City of Masks

I recently finished reading City of Masks by Mary Hoffman. It is the first in her Stravaganza series and it definitely drew me in. It was really easy to relate to the main characters, Arianna, a young girl who lives in the lagoons of Bellezza, which is the 16th century Venice of an alternate world, and Luciano, a young boy from present day London, England who has cancer. I can't say too much without giving it away, but the plot really draws you in and the character development throughout the book is absorbing, especially because the series is meant for children and young teens. You really feel like you're walking the streets of Bellezza and steering the mandola (as they call gondolas in this alternate world) right along with the characters. The book draws on the natural beauty of Venice and you can see it in every aspect of Bellezza. I would recommend this book to anyone with a love for Italy or just a good story.