I have a sample ready of an original and accomplished middle grade trilogy by Laura Walter that I’m really excited about (already translated into two other European languages).
The writing is superb. It is rich in colour with delightful swashbucklings of metaphor. Readers will engage with the winsome, personable characters (cats, pigeons, people… even talking statues!) and be carried away by the exhilarating and imaginative plot. The books are steeped in irresistible Italian atmosphere and legend, from Venice to Verona to Padova. All three books are literally bustling with brio.
The author holds the foreign rights.
The stories
Mistica Maëva and:
1) l’anello di Venezia (the Venice Ring);
2) la Torre delle Stelle (the Starry Tower);
3) il Balcone dei segreti (the Secret Balcony);
take the reader on a series of whirlwind adventures through three fascinating Italian cities – Venice, Padova and Verona respectively – and between past and present, reality and a parallel dimension where marvel can quickly turn to menace at the mere flutter of carnival confetti.
The cast of eccentric and engaging characters (including a ginger tomcat, a band of stray cats, a pigeon, talking statues, a tarot-card reading grandmother, an erudite professor and the protagonist herself, 12-year old mystical Maeve and her geeky best friend Giaki) solve riddle after riddle, hunting down clues and unravelling enigmas to save Venice from being flooded forever under the high water, to find Galileo’s magical “eye of the soul” telescope in Padova and to save love from a dark and dangerous enemy in Verona.
The writing
The writing is of the highest literary quality for this age-group (as the translator, I always had to look for the word or phrase that went beyond the obvious choice, the one that had a better ring to it, better imagery, that was a few steps removed from ordinary but never too far removed from the reader’s experience to interrupt the pace of the story).
The books are truly exhilarating to read. As you laugh-out-loud at the delightful humour and try to solve the mysteries along with the characters, you are also transported by the magic and appeal of three “mystical” Italian cities. The ones we all imagine, have dreamed of visiting, and thanks to these books, feel like we finally can.
The appeal
I am absolutely convinced these books would be a hit with discerning young readers in the UK. I say that as a reader myself, a mother of a bilingual child, a teacher, a translator, and a lover of children’s books with a sense of what would travel well from Italy to the UK.
This is great writing, great stories, great places in a single package. Each book has its own standalone appeal, but would make an accomplished and compelling series. Speaking as an adult, the scrupulously-researched books are multi-layered, as the author manages to pepper the ingenious adventures, and reel in her reader, with the history, art and fascinating legend of Venice, Verona and Padova while also leaving some important food for thought.
For example, in building a plot around Galileo Galilei and his magical telescope in the second book, readers also discover the surprises to be found when you look at things from a different angle… or a little bit closer than everyone else.
The secret to the success of these books is simple: Laura Walters captures her readers’ attention with legend, holds it with intrigue and adventure, then serves up a feast of architecture and history so fascinating they can’t wait to come back for more. The Mistica Maëva books are a literary package worthy of the best classic adventure series, a rattling great Grand Tour from the comfort of our chairs.
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