Madame Tussaud's Apprentice: An Untold Story of Love in the French Revolution

by Kathleen Benner Duble

Overview

In 1789, with the starving French people on the brink of revolution, orphaned Celie Rosseau, an amazing artist and a very clever thief, runs wild with her protector, Algernon, trying to join the idealistic freedom fighters of Paris. But when she is caught stealing from none other than the king's brother and the lady from the waxworks, Celie must use her drawing talent to buy her own freedom or die for her crimes. Forced to work for Madame Tussaud inside the opulent walls that surround Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Celie is shocked to find that the very people she imagined to be monsters actually treat her with kindness. But the thunder of revolution still rolls outside the gates, and Celie is torn between the cause of the poor and the safety of the rich. When the moment of truth arrives, will she turn on Madame Tussaud or betray the boy she loves? From the hidden garrets of the starving poor to the jeweled halls of Versailles, Madame Tussaud's Apprentice is a sweeping story of danger, intrigue, and young love, set against one of the most dramatic moments in history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440581168
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	08/01/2014
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	HL750L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kathleen Benner Duble is the author of several novels for middle-grade readers.

Editorial Reviews

"An unusual lens on the French Revolution.... Duble's writing flows smoothly...an intriguing look at an ever compelling time." —Kirkus Reviews

"Well paced and captivating, Duble's novel effectively explores the shades of gray in the French Revolution." —Booklist

"Madame Tussaud's Apprentice is a fascinating historical drama. The rich background of revolutionary France provides readers with a fascinating look at that terrifying time. Celie and Algernon's star-crossed love is poignant and gripping." —The Children's Book Review

"An amazing tale of rich versus poor set during the French Revolution.... The art which is involved is mesmerizing and intriguing. Understanding the live representation of news and event through this art, along with the culture it represented is a unique view of the days of the revolution makes Madame Tussaud's Apprentice a wonderful historical fiction novel." —San Diego Book Review

From the Publisher

2014-06-10
The historical Madame Tussaud provides an unusual lens on the French Revolution.Sixteen-year-old thief Celie and her companion in crime, Algernon, make a precarious living stealing from the French elite. Both teens resent the aristocracy, believing that the rich caused the deaths of their families. By chance, Celie’s artistic talents come into play when she is arrested for stealing from Madame Tussaud; the famed waxwork lady, whose art is already one of the popular attractions in Paris, takes her in to make use of her skill at drawing uncannily realistic representations. Madame Tussaud is also the drawing tutor to the king’s sister, Madame Elizabeth, which brings the reluctant Celie into the last innocent days at Versailles. When the revolution begins, Algernon fights for freedom, but Madame Tussaud faces the guillotine. Duble’s writing flows smoothly, but her characters often seem muddled—motivations and emotions are spelled out, not felt. However, the history behind the story (such as the fact that Madame Tussaud was forced to make wax casts of the severed heads of the royals, including her friend Madame Elizabeth) is fascinating, and it propels the story to its somewhat hopeful end.Stumbles aside, an intriguing look at an ever compelling time.(Historical fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews