The Undrowned Child Eleven year old Theodora is visiting Venice with her parents and snobby cousin Maria when a very old book falls on her head and gives her a concussion. So begins a battle between the evil Bajamonte Tiepolo and his minions out to take over and destroy Venice in 1899 and the mermaids (who learned to speak from listening to sailors!) , their allies the cats, sea creatures and a variety of ghosts as well as those adults who have been given the task of protecting a book of spells. Michelle Lovric dishes out in gruesome detail how Tiepolo and his gang- the headless butcher and others, have come to wreak havoc upon the Venetians and in particular, Teo and her friend Lorenzo. Lussa, the queen of the mermaids, and her mermaid army is printing handbills in old English/sailor speak to warn the Venetians to no avail and it is up to Teo and Renzo with the help of the talking book to risk their lives to keep Venice safe and to rescue Maria from the evil clutches of Bajamonte Tiepolo. Teo can see word bubbles above people's heads and can read people's hearts by touching their chest. If you loved Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord then you will devour The Undrowned Child. A bit creepy and some parts will scare the living daylights out of younger readers but the history of Venice with all its quirks will enchant readers both children and adults. This is the Percy Jackson of Italy!
