SOLVED. YA fiction: Parallel universe? - boy has cancer and uses a notebook to travel to an alternate universe Venice where he isn't sick but can only stay there when it's daylight. [s]

[Rebecca]

SPOILERS AHEAD: I read this book in around 2012 when I was in my last year of primary school (so age about 11/12). I remember the boy being described as having thick curly hair when he was in the alternate universe Venice as he was bald due to chemo in his regular universe. The concept was that when it was night in the regular world it was day in Venice and when he travelled he'd go into a coma like sleep. The main plot I remember is that he gets captured and is on trial as they suspect him as being not from their universe because he doesn't have a shadow? And as they keep him there for too long he is stuck in a coma in his regular body which his parents think is due to his cancer. The peak comes when he is on trial and his parents have decided to take him off life support so the sun comes in through a window and suddenly he has a shadow and can't be prosecuted. This however means he is dead in his regular universe and has to stay in Venice. I remember I loved this book but I can't remember what it was called! I think I remember it having a blue cover with a picture of a mask on the front but I'm not 100% sure. Any help is appreciated!

[Sue]

City Of Masks-the first of the Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman. In all the books, protagonists can travel to an alternate medieval version of Italy with the help of a talisman. They are known as Stravagantes, and as you said, don't have a shadow. https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/ma...

[Rebecca]

Sue wrote: "City Of Masks-the first of the Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman. In all the books, protagonists can travel to an alternate medieval version of Italy with the help of a talisman. They are known as..." Yes this is the one! Thank you so much :)

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Rebecca. Goodreads link for Sue's find - City of Masks by Mary Hoffman