I revisited this book from my childhood because it was made me want to visit Venice and I finally made it there this weekend! But beyond being a trip down memory lane, I loved this book as an adult just as much as I did as a kid. It was very interesting how my experience of this story changed.

As a kid I remember finding these orphan kids lifestyle exciting and adventurous but reading it as an adult I was able to pick up on all the little details that made their story so subtly heartbreaking.

Like Riccio sleeping with a million stuffed animals because it is safer to seek comfort from objects than any of the adults he had in his life.

Hornets escapism in books and then trying to make herself as useful and easy to love as possible in hopes someone will keep her rather than expecting to be owed the love and care that all children are due.

There is so much more I could say but this truly is a masterpiece.