She Who Sings, Prays Twice

Viva, at 19, has rarely been allowed outside the gates of the Venetian orphanage where she has been raised. Yet she has been trained in music by the great Antonio Vivaldi himself and her beautiful voice lures the rich and famous from around the world to come hear the girls' choir and orchestra of the Ospedale de Maria della Pieta. Viva longs to be free, to sail through the world like the merchant ships in the bay. More secretly, she longs to compose great music. But girls aren't allowed to compose for the coro. Then one day, Jean Jacques Rousseau comes to hear the choir girls sing. And Viva's life and music are changed forever. Winner of the 2006 Tassy Walden Award for Best Young Adult Novel. For a taste of the book's historical setting, see the BBC's 2008 documentary, "Vivaldi's Women," on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=oYpSTlN9n-w