…by Stephanie Hemphill is a novel in verse for the 10-15 year-old audience. The setting is the island of Murano near venice, Italy in the 1400’s. The family’s father was a well-respected glass-blower who died in a fire along with his parents and sister. Maria, the main character, is 10 when her father dies. Giovanna is the older, beautiful sister. In their father’s will, he instructed that Maria be betrothed and giving a large dowry. However, it is Maria who instead is an artist who wants to become a glassblower and artist instead of marrying. Giovanna would rather marry. As unattractive suitors are invited to the home, Maria grows more desperate that she will be forced into an awful marriage. Then the family hires Luca, a young artistic, glassblower. He and Maria meet and fall in love. How do the 2 sisters convince their mother, uncle and brothers to go against the instructions of the father’s will so that they can both be happy?
