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Book Summary and Reviews of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution

by Jennifer Donnelly

  • Critics' Consensus (3):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2010, 496 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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.

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Book Awards

  • award image Indie Booksellers’ Choice Awards, 2011

Reviews

Media Reviews

"Donnelly's story goes on too long, but packs in worthy stuff. Musicians, especially, will appreciate the thread about the debt rock owes to the classics. Ages 14–up." - Publishers Weekly

"The novel is rich with detail, and both the Brooklyn and Paris settings provide important grounding for the haunting and beautifully told story. Fiction. 14 & up." - Kirkus Reviews

"Revolution combines the best aspects of modern young adult fiction with unique insight into the brutal effects of the French Revolution." - Children's Literature

"This relatively hefty volume might not work for the readers of Lurlene McDaniel, but give it to those who love Gregory Maguire or Libba Bray." - VOYA

"Donnelly's incredibly descriptive text and the excellent narration create a vivid picture for patient listeners who can handle a lengthy, complex story." - School Library Journal

This information about Revolution was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

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