Carol Dines Reviews

Added June 23, 2006

The Queen's Soprano

Author: Carol Dines
Publisher: Harcourt Publishers
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: May 2006
Genre: Young Adult: Historical/Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Price: $17.00
ISBN: 0-15-205477-4
Author Email/Website: www.caroldines.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Regal and riveting, The Queen's Soprano is an extraordinary glimpse into history. Set in 17th century Rome, readers follow the life of Angelica Voglia, a seventeen-year-old girl with a voice of an angel. However, during this time period, the Pope had forbidden women to sing in public, thereby causing Angelica grief and ultimately placing her life in danger. These pages offer a look into the controversy surrounding this edict and the personal anguish suffered by a young woman who chose to sing in spite of the law.

Based on a true story, the author has creatively added a little fiction to the facts, bringing the heroic Angelica to life in stunning emotional detail. Written from a first-person point of view, readers will be instantly transported into the heart and mind of this teenager, following the twists and turns of her life. Growing up with a gift of singing was both a blessing and a curse. While her entire being was elevated with the beauty of song, she also realized she would never live a normal life. A domineering mother forcibly guided her, leading her deeper into disappointment and despair. Until the day Angelica decided to take fate into her own hands and offered herself in service to the Queen.

Political and religious intrigue fills these pages and provides a startling look at the motivating powers of that day. The roles of women in the Church and in marriage were shown with realism, revealing a desperate state born of endless restrictions. Readers will be able to feel Angelica's frustration and discouragement, along with her hope for a better future. Palace life and her former home life contrasted sharply, as did the relationship she had with her mother and the Queen. The author has tapped into a rich emotional vein, as the events of Angelica's life take form with strong feelings. Romance, danger and the exquisite beauty of music dance side by side in a fateful time of history.

The Queen's Soprano is unique and uplifting!

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