The Keeper of Lost Art

Summary: As bombs rain down on Stella Costa’s home of Torino in the fall of 1942, her mother sends her to live with distant relatives in a Tuscan Villa. As Stella struggles to fit in, despite her kind cousins, and wonders why her aunt dislikes her, Stella’s family is entrusted with a heavy burden: protecting some of Italy’s most precious paintings. With the paintings come worry and danger, shattering the illusion of peace in the villa. As a wave of refugees fleeing the horrors of war flock to the Villa, Stella forms a fast friendship with an orphaned boy named Sandro. When German troops requisition the villa, will the paintings be kept safe in their secret haven? Or, will both the paintings, and the inhabitants of the villa become causalities in the bloodbath of the war?

My Review: I enjoyed this book, although I found it a disappointment compared to the publisher’s blurb. It just didn’t live up to what the blurb promised, making it a bit of a let down. However, overall I found the writing pretty and the story good, but it was slow for me. I also felt like the author didn’t keep enough tension in the book to keep me emotionally involved in the story, or used the same reasons for tension, which made them less effective.

My Takeaway: This is a book about the beauty and power of art, even in our darkest times, and the effects of war on normal people. You might want to be aware that there are instances of several steps of girls puberty happening, mentions of the German troops bathing and using the bathroom in plain sight, and the undertones of the heaviness of war.

Romance: Light, mentions of engagements, a near kiss, blushes, several steps of girls puberty occurs, nothing detailed.

Language: Several uses of “ass” and “hell”.

Nudity: Mild, German troops bathe and use the bathroom in plain sight outside.

Alcohol/drugs/smoking: Mentions/instances of drunk soldiers, smoking soldiers, mentions of soldiers wanting pain killer in medical tents.

Violence: Light, mentions of death, instance of minor forced labor.

Darkness: Mild, the heaviness of war and fear, Stella fearing for her mother.

Bad Messages: None.

Good Messages: The importance of family, the power of art, the beauty of forgiveness.

Stars: 3