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Nonna's Book of Mysteries (Alchemy #1)
by
Mary Osborne (Goodreads Author)
At age fourteen, all Emilia Serafini wants is to learn to paint so that she can become an artist. But painters’ apprenticeships for young women don’t exist in the Florence of Renaissance Italy. The odds appear stacked against her until she receives a fascinating book, A Manual to the Science of Alchemy. It was once her grandmother’s and Emilia turns again and agai
...morePaperback, 352 pages
Published
June 3rd 2010
by Lake Street Press
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Florence in the 1400s was a world center for painting and culture. But the guild tightly controlled who could be licensed as a master painter, and girls and women were not allowed on their list. Still, fourteen-year-old Emilia Serafini lives for her art, and she’s desperate to find a way out of the marriage her father has planned for her. So she turns for guidance to a book her mother gives her that has been handed down through generations in her family: Manual to the Science of Alchemy.
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Author Mary Osborne's trip to Florence inspired this engaging novel of Emilia, a young girl in 15th century Florence who dreams of becoming an artist. Very few women became artists at this time, and while her mother is supportive, her father is eager to have her understand "the way things are in the world." However, he indulges her and allows her to apprentice with a local artist, while disguised as a young boy. When her deception is revealed, she is dismissed, much to her dismay.
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In Renaissance Italy, 14 year old Emilia doesn't really fit the mold of the other girls her age. While her father despairs of her ever marrying, Emilia longs to paint and be recognized like the male artist of her time. Emilia dresses like a boy just to get a chance to work under and learn from one of Italy's most revered talents. But when an accident reveals Emilia's true identity, she is fired and she is once again forced to face the fact that her dreams may be unattainable.
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Emilia's dream of becoming a painter doesn't look promising, after all, it is only the 14th century and women did not have opportunities such as this. Emilia's parents decide to let her pursue her passion and take painting lessons. The only thing is, she has to pretend that she's a he.
She is emotionally shattered when her identity is uncovered and she can no longer take lessons. Her mother ends up giving her Nonna's Book of Mysteries and Emilia ends up learning a lot about hersel...more
She is emotionally shattered when her identity is uncovered and she can no longer take lessons. Her mother ends up giving her Nonna's Book of Mysteries and Emilia ends up learning a lot about hersel...more
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Claire
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Historical fiction , set in the late 15th century in Cosimo de Medici's Florence, Italy. Young Emilia is passionate abut becoming a painter. Her mother concocts a plan, Emilia disguises herself as Alsandro and apprentices to a local painter. All is good until a fellow apprentice makes a mistake that (literally) lands on Emilia's head and she is disclosed as a maiden and sent packing.
A chance encounter with another master secures a new apprenticeship while Emilia plots ways to evade a tru...more
A chance encounter with another master secures a new apprenticeship while Emilia plots ways to evade a tru...more
Historical Fiction, takes place in the 15th century. Emilia, 14, has one desire - to become a painter, but at this time in history...girls were not allowed to choose this type of occupation. Fortunately with a lot of luck Emilia found Makarios and he took her on as his apprentice. Emilia receives her grandmother's book, "A Manual to the Science of Alchemy" and she uses it for guidance. Then when the ancient text is stolen, she realizes that the person she is planning to marry is in...more
A great historical fiction piece for young adults and the author has had an amazing journey herself, working to publish and publicize her first novel.
A great YA historical novel with a timeless message about figuring out who you are and going up against the odds to be yourself. Our spirited protagonist Emilia wants to be a painter in Renaissance Italy, and finds encouragement in her grandmother's book of alchemy. The role of the book is a juxtaposition I think many readers can relate to: Emilia's means of connecting with her roots, i.e. her grandmother and family history, and a kind of guiding force enabling her to be her own person. Ultim...more
awesome characters, wonderful writing and very captivating!
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Mary Osborne is a writer, artist, and registered nurse living in Chicago. An honors graduate of Rush University and Knox College, where she was mentored in the Creative Writing Program, Osborne has degrees in chemistry and nursing. She is a frequent Chicago Public Library presenter.
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