Falcon In The Glass    by Susan Fletcher Order:  USA  Can Margaret K. McElderry, 2014 (2013) Hardcover, Softcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Jessica Maguire Readers, aged ten to fourteen years (and older ones too), will enjoy historical tidbits artfully blended with the enjoyable fiction of this novel. Not your run of the mill novel, this book is set in the famous glass making city of Murano, Italy, in the late fifteenth century. Renzo, the teenage protagonist, is trying to learn the family business of his late father. But being a glassmaker in Murano is not only a tedious, difficult job, but it's also deadly. The members of the glassworks are never allowed to leave Murano for fear that they will share their closely guarded trade secrets. Letta, just slightly younger than Renzo, is a bird child. The girl and each of her many siblings has a special bond with birds, and each has their own avian friend. Letta and her falcon are a source of fascination and help for Renzo. Misfortune on both sides brings Letta and Renzo together. She helps him secretly learn the art of glassmaking as he prepares for an upcoming test, and he helps her, providing shelter and food for the wayward children. While glassmaker hopeful and bird child help each other, they also deal with assassins, murder, and witchcraft trials! I find no lack of entertainment or lull in this story. From beginning to end there is plenty of action and intrigue. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews