From the internationally bestselling author of The Children's Train comes an unforgettable coming-of-age novel, set in 1960s Sicily and based on a true story, of how a young Sicilian girl defied centuries old tradition to win the right to control her own life. As provincial Sicily bursts into life with the jaunty hum of pop music and the heady scent of wild jasmine, fifteen-year-old Oliva Denaro dares to challenge convention, ignoring the taunts of peers, her mother's scolds, and her own changing body. Spirited and carefree, she loves to run until her lungs burst: to feel the strength of her lithe limbs, to relish the freedom she cherishes, to honor the friends forced by propriety to conform. Though she knows she cannot stop growing up, Oliva resists the future. To her, becoming a woman means denying oneself. But adulthood comes all too quickly when the baker's son sets his sights on her. Offered a blood orange, Oliva--haunted by her mother's warning, "a girl who smiles has already said yes"--spurns the fruit. Yet, this act sets into motion an unwanted courtship that will force Oliva to fight for the right to choose her own path, even though the odds of winning are steep. While America and Europe are in the throes of social change, Sicily fiercely clings to its rigid traditions, including the custom of fuitina -by which kidnappings could be disguised as elopements- which is accepted and enshrined in law. Oliva's battle for independence is based on the real-life story that would ultimately rock Italy-capturing the attention of both the Pope and the nation's president--and transform life for all Italians. The Unbreakable Heart of Oliva Denaro is a lyrical tale of staggering beauty. Viola Ardone beautifully evokes a land and its people, customs, and passions, and breathes life into an unforgettable girl in all her intensity, desperation, perseverance, and bravery. Alternating between the lighthearted and the tragic, it is a classic coming-of-age novel--powerful, spellbinding, and liberating.
Shipping Details
We provide shipping to most Australian addresses (excluding some areas outside of our courier's delivery zone).
We use a combination of Australia Post, Aramex and Direct Freight Express to get your order to you.
For an accurate shipping cost, add the items you want to your cart and enter your shipping area.
Orders of multiple items may come in separate parcels.
All returns must be started within 30 days of delivery. We kindly request that you don’t try to return the item without letting us know as every situation can be resolved differently.
Damaged, defective or incorrect items
Sometimes items are damaged during delivery, or have manufacturing defects. If this is the case or you have received an incorrect item, get in touch with us as soon as possible and we will do our best to fix as soon as we know. Visit our contact page to send a query.
Change of mind returns
Change of mind returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery for most items in resellable and unopened condition. Most items are eligible for free returns however each item in your order may have a different return policy. Some items cannot be returned due to change of mind.
To check the return policy for your item look on each item page for the returns section. Please note that the few items that are not eligible for free returns may incur a re-stocking fee in addition to having to pay for shipping to return the item.