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  • Published: 3 January 2017
  • ISBN: 9780553494181
  • Imprint: RHUS Children's Books
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $19.99

Dark Shimmer



Set in medieval Venice, this captivating fairy tale retelling by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli explores belonging, beauty, and the transformative power of love through the eyes of a teenage girl. Dolce has grown up hidden away on an island in a lagoon. She is a giant, a freak, tormented by everyone but her loving mother. She spends her time learning the valuable secret of making mirrors. Following a tragedy, Dolce swims away and lands on an island where people see her as normal, even beautiful. Marin, a kind widower, and his little daughter bring Dolce to live with them in their grand palazzo. Eventually, Dolce and Marin marry. She secretly continues to make mirrors, not realizing that quicksilver endangers her . . . and so evil begins in innocence.

  • Published: 3 January 2017
  • ISBN: 9780553494181
  • Imprint: RHUS Children's Books
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • RRP: $19.99

About the author

Donna Jo Napoli

Donna Jo Napoli has written several novels for young adults involving Italian history, from the Renaissance to the World War II era. History wasn’t her favorite subject when she was young, but in writing stories based on historical events, Ms. Napoli has become fascinated by the people of many different times and places. Learning more about the past reveals that history has surprising bearing on the present. In the artistic and political world of Medici Florence, the author sees many similarities to our world today.

Ms. Napoli lives with her husband in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where she is a college professor. She has written nearly sixty books for young readers, including STONES IN WATER, FIRE IN THE HILLS, THREE DAYS, THE MAGIC CIRCLE and THE PRINCE OF THE POND.

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Praise for Dark Shimmer

"...[W]hen the bones of the story piece themselves together, a stunning, beautiful, and tragic reflection of Snow White emerges...An achingly lovely, sometimes frightening reimagining." —Publishers Weekly starred review  "Napoli offers up a sumptuously dark retelling of “Snow White,” bringing humanity to the wicked stepmother while still holding her accountable for her crimes.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred review From the Hardcover edition.