Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Published: October.12.2010
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 472
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

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.

Review:

REVOLUTION is a book that will inspire you. Its a book that will stick with you forever. This novel touches the boarder of being a classic. We can imagine Jennifer thinking “How can I write two stories in one?” and to make it more complicated and brilliant have each character live 200 years apart. After you finish reading this novel all you’ll want to do is learn how to play an instrument and move to France.

The intense research behind this novel is evident in how detailed Jennifer writes about music and 18th century Paris. The settings are so real and the characters come to life in our minds eye. At one point readers will wonder if Jennifer has actually visited 18th century paris.

Andi is broken. Not physically but emotionally. She’s going through a serious case of PTSD which causes her to lose touch with reality at some point in the novel. But it seems that Andi needed to go through it all to heal and move past the traumatic event that caused her family so much pain. In the beginning of REVOLUTION Andi seems like any other teen who is going through a rebellious stage, but as we learn more about her backstory we realize how much pain she’s in. At that point all you’ll want to do is reach into the novel and hold her to let her know she’s not alone.

Alex is a dreamer. She has acting embedded in her soul. Even though her acting is superb no one will hire her since she is average looking. She is then forced to play a clown at her uncles street puppet show. That’s how she meets her beloved prince. Alex would like to think of herself as selfish. She wants to believe that she’s using the prince to reach her goals but in reality he’s all Alex wants to make happy. Alex makes sure that she is there for him all the way to the end. This part of the novel is the most touching.

A story of lose, determination, love, passion, and sacrifice. This book has it all. Exciting characters are scattered all over this novel which will keep you reading until the break of dawn. Raw emotions are the hardest to let go of. This book will make you feel…truly feel!