“Whoosh.
I can’t tell if that sound is coming from around me, but soon there are more sounds. Water, brown water, is swirling all around me and there’s an undertow to it.”
–The Mona Lisa Mirror Mystery
About the Book…
Addy is a young girl living in New Mexico. When she begins to have weird dreams while looking at a painting in her room, she and her friends are pulled into a mystery surrounding the Mona Lisa and the woman (or women) it portrays.
About the Author…
Latayne C. Scott is the author of more than twenty-five books. She grew up Mormon and came to know Christ later in her life. Her other books touch multiple different subjects, and most are considered rather controversial. Her most recent project is the YA series, Into the Art, published by Cruciform Fiction.
Some Personal Thoughts…
I’ll be honest. This took me several chapters before I got “into” it. It wasn’t what I would call a page turner, mainly because of the writing style. It was unique, creative, and had a whimsical feel at times, but was not easy to follow along.
The story itself felt a little choppy, as the character switches between worlds frequently, with large time lapses. By the middle, you have an idea of how things work and can get really intrigued by the storyline, it just takes some time.
I have always been fascinated by old artwork, especially the Mona Lisa. When I was in sixth grade, I loved The Second Mrs. Giocondo by: E. L. Konigsburg. (Her book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwieler remains one of my all-time favorites to this day.) So, needless to say, when I found this book, I was very excited. I really enjoyed the historical depth and detailed Mrs. Scott included in her novel. The personal details she added made the historical figures come alive, and it was delightful.
Things Worth Mentioning…
Considering this was a YA novel, I was caught off guard, slightly, when two of the main characters were victims of sexual abuse. It was a key part of the storyline, and while nothing graphic was included, it was very clear as to what was going on. It is not something you would be able to read aloud as a family without discussing some tough topics. In the end, there was resolution, and healing, and the hope shared with these characters by the others in the story, was beautiful to see.
Here at The Corner Shelf, you’ll find it on The Bottom Shelf.
The Corner Shelf 