La torre, le bambole e lo sgabuzzino
by Gradassi, Ilaria
At the Little Stars of Jesus Institute, Irene, the oldest of the girls in residence, is a restless and untamable presence. Fiercely protective yet feared, she keeps her young roommates united by persuading them to refuse adoption. To seal their secret pact, Irene reveals the existence of a forbidden room at the top of the institute’s tower, where the traces of their past lives are kept.
But among drawers filled with memories, something unexpected emerges: a dollhouse Irene has never seen before, one that seems to speak only to her. The mysterious object reopens old wounds, awakens questions about her origins, and compels her to investigate a past she has always buried.
Caught between the stern authority of the nuns, the mistrust of the other girls, and her encounter with Madame, an enigmatic artist, Irene must decide whether to uncover the truth or remain a prisoner of her fears.
- Publishing house Pelledoca Editore
- Year of publication 2026
- Number of pages 232
- ISBN 9788832791624
- Foreign Rights Anna Mioni, anna@ac2.eu
- Ebook 9788832791693
- Price 16.00
Gradassi, Ilaria
Ilaria Gradassi is passionate about stories. After a degree in Literature, she received several awards for her artist’s books and, in 2013, created Earth Calls Mom, an interactive picture book. She regularly works with children and young people through workshops on creative writing and handmade bookmaking. One of her short stories is in the bilingual anthology Bridges of Stories/Un ponte di storie: 12 New Voices from India and Italy, edited by Matteo Trevisani and Sumana Roy (Copper Coin Publishing, 2024).