by Colby Cedar Smith (Author)
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
An ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List Selection
"Soaring and searing." --Elizabeth Acevedo, former Young People'
s Poet Laureate and New York Times bestselling author of Poet X A promising young singer recovers from a traumatic experience by traveling to Venice and connecting with the work of a 17th-century female composer in this gorgeous and sensual novel in verse from the acclaimed author of Call Me Athena. Introverted and homeschooled, vocal prodigy Luciana "Lula" Gabroni is ready to become the star she's trained all her life to be. After entering the New England Conservatory of Music, she is immediately chosen to join an elite ensemble of peers who will compete in a prestigious music festival in modern-day Venice, Italy.
Barbara Strozzi is a poor young woman living in 17th-century Venice who dreams of making her mark on the world through her gift of song. She is determined to fight against the prescribed path of an illegitimate servant girl, daring to envision a life filled with intellect, pleasure, and independence--even as the restrictions of her gender and status threaten to silence her forever.
When Lula comes across Barbara's bold and seductive music in the Conservatory library, she immediately feels a striking kinship with the mysterious female composer. After an incident at school sends Lula searching to reclaim her voice, she soon realizes she must connect with the ghosts of the past to find her heart's true song once again.
Author Biography
Colby Cedar Smith is an award-winning poet, novelist, and educator, and the author of two novels in verse: The Siren and the Star and Call Me Athena. Her work often focuses on the untold stories of women throughout history and has been recognized with a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, an ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project selection, a Goodreads Choice Award Best Poetry nomination, a Nautilus Award, a Michigan Notable Book selection, a Midwest Book Award, and a New Jersey Council on the Arts Fellowship. Her poems and narratives have been featured by Forbes, Poetry, and NPR. She holds a BA from Colorado College and an EdM from Harvard University. You can find her on Instagram @Colby_Cedar_Smith.
Number of Pages: 544
Dimensions: 1.9 x 9.2 x 6.3 IN
Publication Date: October 28, 2025
