" Fascinating story about a young Jewish midwife named Hannah who lives in the Jewish ghetto in Venice in the early-1500s. The story unfolds as a Christian noble begs her to come to help deliver his wife's baby; however, papal edicts prevent the intermixing of Jews and Christians. Despite her misgivings, Hannah goes and successfully delivers wee Matteo. Meanwhile, Hannah's husband, Isaac has been kidnapped and imprisoned on the island of Malta--half of this book is his story too. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Venice and of the complications and challenges that Venetians faced at this time: poverty, a return of the Plague, Catholic laws and blatant ignorance and anti-Semitism. "
— Donna, 1/22/2014