Education Extra Book Picks.Byline: The Register-Guard Stravaganza: City of Masks Mary Hoffman Ages 11-18 From the gorgeous violet eyes that peer out from behind a glittery glit·ter n. 1. A sparkling or glistening light. 2. Brilliant or showy, often superficial attractiveness. 3. Small pieces of light-reflecting decorative material. intr.v. silver mask on the cover to the marbled mar·bled adj. 1. Made of or covered with marble: a marbled façade. 2. Having a mix of fat and lean: a well-marbled beef roast. Adj. 1. red and purple end papers, British author Mary Hoffman immediately has our attention as she spins her tale of political intrigue, danger, deception and love in the city of Bellezza in her book, Stravaganza: City of Masks. Lucien, a present-day boy in England, is terribly sick with cancer. His father brings him an exotic Italian marbled notebook to use to communicate when his throat is too sore from his chemotherapy to speak. Falling asleep clutching the mysterious book, he wakes up in 16th-century Bellezza, a parallel world very similar to Venice. This time-travel fantasy introduces us to some fascinating characters: the powerful and beautiful violet-eyed Duchessa, the ruler of Bellezza; Count Rudolfo, her magician-confidante and protector; and strong-willed 15-year-old Arianna who has run away from home to become a mandolier. Lucien discovers he has become Luciano, a Stravaganti, a member of a brotherhood of time travelers A time traveler (British English: time traveller) is a person who engages in time travel. The name "Time Traveler" (or "Traveller") may refer to any of the following:
tr.v. en·tan·gled, en·tan·gling, en·tan·gles 1. To twist together or entwine into a confusing mass; snarl. 2. To complicate; confuse. 3. To involve in or as if in a tangle. in court intrigue, assassination Assassination See also Murder. assassins Fanatical Moslem sect that smoked hashish and murdered Crusaders (11th—12th centuries). [Islamic Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 52] Brutus conspirator and assassin of Julius Caesar. [Br. attempts, and a budding romance. BOOK PICKS While in Venice on a gondola ride, author Hoffman came up with her idea for Bellezza where all the gondoliers are young and handsome and hand-picked by a Duchessa instead of a Doge. Her love of Venice comes through in her descriptions of the silks, lace and velvets of the women's clothing. The rich details of the cathedrals, lagoons and art make Renaissance Italy come alive. It's a world you'll want to "stravagate" to again when the next installment of the planned trilogy A company founded in 1979 by Gene Amdahl to commercialize wafer scale integration and build supercomputers. It raised a quarter of a billion dollars, the largest startup funding in history, but could not create its 2.5" superchip. , "City of Stars," comes out later this month. - Molly Hansbrough, librarian, Spencer Butte Spencer Butte is a prominent landmark in Lane County, Oregon, United States, south of Eugene. The peak has an elevation of 2055 feet[1] (626 m). Spencer Butte is accessible from Spencer Butte Park and has several hiking trails to the summit. Middle School and Adams/Hillside Elementary schools, Eugene |
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