An Italian Adenture
Author: GB Amman
Genre: MG/YA Coming of Age
Publication Date: November 1st, 2015
Book Description:
What was it like growing up in Italy in the 1980s?
Leda is a ten-year-old tomboy and a bookworm. Hanging out with the guys has never been a problem, until shady Nico shows up…
Nico moved north from Sicily and is angry and aggressive, unsettling and unsettled. When fate forces the two together, fearless Leda won’t let the bully get his way, which sparks in Nico an unexpected gratitude.
The unusual friendship between the two develops in moving ways as they face basement monsters, divorcing parents, school drama, and even a dirty magazine, which leaves more questions than answers…
Pre-teens and adults alike will laugh and cry with this Italian childhood memoir set against the gorgeous backdrop of the serene countryside, the Alps, and the enchanting Island of Sardinia. If you are looking for an addictive, amusing read with something to teach—this is it.
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MY REVIEW
This book was a delightful surprise. Only a few books have ever made me feel as though I was right there with the characters, and this was one of them. Set in Italy in the late 1980s, An Italian Adventure chronicles the life of ten-year-old tomboy Leda (Lee) through her final years of elementary school. Lee has always wanted to be one of the boys, especially since her father had wanted a boy, but ever since over-confident new kid Nico rolled into town, she finds herself having to take greater risks to prove her worth. Lee's at that awkard age where curiosity starts to impede on one's innocence. Suddenly, certain topics/subjects - not neccessarily child-friendly - starts to take effect on her life in more ways than one to the point where she feels she has no control over how anything unfolds. As strain begins to take its toll on Lee's family and her bond with Nico starts to grow, she realises that there is a difference between wants and needs and that there are just some things she can't run away from, especially her feelings.
I loved this book. I loved the characters and their quirks, especially Lee. She is quite the animated character required for this coming-of-age narrative that takes readers on a winding adventure about a young girl finding renewed confidence and a stronger sense of self as she weaves through her adolescent years. Lee goes through quite the transformation in this story, and I thought the portrayal of the characters and how they handled situations was compelling and authentic. The essence of Italy truly came alive in this book, and I felt as though I had been transported back in time.
There were various grammatical errors, some distracting, others not, but it's nothing a quick edit couldn't fix. For all those after a pleasurable nostalgic experience, I would recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
VERDICT
Award: Gold
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Source: Author
