Books set in Italy for 10-13 year olds?

[Fennel]

Any ideas? Especially books including Rome, Venice, Milan?

I'm thinking of which books to pack for an Italian holiday and the dds would like ones based in the places we're going to.

All I can think of is Asterix in Rome. But there must be more.

Roman mysteries too young?

The Undrowned Child and The Mourning Emporium by Michelle Lovric - both set in Venice and include some of the history - really good reads

I am 46 and still enjoy the Roman Mysteries. I thought they were meant to be aimed at age 10-12? Cant wait until DS age 6 1/2 gets there!

I don't seem to have come across the Roman mysteries, though people talk about them. I'll have a long.

I will check out those ones thanks CheeseAlarm.

Dd1 says that Cornelia Funke's Thief Lord is set in Venice.

Thanks for ideas.

How about some older historical ones: Geoffrey Trease wrote "A Thousand for Sicily" and "Follow my black plume" about the start of the Italian kingdom. Or there's some Roman ones, including Word to Caesar (starts in Britain). I also loved Eilis Dillon as a child, don't know if they're still available, try "The Shadow of Vesuvius" or "Under the orange tree"

"Stravaganza, City of Masks" Mary Hoffman. Not strictly Italy but a fantasy/ parallel Venice. I loved it and so did my DD who read it at 12 - ish. I lived in Italy for a while and have made two trips to Venice and there was enough there to create that very Venetian atmosphere. On Amazon.

www.amazon.com/Stravaganza-City-Masks-Mary-Hoffman/dp/1582349177/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332887012&sr=1-5

Ooh, some really good ones here. I have downloaded Roman Mysteries and and the Undrowned child onto dd's kindle, and noted Stravaganza, that looks good too (but it isn't on the kindle, it comes from the US, and it might be too late to get it in the post, we go on Tues). Geoffrey Trease seems to be mostly out of print, he's the sort you find in charity shops isn't he?

Excellent, I love books that link to places you are reading them, and the dds do too.

The Aeneid! Is there a children's version?

I second The Undrowned Child - wonderful, imaginative book - have a wonderful time in Italy!

The Italian Spring by Gillian Avery.

It's only partly set in Italy, but Saffy's Angel is quite wonderful.

Excellent, I am noting them all! thanks.

The Thief Lord is very good, that was the first one I thought of!

Another one set in Venice (obviously!) is 'Daughter of Venice'. I think I read it when I was 12ish, but it might be a bit old for a ten year old, not sure. Here's a synopsis.

Chrestomanci, The Magicians of Caprona is a bit like Romeo and Juliet. It's not 'proper' Italy, but very definitely based there. It might be fun if they haven't read it and like magic stories.

Scorpia (from the Alex Rider series) is partly set in Venice.

Also the latter two Percy Jackson books are in a Roman setting (not in a geographical way thought), but I suspect you need to have read the Greek series first to enjoy them properly.

Eagle of the Ninth?