Daughter of Venice

Rating:
Summary: Great...
Review: A terrible book. I love most of Napoli's other books w/ a passion (except "Beast"), but this one is just not even near 'OKAY'. I hated it from beginning to end. Who wants to read about a spoiled, priveleged girl who runs off to see her 'love' that is at least 30-40? (he's going bald, as I remember) And absolutely nothing happened, it seemed like! So she changed religions.... And?

Bad for these 7 reasons:

1) Unrealistic (what 12 y.o. is in love w/ a 30 y.o.?)
2) The girl was ANNOYING!!!
3) She was also spoiled
4) No real plot line
5) No depth
6) BORING
7) Not worth reading at ALL!!

~Atalanta

Rating:
Summary: A noble girl, out to see the the world before it is too late
Review: Donata is a young noble girl who lives in Venice during the late 1500s. She is fortunate to be rich, but she is locked away from the world outside her palazzo and is not educated. After finding out that she will not marry and will instead be sent to a convent, she comes up with a plan to escape and see the world outside her palazzo, before she is locked away forever.

I recommend this book to girls ages 10 and up. Boys may read it too, but they might not enjoy it as much since some seens describe how a girl is feeling as she talks to the man she secrely has a crush on. So if you are looking for a book that is realistic fiction, you will absolutly enjoy, and will educate you on Venice in the 1500s, then this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: The story of a remarkable girl with big dreams
Review: Fourteen-year-old Donata is fortunate to be the daughter of a noble family. However being the daughter of a respective family has its problems for headstrong Donata. She is protected from the outside world and all noble's daughter will not get an education. Being not the oldest daughter, Donata will not marry either, her destiny is to confined in a covent for the rest of her life. But because she has a twin sister Laura, Donata clings onto the hope that her father might find a husband for both of them. When her hopes are dashed, Donata comes up with the plan to see Venice, the Venice outside of her palazzo, before she is shut away forever. Her choice will bring many changes to her family and will alter many people's lives, including her own.

This was a wonderful historical fiction book by Donna Jo Napoli seen through the eyes of a remarkable girl with big dreams of the future. I read this book in one sitting and it was way better than I ever dreamed it would be. It illustrates perfectly the hopes and aspirations of a girl who wants to see the outside world---a world she has never known.

Rating:
Summary: Daughter of Veice
Review: I really loved this book, and thought it was written brilliantly by Donna Jo Napoli. You MUST read this book. I'm 15, and think it's a great book for any age!!!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Story of A Young Girl In Historical Venice
Review: The year is 1592, and fourteen-year-old Donata would do anything to escape from her family's palazzo, which is located on Venice's infamous Grand Canal. As in every Italian noble family, only one son and one daughter will marry, meaning that Donata and her twin sister, Laura, will be forced to live out their days in a convent. Donata prays every night that she will be able to escape her fate, and that she will finally be allowed to be tutored like her brothers, and to see the whole of Venice, that she has only been able to see on a map. Soon Donata comes up with a plan, one that will help her to escape her palazzo, and see the world of Venice that she has been shut away from since birth. Soon she is confronted with the hardships that Venetians face, poverty, hunger, different religions, etc. It is these things that will change her life, and her family's life forever as they know it.

Donna Jo Napoli has created a character that will be loved by readers of all ages, young and old. Donata is a spirited, hard-headed, determined young girl, who dreams of seeing the outside world that she has never had the opportunity to experience. She is caring, and wants nothing more than to help the poverty-stricken, as opposed to being locked up in a convent where she will do nothing but worship her days away. The descriptions of historical Venice are beautiful, and at times you feel that you are right there with Donata. Basking in the Venetian sun, and running along the paved Venetian roads. This is a must have book for anyone interested in historical fiction, or Italy / Venice.

Erika Sorocco

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK
Review: This book was wonderful. Not only did it inspire me to do more with my life but it also taught me about lives of woman in this century. Donata is the daughter of a wealthy noble family. She is very outspoken and soaks in every fact her brothers tell her. Unfortunately Donata is not permitted to explore the city she knows so much about. Everyday she stands on her balcony memorizing the city she lives in. When she suddenly brews up a plan in her head to fulfill her desires. This book is definatley worth reading. Its filled with knowledge and action on every page. If you enjoy reading about books based in the "Olden Days" you'll love this one.

Rating:
Summary: Daughter of Venice
Review: This story was about a girl in the late 1500's wanting to get out of her safe palazzo and see all of Venice. Donata, the main character, is the daugher of a wealthy, noble family. She is very outspoken and listens to every thing her brothers and father discusses. She wants to be educated and tutored like her brothers, but she cant becuase she's a girl. Unfortunately Donata is not allowed to explore the city she knows so much about. So she dresses up every morning as a boy and sees all of Venice. She even gets a job in the Ghetto that no one in a noble family would ever get. She meets an older Jewish man that she starts to fall in love with. Every day in the streets she learns more about Venice and what goes on around her. You can even see how she changes as a person throughout the story. I thought that this was an O.K. book. The beggining was really boring, but it starts to get a little intresting towards the middle. Its one of those books where you can imagine it as a movie.

Rating:
Summary: ~Reality~
Review: WOW, this book was surprisingly realistic and absolutely refreshing. I can't say anymore.