A promising young singer recovers from a traumatic experience by traveling to Venice and connecting with the work of a 17th-century female composer in this gorgeous and sensual novel-in-verse from the acclaimed author of  Call Me Athena. 

Introverted and homeschooled, vocal prodigy Luciana “Lula” Gabroni is ready to become the star she’s trained all her life to be. After entering the New England Conservatory of Music, she is immediately chosen to join an elite ensemble of peers who will compete in a prestigious music festival in modern-day Venice, Italy.

Barbara Strozzi is a poor young woman living in 17th-century Venice who dreams of making her mark on the world through her gift of song. She is determined to fight against the prescribed path of an illegitimate servant girl, daring to envision a life filled with intellect, pleasure, and independence—even as the restrictions of her gender and status threaten to silence her forever.

When Lula comes across Barbara’s bold and seductive music in the Conservatory library, she immediately feels a striking kinship with the mysterious female composer. After an incident at school sends Lula searching to reclaim her voice, she soon realizes she must connect with the ghosts of the past to find her heart’s true song once again.

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Reviews for Siren:
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A JUNIOR LIBRARY GOLD STANDARD SELECTION

 "Readers who love verse novels and books told in dual timelines will want to get this one on their TBRs."
––Book Riot 

This atmospheric, visceral verse novel will appeal to readers of Joy McCullough’s Blood Water Paint (2018), fans of strong female protagonists, and lovers of the arts.
––Booklist 

“Dynamic and appealing…readers of books in verse, romance, and music history will all be drawn to this engaging book.”
––School Library Journal

"Told in evocative verse, this skillfully crafted and emotionally resonant story explores ambition, resilience, identity, trauma, and the reclamation of women’s voices across history. . .Dreamy and thoughtful." 
––Kirkus

“A melodic masterpiece of hidden history.”
—Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Carnegie Medal

"The Siren and the Star is powerful, sensual, and just as musical as the fascinating history."
–––Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor winning author of The Surrender Tree and Young People's Poet Laureate Emeritus

"This book had me hooked from the first page! Love the verse, the structure, the dual POV, the history and wonderful and magical descriptions of Venice. The character's voices are unique, and the author does a lovely job of intersecting the parallel narratives throughout. If you love female empowerment, classical music, magic, witchiness and even a spicy romance then you’ll love love love this book! I did."
––Jasminne Mendez, Pura Belpré Honor Award recipient, and author of Aniana del Mar Jumps In and The Story of My Anger.

With THE SIREN AND THE STAR, Colby Cedar Smith proves herself to be a poetic maestra, deftly crafting a multi-timeline, multi-character narrative that shimmers with magic and music. The stories of Lula and Barbara resonate long after the last page, inspiring readers to harness the power and potential of their own unique voices. A soaring, symphonic novel-in-verse.
––Rebecca Caprara, award-winning author of Spin

Blood Water Paint   meets The Lucy Variations  in The Siren and the Star, a lyrical verse novel that  entwines the stories of two young women passionate about music centuries apart in Venice. The alternating points of view kept me on the edge of my seat as both musicians headed toward an inevitable crescendo. Such a beautifully- written tale!
––Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose.