by Donna Jo Napoli (Author)
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Gr 10 Up--In this unique and gripping spin on the "Snow White" tale, Dolce is a giant and a freak, ridiculed by everyone on Torcello. Her mother is the only person who is kind to her, and Dolce struggles to find her way until she finds peace in mirror making. But when her mother passes away, Dolce leaves Torcello and finds a world full of other "giants." She soon meets and grows to love a nobleman and his daughter, Biancaneve, and quickly becomes a member of the family. All seems to be well with Dolce until she begins to go mad from prolonged exposure to quicksilver vapors from her mirror making, and her streak of madness leads her to believe that her mirror tells her she is no longer the fairest of them all. While her husband is away, she makes many attempts to kill her stepdaughter, who finds safe haven in a cottage filled with seven dwarves. While the pacing is a little slow at the beginning, the plot and concept are both well executed. Each of the characters is very well developed, and the unique Italian setting give this fairy tale an engrossing and original feel. VERDICT This well-written and brilliant spin on a familiar fairy tale provides a refreshing and thought-provoking point of view that will leave readers sympathetic to the evil stepmother.--Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, Sno-Isle Libraries, Marysville, WA
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.A comparative giant on an island of dwarves, Dolce has grown up isolated and reviled. She learns the valuable work of making mirrors, but when tragedy claims her mother Dolce flees to Venice, taking refuge with a widowed noble; his daughter, Bianca; and sister, Agnola. Napoli (Hidden) crafts a gorgeous puzzle drawn from fairy tale and medieval history: when the bones of the story piece themselves together, a stunning, beautiful, and tragic reflection of Snow White emerges, with Dolce as a Wicked Queen whose evil begins in the absolute, sincere desire to do good. Using liquid mercury to make mirrors to exchange for the freedom of the dwarves the Venice nobility keep as slaves, Dolce dooms herself to sickness and madness, seeing her once-beloved stepdaughter as a threat. The initial narrative focus on Dolce gives way to include the entwined perspectives of Agnola and her dwarf-lover, Pietro, as they cope with Dolce's madness, and Bianca's growth as she takes refuge with seven dwarves. An achingly lovely, sometimes frightening reimagining. Ages 14-up. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Sept.)
Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.