Cross My Heart

Gr 10 Up—Born into an aristocratic family in 16th-century Venice, 16-year-old Laura della Scala should have been living a glamorous life of balls and dinner parties. Instead, she was sold to a convent. As the second daughter in a family on the brink of financial ruin, she was sent away so that her older sister, Beatrice, could have a large enough dowry to marry well. Laura despairs at being away from her sister, so when she unexpectedly gets sent back home, she is elated. She is devastated to learn the reason: her sister has drowned, and her money-hungry father is forcing her to marry Beatrice's wealthy fiancé. Laura meets Vincenzo, who is more than 30 years her senior and an unpleasant man who leers at her youthful beauty. She is desperate to save herself when she is approached by a secret society called the Segreta, that offers a way out of the marriage in exchange for Venice's most powerful currency: a secret. Laura realizes that she does possess just such information, but she is unsure if she can trust this group. To further complicate her life, she meets a lowly painter with whom she forms an instant bond, yet she knows that they could never be together due to their class differences. All the while, Laura suspects that Beatrice's drowning was no accident. Secrets, mysteries, and twists and turns appear throughout this riveting story. It will appeal to mature readers who are willing and able keep up with the many revelations. Fans of Tracy Chevalier's The Girl with the Pearl Earring (Plume, 1999) will enjoy it.—Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ