Andi is broken. She is failing school and failing life. Since the death of her brother, all she cares about is her music. Taken to Paris by her estranged father she discovers a guitar and a lost diary from Revolutionary France.

I have to say that I really love books that bring in some history to it and this was no exception. The way the book flicked between what was happening to Andi and how she was dealing with the death of her brother and the diary of Alexandrine in France in the 1790’s was done very well and you never got the impression that the history bits were forced on you. You got to know Alexandrine really well in her passages and found yourself willing Andi to read a bit more each time so like her, you could find out what was happening. Jennifer Donnelly really captured the smell and feel of France of that time and bought the fear that Alexandrine must have been feeling to the reader and so got you really involved with her character.

I also really warmed to Andi and her struggles with coping with loss and guilt. I would have liked a bit more back history of the relationship with her Dad but you certainly got the impression of the teen angst she was feeling. I enjoyed the musical side to her and found myself wanting to know about Malherbeau who she is doing her thesis on. So much so I actually googled him!

The only part of the book I did not enjoy was the “dream” sequence. I am unfortunately of the age where I can remember Bobby Ewing and the shower dream in Dallas and this is what it felt like. It all felt a bit forced and I would have preferred it done in a better way. That said I did enjoy the book and I will now look for more books set in the French Revolution.



This was my first Jennifer Donnelly book and it certainly won’t be my last.

I reviwed this book for http://www.bookangelbooktopia.com/ so thanks again to Emma for the great book.