City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

Ever find yourself in another timeline on another world? Lucien did! Lucien is on chemo therapy, is always exhausted and can't do anything. Lucien's dad brings haome a mysterious diary; just sleeping with it transports Lucien to an alternate dimension of Venice. He makes new friends: the duchessa, a magician, and even maybe the love of his life. Now he must travel back between worlds trying to save the city of Bellezza and to recover from cancer.

These facinating characters feel so real. Lucien is a guy who justs happens to be in the wrong place at the right time. He really wants to learn how to use his powers, but he is also scared of them. He really cares about his family, so he is torn between comforting his worried parents and protecting the city of Bellezza. Ariana is a girl who always wanted to be a mandolier, the person who steers the duchessa's boat. She is really stubborn and wants to start a life off her boring island home. She learns secrets about her past that change her life forever! Mary Hoffman does an excellent job creating characters you feel you could talk to, people with ordinary lives in extraordinary circumstances.


I could not set this book down. I would have to keep reading and reading with the thought of "Just one last page," but when I would finally stop it would be ten o'clock. It has adventure, romance, and heart stopping action, like when Lucien first goes the Bellezza. I would recomend this book to all readers. When I chose this book I thought "Oh,look a book about masks." When I checked it out, it took me only two nights to read it because I was so facinated by the story.It may seem like it has a lousy title, but as you read the book you understand why she chose the title.

There is some romance in it, but it is mostly action. I really liked the action in the book, because it feels like you could be in the action. The book may seem short, but you will feel like you are in the same place as Lucien.
Written and published by Spencer