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American Girl: Marie-Grace and Cécile #1-6
Marie-Grace and Cécile Boxed Set with Game PB
This keepsake boxed set features Cécile's and Marie-Grace's six beautifully illustrated books. Discover what it was like to grow up in America during the 1850s.
The set also opens up to a fun-filled game. Collect cards featuring Marie-Grace and Cécile's favorite things, and earn points as you move around the board. The first person to finish is not necessarily the winner. Roll the die and see what happens!
The set also opens up to a fun-filled game. Collect cards featuring Marie-Grace and Cécile's favorite things, and earn points as you move around the board. The first person to finish is not necessarily the winner. Roll the die and see what happens!
Paperback
First published August 28, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 8, 2011
I grew up reading the American Girl historical series, and I've read all of them except Julie. I was pleasantly surprised by this new series. I didn't think I'd like it as well as the last one (Rebecca), but it's just as good, if not better.
This series is set in New Orleans during the 1853 yellow fever epidemic. I didn't know much about New Orleans' history before, especially the gens de couleur libre (free people of color), so it was very interesting to learn about.
Marie-Grace and Cécile behaved very realistically for their time period. Unlike some American Girl heroines (notably Samantha), Marie-Grace and Cécile are obedient and respectful to their parents. They don't go on unrealistic adventures or know better than the adults. They are just normal little girls who face some difficult circumstances and learn valuable lessons about the importance of friendship and loving service to others.
This series is set in New Orleans during the 1853 yellow fever epidemic. I didn't know much about New Orleans' history before, especially the gens de couleur libre (free people of color), so it was very interesting to learn about.
Marie-Grace and Cécile behaved very realistically for their time period. Unlike some American Girl heroines (notably Samantha), Marie-Grace and Cécile are obedient and respectful to their parents. They don't go on unrealistic adventures or know better than the adults. They are just normal little girls who face some difficult circumstances and learn valuable lessons about the importance of friendship and loving service to others.
April 22, 2025
2.5 stars rounded down.
I'm continuing to read the American Girl books alongside the fantastic Dolls of Our Lives podcast. Marie-Grace and Cécile were released in 2011, which was after my time, so I was eager to read these books for the first time as an adult. The classic six-book series is split between the two characters. It is the summer of 1853 in New Orleans and as the Mardi Gras festivities take place, the yellow fever epidemic is lurking around the corner. Marie-Grace is a white girl whose mother and infant brother died a few years back. After a couple years of living in New England with her physician father, she must adjust to life back in New Orleans. Cécile is a free person of color. As a member of an affluent, French-speaking, Black family, she crosses paths with Marie-Grace at voice lessons. The two girl develop a friendship, doing what they can to help out when the epidemic strikes.
The hosts of the Dolls of Our Lives podcast called this split-narrative series a failed experiment, and I couldn't agree more.
I absolutely loved the setting. I've never been to New Orleans, but I was fascinated by the mixture of French, African, Native, and Spanish cultures. I was drawn in to the French-speaking world. The books made me incredibly interested in the large population of free people of color in the city, especially at a time when slavery boomed both without and within the city. These books held so much potential, but unfortunately they didn't work.
I wish the books were only about Cécile. As the first historical Black American Girl character whose narrative did not have to do with slavery, it was a huge disservice (and unfortunately no surprise...) that her narrative and collection was shared with a white character. Due to the split narrative, you barely get to know either character. Their friendship is forced and unbelievable. The books are repetitive, often repeating the same scenes from different perspectives. The illustrations, which are so beloved in the other AG series, are frankly terrifying.
Choosing to set the series in an epidemic was dark and claustrophobic. While other AG characters faced hard moments, their stories are interspersed with birthday celebrations and summer camps. The bodies pile up in these books. There is a very weird choice in who dies in the epidemic, which promotes negative views of lower classes.
The most frustrating thing about this series is the way it deals with race. Addy's books do a fantastic job teaching about racism in an age-appropriate way. These books, instead, are virtually colorblind. There is a moment when Marie-Grace witnesses a free boy of color being apprehended by slave catchers. A moment of discrimination towards Cécile's grandfather. An absolutely insane plot line of deciding the fate (and determining the race) of an abandoned baby. An incredibly brief nod to some free people of color owning slaves. But none of this is unpacked. Instead, readers are presented with a colorblind and frankly, improbable for-the-time, interracial friendship. The colorblindness extends to a wild scene where the girls switch places, with no commentary about the danger of Cécile entering white spaces.
These characters were only available for three years. The expense of buying two dolls to complete a collection, the bizarre books, and racism contributed to poor sales. I wish the book would have been about a free girl of color in New Orleans in a non-epidemic time. The series did, however, spark my interest in learning more about that community, so I'm grateful for that!
I'm continuing to read the American Girl books alongside the fantastic Dolls of Our Lives podcast. Marie-Grace and Cécile were released in 2011, which was after my time, so I was eager to read these books for the first time as an adult. The classic six-book series is split between the two characters. It is the summer of 1853 in New Orleans and as the Mardi Gras festivities take place, the yellow fever epidemic is lurking around the corner. Marie-Grace is a white girl whose mother and infant brother died a few years back. After a couple years of living in New England with her physician father, she must adjust to life back in New Orleans. Cécile is a free person of color. As a member of an affluent, French-speaking, Black family, she crosses paths with Marie-Grace at voice lessons. The two girl develop a friendship, doing what they can to help out when the epidemic strikes.
The hosts of the Dolls of Our Lives podcast called this split-narrative series a failed experiment, and I couldn't agree more.
I absolutely loved the setting. I've never been to New Orleans, but I was fascinated by the mixture of French, African, Native, and Spanish cultures. I was drawn in to the French-speaking world. The books made me incredibly interested in the large population of free people of color in the city, especially at a time when slavery boomed both without and within the city. These books held so much potential, but unfortunately they didn't work.
I wish the books were only about Cécile. As the first historical Black American Girl character whose narrative did not have to do with slavery, it was a huge disservice (and unfortunately no surprise...) that her narrative and collection was shared with a white character. Due to the split narrative, you barely get to know either character. Their friendship is forced and unbelievable. The books are repetitive, often repeating the same scenes from different perspectives. The illustrations, which are so beloved in the other AG series, are frankly terrifying.
Choosing to set the series in an epidemic was dark and claustrophobic. While other AG characters faced hard moments, their stories are interspersed with birthday celebrations and summer camps. The bodies pile up in these books. There is a very weird choice in who dies in the epidemic, which promotes negative views of lower classes.
The most frustrating thing about this series is the way it deals with race. Addy's books do a fantastic job teaching about racism in an age-appropriate way. These books, instead, are virtually colorblind. There is a moment when Marie-Grace witnesses a free boy of color being apprehended by slave catchers. A moment of discrimination towards Cécile's grandfather. An absolutely insane plot line of deciding the fate (and determining the race) of an abandoned baby. An incredibly brief nod to some free people of color owning slaves. But none of this is unpacked. Instead, readers are presented with a colorblind and frankly, improbable for-the-time, interracial friendship. The colorblindness extends to a wild scene where the girls switch places, with no commentary about the danger of Cécile entering white spaces.
These characters were only available for three years. The expense of buying two dolls to complete a collection, the bizarre books, and racism contributed to poor sales. I wish the book would have been about a free girl of color in New Orleans in a non-epidemic time. The series did, however, spark my interest in learning more about that community, so I'm grateful for that!
May 31, 2025
Can we get an F in the chat for Ellen?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2012
As an adult, I found the books overall interesting and enjoyable, though I'm not so sure the history was always accurate. Illustrations are a major part of the series, and some of the art was really stiff.
I adored the character of Marie-Grace, even though she happened to have a remarkable singing voice. (Maybe she is really a Marie Sue? ;) ) Very fun to see an interracial friendship in historical fiction, though I'm not sure how realistic it was. 3.7/5 stars.
More detailed review at http://blog.juliebihn.com/2012/02/rev...
I adored the character of Marie-Grace, even though she happened to have a remarkable singing voice. (Maybe she is really a Marie Sue? ;) ) Very fun to see an interracial friendship in historical fiction, though I'm not sure how realistic it was. 3.7/5 stars.
More detailed review at http://blog.juliebihn.com/2012/02/rev...
March 21, 2013
I have now completely read the saga of Marie-Grace and Cecile. It consists of 6 books, which I reviewed separately. You can find my review for each book at the link(s) provided below......
1. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
2. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
3. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
4. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
5. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
6. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
1. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
2. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
3. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
4. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
5. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
6. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
January 12, 2013
We read this last semester as part of our history studies. We enjoyed the series, as we always do with American Girl. We learned all about Yellow Fever and New Orleans in the 1850's. Very interesting material.
February 29, 2012
so fun to read these with my daughter!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews