Set in medieval Venice， this captivating fairy tale retelling by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli explores belonging， beauty， and the transformative power of love through the eyes of a teenage girl. Dolce has grown up hidden away on an island in a lagoon. She is a giant， a freak， tormented by everyone but her loving mother. She spends her time learning the valuable secret of making mirrors. Following a tragedy， Dolce swims away and lands on an island where people see her as normal， even beautiful. Marin， a kind widower， and his little daughter bring Dolce to live with them in their grand palazzo. Eventually， Dolce and Marin marry. She secretly continues to make mirrors， not realizing that quicksilver endangers her . . . and so evil begins in innocence.