Through the Skylight

Gr 4–8—Jared, Shireen, and Miranda and their parents are in Venice for a semester. The siblings' days are filled with endless trips to museums and churches, but when they each receive a magical gift from a storekeeper, their days and nights fill with danger and adventure. Miranda's ring allows her to understand and talk to animals, particularly the storekeeper's cat, Maldini, who teaches the children about their magical mission. The shopkeeper also gives them an ancient book that tells of three children who lived in Venice hundreds of years earlier and were kidnapped by an evil monk, Fra Bartolomeo. Jared and his sisters realize that Rashid, Maria, and Francesca are now in present-day Venice and that Maldini's owner has also been kidnapped. The six youngsters come together to save the signore and other kidnapped children from the evil monk, using the book, assistance from magical creatures, and their own skills. Frequent black-and-white illustrations support the narrative. Baucom's familiarity with the setting and use of Italian words heighten the atmosphere. The realistically drawn siblings are faced with internal doubts and conflicts, and Fra Bartolomeo is a truly evil character. The mix of protagonists' genders, historical details, and interesting magic creates a story with broad appeal and a message about the power of words that is reminiscent of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart (Scholastic, 2003).—Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI