Historical novel about three girls growing up in Venice as Orphans in the time of Vivaldi. It gives a good view of what life might have been like for the girls back then and has an interesting backdrop of the famour composer himself. The characters are well written and it is a good read. I wanted a bit more in the ending, but it was satisfying overall. ( )

Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com

Eighteenth century composer Vivaldi not only composed beautiful music, but he also worked in an orphanage giving young girls a music education. HIDDEN VOICES is a fictional story based on true events about three girls living in the Ospedale dell Pieta.

Luisa is known for her voice, but she's always looking for the mother who abandoned her. Rosalba is the adventurous one who wants a life outside of the Ospedale walls and dreams of romance. Anetta is the one who takes care of everyone and feels especially protective of Luisa. Together, these girls grow up and help each other through the various obstacles life presents them.

HIDDEN VOICES is a richly detailed historical novel. Each chapter is told from a different point of view and Ms. Collins excels at giving each girl a unique voice. Rosalba was my favorite character in the beginning, but Luisa and Anetta grew on me too throughout the novel. All three grow throughout the story and it's interesting to see how the girls help and rely on each other throughout the way.

A great novel of friendship, HIDDEN VOICES is an engaging historical read, especially for readers with an interest in classical music. ( )