BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.
PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.
Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.
This book has been one that's sat on my bookshelves FOREVER, collecting dust. I bought it to add to my classroom library, but wanted to preview it first before handing it out to students. Very glad that I took the time to read it! It's one that might be tough to sell to students, so having some talking points about it will be helpful.
The characters in this book were fantastically created. Andi, the protagonist, absolutely broke my heart. Sadly, I think her extreme guilt and depression over what happened to her brother resonate with teen readers, as so many of them carry burdens they shouldn't. My heart went out to Andi, which helped excuse some of her oblivious moments or bad behavior. The other important characters, though many in number, were also created deftly. I found myself taking a personal interest in them, which is a must when trying to hook readers!
For me personally, the plot was exciting and engaging, but a bit convoluted, especially the portions that are narrated through Alexandrine's diary. She mixes the timeline up a bit in those, and since the reader is already being transported back in time, it can get a bit confusing. There were also just A LOT of diary entries - perhaps more than were necessary. Though I was curious to find out about the Revolution and Alex's story, I was much more interested in Andi's journeys in Paris. The ending, however, was absolutely WONDERFUL and worth pushing through some of the other overly "twisty" parts to reach.
Andi's narration draws readers in, but for this reason I offer a bit of caution. She's a very messed up girl. For some of my little tenderhearts, she might even be too messed up. I can think of some, however, who have admitted to liking dark books, and for them, Andi is a perfect narrator. Even in the midst of a serious personal crisis, she does have a fantastic sense of humor, which I appreciated.
One other caveat to this book when it comes to recommendations. It references music throughout the entire narrative. Personally, I enjoyed the references, as Andi's thesis (and iPod playlist) is based largely off the work of my favorite band - Radiohead (*dreamy sigh*). While I'm not sure I'd deem a knowledge of their work and other indie bands (as well as some classics, Led Zeppelin most notably) a necessity to reading the book, it did enhance my enjoyment because I knew to what songs she was referring. For picky readers, this might be a stumbling block. Or, as I am going to look at it, a fun conversation starter! I made a list of a few of the songs that are mentioned several times, and I plan to hand that to kiddos who borrow the book. They can look the songs up on Youtube and enjoy if they want! I'm all about spreading the Radiohead... errr, not sure you can call it cheer, but you know what I mean.
So, overall, I would say this book is one that I enjoyed reading, but not one I plan to hand out to just anyone. It will take a mature reader to follow the plot and comprehend Andi's character. To some of my more capricious readers, though, I think this book is well-researched and could spark some authentic curiosity.
Any other historical fiction recommendations? I love the genre, but I have a hard time digging up new titles!
No comments:
Post a Comment