Silvana Gandolfi

This book was originally published in Italy in 2010 and involves a real life mafia event in Sicily.

Santino starts as a six-year-old boy in Palermo, who quickly learns that his father has a bit of a dark side. During a trip with his father and grandfather, Santino witnesses their murder and finds the gun then turned on him. He does the only thing he can—runs for his life. At the same time, Lucio lives in Livorno and cares for his little sister thanks to his mother's health issues. When his mother goes missing, he receives a letter to rush to Palmero. There the two boys' fates collide.

This book starts out written from both Santino's and Lucio's perspectives, their stories very different, at first. It was a bit confusing to bounce between the two, but after understanding how the author wove things, there were no problems sinking into the tale. Not only is this a fast paced story with some very unexpected twists and turns, but being based on real events makes it even more intriguing. Especially boys will enjoy this one. The two characters are easy to sympathize with, and their decisions are simple to understand. There is quite a bit of tension mixed in with the murder and heart-stopping moments. And yes, there is some violence as well. So, more sensitive readers will need to be aware of this.

It's definitely an exciting read, which will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The ending also rounds things up nicely and satisfies completely.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the tale quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.… (lisätietoja)

Originally published as Aldabra, la tartaruga che amava Shakespeare, this engrossing allegorical fantasy from Italian children's novelist Silvana Gandolfi addresses itself to some rather intense themes, from mental illness and the institutionalization of the elderly, to our understanding of death and the nature of choice. A slim volume that can be interpreted in many ways, it speaks to some of the most difficult experiences a child can encounter - generational conflict within families, the illness of a loved one, the impermanence of our time with one another - in a way that feels both original and authentic.

Elisa had spent her entire life traipsing across Venice to visit with her English-born, Shakespeare-loving Nonna Eia, but it was only in her tenth year, as she begins to notice changes in her beloved grandmother, that she observes and questions the strange lack of relationship between her own mother and Nonna Eia. Her discovery of the reasons for this estrangement, her decision to protect Nonna Eia at all cost, and her bewilderment and grief, as Nonna Eia slowly transforms into an Aldabra Giant Tortoise, are all poignantly laid out in the story.

Gandolfi's writing (and Lynne Sharon Shwartz's translation) is accomplished, managing to make the surreal aspects of Aldabra, or The Tortoise Who Loved Shakespeare completely credible, while also capturing the emotional undercurrents of each scene. Any child whose life has been touched by mental illness will find much to ponder here. I myself was both fascinated and moved, and will be thinking of the story for some time. It's a shame that none of the author's other children's books - she has penned several - have been translated!… (lisätietoja)