I think it was then that the revolution began.
Not for Paris or for the French.
But for me.” – Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Andie Alpers is grieving the loss of her younger brother. With her mother not handling it too well and her father who had already walked out on them, she’s angry at the world and at herself. No longer taking school seriously, she’s now close to being expelled from a highly regarded school. Her father hears the news and takes control by bringing her to Paris with him. There, she finds a diary written by Alexandrine Paradis from two centuries back. Though she doesn’t know her, she feels a connection with this girl and she constantly finds herself drawn to the book. Something about Alex’s story calls to her and won’t let go.
At first, I had a hard time connecting to the main character. Her overall personality seemed rude and unapproachable but I guess being as guarded as she is after what happened, I wouldn’t have pictured her any other way. It took me a while but she eventually grew on me and you can tell how her time in Paris changes her through every new, sometimes creepy and illusory experiences. I loved Alex’s’ story. I looked forward to reading her diary entries and finding out what truly happened to her and the prince. The last part of the book was truly unexpected. I actually had my own theory of what might have happened involving the connection of the characters and I can honestly say that I was so wrong and I loved Jennifer Donnelly’s ending much more. It was definitely a book that felt a bit slower-paced at the beginning but the more you read it, the more you wanted to know and we could say that, just like how Andi was captivated by the entries, we were definitely drawn in.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves historical fiction and the French Revolution!
We give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5 feathers!