story's historical setting, clash with modern-day slang terms, providing a good amount of humor. Light and charming, this debut novel will appeal to those who want to leave the real world behind for a while.—Diana Pierce, Leander High School, TX