Passion Blue

Gr 6–10—Vividly set during the 15th-century Italian Renaissance, Strauss's novel has a strong and thoroughly likable heroine who is only one of many well-developed female characters. Artistically brilliant, 17-year-old Giulia Borromeo is desperately searching for her heart's desire-a husband. She is so desperate that she makes a bargain with a sorcerer for a talisman to aid her. He warns her, "Be very sure you know what [it] is. Or you may find yourself surprised by what you receive." As the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, she has no security regarding her future. When her father dies, Giulia is forced into a convent by her father's jealous wife. From the moment she is dragged through Santa Marta's door, she plots her escape. She is surprised to learn of the beauty within, and that nuns and novices have vocations. When her extraordinary talents are discovered, Giulia is offered a place in the famous painting workshop. Her world expands as she learns the tools, materials, and techniques of great Renaissance painters. By chance, she meets a young male artisan repairing a convent masterpiece. They begin a clandestine romance. Her two desires-painting and a husband-war within as she contemplates her future. In a time and place when women were excluded from nearly every realm of life, Giulia and the other members of Santa Marta excel in spite of gender and cultural restrictions.Lisa Crandall, Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI