“The Little Prince” meets “The Goonies” in this favorite Italian-childhood memoir.80s Italy, a small town in a patchwork of fields.Three preteens are friends for life, or at least until Nico and his stupid porn mag… priest?
Nico just moved north from Sicily.
Feared by all, he targets bespectacled tomboy Leda, but she fights back…starting the feud that will become Nico’s only certainty in life.
Their unlikely bond will have you laugh and cry through this coming-of-age story soaked with Italian culture and set against the gorgeous backdrop of the serene countryside, the Alps, and the enchanting Island of Sardinia.
You will love this addictive, empowering read because of the outstanding depth of its characters and its pervasive humor.
Get to Italy now!
The book, which can be read as self-standing, is the first in “The Italian Saga.”
Praise for the Italian Saga
“The writing transported me to Italy and moved the story along at the perfect pace. Laced with humor!”—Garfield Whyte, author
“Touching and skillful, a masterful execution.”—Neil Daniel, author
“I could not stop reading and can’t wait for more!”—Amy Joslyn, librarian
“Multi-dimensional characters we can all relate to.”—Diane Munier, author
“A wonderful read full of hope!” CB Ainsworthe—author
“A fresh take on realistic youth fiction.”—Amazon verified purchase
“Ironic, touching, funny. One of those books you read in one breath.”—Amazon verified purchase.
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This book was a delightful surprise. Only a few books have ever made me feel as though I was right there with the characters, and this was one of them. Set in Italy in the late 1980s, An Italian Adventure chronicles the life of ten-year-old tomboy Leda (Lee) through her final years of elementary school. Lee has always wanted to be one of the boys, especially since her father had wanted a boy, but ever since over-confident new kid Nico rolled into town, she finds herself having to take greater risks to prove her worth. Lee’s at that awkard age where curiosity starts to impede on one’s innocence. Suddenly, certain topics/subjects – not neccessarily child-friendly – starts to take effect on her life in more ways than one to the point where she feels she has no control over how anything unfolds. As strain begins to take its toll on Lee’s family and her bond with Nico starts to grow, she realises that there is a difference between wants and needs and that there are just some things she can’t run away from, especially her feelings.
I loved this book. I loved the characters and their quirks, especially Lee. She is quite the animated character required for this coming-of-age narrative that takes readers on a winding adventure about a young girl finding renewed confidence and a stronger sense of self as she weaves through her adolescent years. Lee goes through quite the transformation in this story, and I thought the portrayal of the characters and how they handled situations was compelling and authentic. The essence of Italy truly came alive in this book, and I felt as though I had been transported back in time.
There were various grammatical errors, some distracting, others not, but it’s nothing a quick edit couldn’t fix. For all those after a pleasurable nostalgic experience, I would recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
An Italian Adventure is the first book in Gaia B Amman’s Italian Saga. It is told from the perspective of Lee, an adventurous and imaginative child in Italy in the 1980s. It has everything you could want in a book about childhood – long, warm summer days full of seemingly endless possibilities, secrets, confusing adults, monsters, tears…
Lee is absolutely charming. She’s tough and always ready to stand up for herself, but also sensitive and loyal. Pretty much all of her friends are boys, and a big theme in the book is her (and them) figuring out if they see her as a person or a girl. I really like how her relationship with Viola, her older sister, develops over the course of the book. Where Lee is on the brink of teenagerhood, Viola is approaching adulthood with the stress of final exams looming over her.
It’s a very enjoyable book. I felt a lot of nostalgia for my childhood reading it, and it made me think a lot about my own experiences. I also learnt a lot about childhood in Italy (and a few Italian swear words…) which was interesting!
For me, this is a five star book. It’s the first in a long series, so I’m looking forward to following Lee’s adventures as she grows up. I really enjoyed reading this, and getting to know the characters.
An Italian Adventure is book one in The Italian Saga series by Gaia B. Amman. I was really excited to uncover what this author writes, as I have not read this author’s work before. I5 is always a rush to find new talent. The blurb for this title tweaked my interest instantly. It sounded hilarious. I was a little unsure if I would get into a story that was based on pre teens, but it was a definite entertainer, and many avid readers would love to escape into this breath of fresh and innocent air.
Leda is a girl growing up in Italy. Her and her friends enjoy being young and carefree amongst the streets of Italy, facing trials most young girls face, discovering the pleasure of youth, while remaining innocent and eager to learn and discover new things. There are situations that are painful and hard to deal with, but the author sets out the characters in a way that is endearing and real. A tale that brought many childhood memories floating to the surface, An italian Adventure was a delight to read. 4 stars.
“An Italian Adventure” is the first book in The Italian Saga by Gaia B. Amman where we meet young Leda, or Lee as her friends call her. Leda is a precocious tomboy who loves hanging out with her best friends, all boys, and reading. This story isn’t driven by a single event, but more the small changes that happen in life. It is a beautiful story of a young girl trying so very hard not to be treated like a young girl. She desperately wants to be one of the boys and demands the respect she has from her friends. Leda is a freaking cool kid and it was a pleasure to read the beginning of her story. I loved reading about the Italian countryside and its beautiful beaches. As the author said, you really can’t help but love this story, since it’s based off of a true story, and I fully agree. Leda’s family and friends jump to life off the pages and made me relate to her in a real way. I can’t wait to continue reading about Leda and her adventures! I give “An Italian Adventure” five stars!
An Italian Adventure ( The Italian Saga) (Volume 1) by Gaia B Amman. This is such a endearing coming of age story about a young girl named Leda ( Lee to her friends and family) who is going thru the same things all preteens go thru. She meets Nico who has just moved to Sicily in the 1980’s and he’s a major bully who scares all the kids except Lee. She’s a tomboy who fights with her siblings all the time so she’s not scared of anyone. This book takes you thru the emotions of a young girl who must confess her sins at confession, cope with the pending divorce of her parents and dealing with sibling rivalry. It is set in the beautiful setting of Italy and in a time when life was more laid back but there are just as many emotions and difficulties in growing up. You become Lee in this story, you feel her heartaches, her fears and her love. Its an amazing story of growing up and becoming a teenager. I loved this book and if you are 12 or 50 you will enjoy it too.
From start to finish, this novel completely had me immersed in the mind of our main character. This sassy, yet strong, adventure was well written with a strong narrative and point of view. I appreciated the deep cultural ties that helped share the entire book. The author has a unique voice and style, one that I was pleased to experience. Very much recommended.
An extremely detailed story about a young group of friends and the things they go through. It’s watching a “tomboy” struggle with gender normatives and figuring out what life and family is all about.
There are some very funny observations in this story ” …the priest in charge most of the time turned the wine into the blood of Jesus and then the host -a thin, white wafer- into his flesh in front it everyone’s eyes. Yet grown ups don’t believe in monsters.” but over all it didn’t move quick enough to hold my attention and I wasn’t sure where it was all headed.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I always appreciate anyone putting pen to paper. This book was just not my cup of tea.
An Italian Adventure is my first book by Gaia Amman. I was not sure what to expect and I am glad to find out that it was a fun story. Amman did a great job of telling the story in such detail that I felt like I was right there with Leda. The main character Leda was built by Amman in her own image when she was young. The setting is in Italy. The country through Leda’s eye is beautiful. The fun had just begun for Leda and by the time you are done reading the story you will be amazed with your mind’s eye that you could mentally put everything together as it should be. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series.
An Italian Adventure (The Italian Saga Book 1) by Gaia B. Amman is fun read and warms the heart. It is a coming of age story written as a memoir set in the 80’s. It shows the hopes and dreams, adventure and challenges these kids go through, Lifetime bonds and friendships are formed in the most unlikely of times and places. The story is vivid and has you imagining their lives right along with them. Some times are not so good and sad but the journey they take is touching and will make you feel warm and fuzzies.
An Italian Adventure (The Italian Saga Book 1) By Gaia B. Amman. This story was a first for me by this author and I’m happy to say I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a very different type from my normal reading but I enjoyed this coming of age story. The attention to details has it easy for me to paint a picture in my mind of the storyline and the places the story took place. This story is just as the title says, an adventure, with characters you can relate to and really feel for. Growing up is never easy but it is definitely an adventure. The writing style has an easy flow that is easy to follow. It’s paced nicely never feeling rushed or lacking. I’m excited to read more from this author. I’m giving this book a four star review and highly recommend it.
An Italian Adventure by Gaia Amman is the first book in the Italian Saga series. This is a great book and has something for everyone. Leda is a precocious twelve year old who is developing into her teens. Her inner dialogue is fantastic and enduring. I could relate to her and her thoughts. She is a great character. The 80’s were a fun time to grow up and it was nostalgic to read. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to where the story will go in the books to follow.
An Italian Adventure by Gaia B Amman an adventure of a four-star read. This was an enjoyable read and it will entertain you no end, the stories and excitement of the childish fun will keep you captivated. This was so much funnier than I expected, and I really didn’t know what to expect but I enjoyed it so much. It really is worth taking the chance on this novel, I can’t wait to find out more in this saga.
An Italian Adventure (The Italian Saga #1)
By Gaia B Amman
4 stars
An Italian Adventure was a really great read. The first book that I have read by this author and I was really impressed with her beautifully detailed writing. I loved the setting for the story and found through the authors wonderful descriptions I could imagine the place where Leda grew up. I found the characters really interesting to read about and I liked getting to know them as they grew up. There were a few intertwining storylines for Leda and Nico and it was interesting to read how they both dealt with different situations that happen as you grow up. It was easy to tell at times that the author was using real life experiences as a base because of the feel to the story but for me I loved that as it made it even more realistic to read.
I thought that this was definitely a great read and a good start to this series; I am very much looking forward to reading book 2!
4 Stars
An Italian Adventure is the first book in The Italian Saga Series by Gaia B. Amman. The story is a fictionalized memoir of the author’s younger years, set against the backdrop of Italy in the 1980’s. It is so much more than I expected, and I loved reading this wonderful coming of age story full of friendship, bonds, love, dreams, adventure, discovery, hope, challenges, learning, and being true to yourself.
The story turned out to be a delightful, fun adventure. There were touching moments that warmed my heart as did the wonderful character/s, who easily pulled me into the story and took me on An Italian Adventure. The entire package, from storyline, scene setting, and well-rounded characters was entirely believable and relatable.
A lovely story that I am happy to recommend, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
Thank you, Ms. Amman!
An Italian Adventure (The Italian Saga #1) by Gaia B. Amman was an intriguing engaging tale of, growing up not only in a different culture, for me, but, the growing pains that we all at one point, faced.
My first read by this author, I went in with an open mind, and frankly I’m so glad I picked up this book. As the title says this book is set in Italy, and the authors is Italian. I did know the author was Italian before reading this book, and I actually watched her on Youtube reading the first chapter of this book before getting it. You could say her rendition was the driving point home for me picking it up. With that being said, english is not her first language, so yeah there are some sectance issues and what not, but do not take that into account, or let it take away from this wonderful tale.
This book covers so much, and since this is based on the author’s life growing up, for me I always find it hard to rate someone’s life experiences. So as I do when I read memoirs or biographies, I’m not going to get into the characters or the plot. What I am going to tell you is that, this story is as I said, engaging, pulling and has this rhyme to it that you can help but get sucked into. As we get more into the story and the author navigates her tale, we see into another world, another culture so different to ours, but at the same time you can still draw some comparisons. I myself grew up in an all catholic town, so yeah, I don’t believe I need to say anymore. This book will open your eyes to things no movie or TV show can ever describe.
Overall I loved every minute of this book, and I can’t wait to dive into the next one. This book I believe, is a must read, for everyone, but I will say that this book is attended for older youths and adults. Even though the characters are young, this isn’t a children’s or young readers book.
So to end, yes, I give this book my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval.
Happy Reading.
-E.A. Walsh
This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed the creativeness, the sassy, fun life of a twelve year old. This story is written in Leda’s perception and it was great getting to see what happening in her head. I loved how the author made me feel as if I was in Leda’s head with her creative details. This story is about Leda’s life growing up in Italy. She is a great character that bring the story to life and I highly recommend reading her story.
An Italian Adventure (The Italian Saga Book 1)
By: Gaia B. Amman
5 out of 5 stars
The story An Italian Adventure (The Italian Saga Book 1) by Gaia B. Amman is a book the I enjoyed reading. It has an engaging dialogue between the characters and I soon found myself pulled into the story. Leda is the main character in the book. Her journey includes the themes of friendships, family, and life. She is someone who is discovering things about herself and also about those she lives and spends time with. There are moments that had me smiling and others that had me empathizing with Leda and the situations that she was going through. There are adventurous times, mischief, and touching moments. I enjoyed reading about Leda’s feelings on events that happen and how she handles them. Another character is Nico. He at times has a hostile attitude however this doesn’t scare Leda away. This is a coming of age story that will have you turning pages to find out what happens next. The book has a smooth flow to it and I am glad that I choose to read it. It is a wonderful story that I would recommend reading.