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American Girl: Marie-Grace and Cécile #6
Cécile's Gift
Cécile and her friend Marie-Grace volunteer at Holy Trinity Orphanage every week, and Cécile becomes especially close to a little girl named Perrine. But there are so many children who have lost their families to yellow fever, and Cécile wishes she could do more to help them. When she hears that a huge benefit will be held to raise money for all the orphans in New Orleans, she is determined to take part. But what can Cécile give to the orphans to lift their sad hearts and let them know she cares?
85 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2011
6 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 30, 2021
The great AG marathon continues. Again, reading for the first time as an adult, inspired by the American Girls podcast. Here's what stood out to me:
- From page one, it's very clear that the storm has passed and life is returning to normal. (It's currently late 2021 and I'm jealous about this part.) Cècile is happy to see Monette again; less thrilled to see the Metoyer sisters back. And disgusted - as when she received their letter over the summer - by how little they understand about what the city has gone through.
- Cècile freaking and running out on Perrine when the girl doesn't understand her poem is not a great moment for her - and made me think of a similar moment at the end of book 3 where MG wants to run home and cry about saying goodbye to Philip, but instead rallies to play with the other children.
- Cècile's poem legitimately feels like something a ten-year-old might write.
- Cècile and Marie-Grace's friendship has blossomed beautifully. MG can tease Cècile about not liking to write letters and they always encourage each other. Their friendship has even expanded to encompass their families; the dinner they share at the end is a lovely scene.
So let's consider the series as a whole:
I don't hate it! I like both of these girls, I like the ways they support each other. There's a lot of "what life was like," which is very much my jam. It's entirely possibly that I would have been into this if I had been the target age when it came out.
But still, there are problems. Because the protagonists are so likeable, because everything comes out okay for them - among other reasons - it feels a little bland, despite such a seemingly dramatic setting. In the later books, we're told over and over how much loss there has been, but the ways we see this are all a step or two removed: orphanages filling up; MG's father is never home; Cècile's father is only working on grave markers. Which are all clever details to include, but they lack immediacy. Cècile encounters two cases of yellow fever in her household. MG helps in a public infirmary for one evening. In both cases, the experience is intense - but brief.
For that matter, really only two books of the six are IN the epidemic. The first two books are introductory - and somewhat repetitive - meaning that book 3 feels more like a second book in the way it starts to develop the themes. That's where we first get an indication that yellow fever is going to be bad this year. Books 4 and 5 are deep in it. By the end of 5, it's clear that life is returning to normal, and book 6 celebrates that.
I also think both the main characters get shortchanged. Because the series is split between them, we get half as much time with each girl. Even though they do appear in each others' books, the friend is not present for the majority of the book. And since we follow them through this epidemic, we don't get the full range of hopes and dreams and fears we would normally get - so much of their energy is focused on the crisis at hand. By the end of six books, I still feel like I'm only just getting to know these girls.
I have two of their three mysteries, so those are next on my to-read pile. Perhaps they'll help further their character development.
- From page one, it's very clear that the storm has passed and life is returning to normal. (It's currently late 2021 and I'm jealous about this part.) Cècile is happy to see Monette again; less thrilled to see the Metoyer sisters back. And disgusted - as when she received their letter over the summer - by how little they understand about what the city has gone through.
- Cècile freaking and running out on Perrine when the girl doesn't understand her poem is not a great moment for her - and made me think of a similar moment at the end of book 3 where MG wants to run home and cry about saying goodbye to Philip, but instead rallies to play with the other children.
- Cècile's poem legitimately feels like something a ten-year-old might write.
- Cècile and Marie-Grace's friendship has blossomed beautifully. MG can tease Cècile about not liking to write letters and they always encourage each other. Their friendship has even expanded to encompass their families; the dinner they share at the end is a lovely scene.
So let's consider the series as a whole:
I don't hate it! I like both of these girls, I like the ways they support each other. There's a lot of "what life was like," which is very much my jam. It's entirely possibly that I would have been into this if I had been the target age when it came out.
But still, there are problems. Because the protagonists are so likeable, because everything comes out okay for them - among other reasons - it feels a little bland, despite such a seemingly dramatic setting. In the later books, we're told over and over how much loss there has been, but the ways we see this are all a step or two removed: orphanages filling up; MG's father is never home; Cècile's father is only working on grave markers. Which are all clever details to include, but they lack immediacy. Cècile encounters two cases of yellow fever in her household. MG helps in a public infirmary for one evening. In both cases, the experience is intense - but brief.
For that matter, really only two books of the six are IN the epidemic. The first two books are introductory - and somewhat repetitive - meaning that book 3 feels more like a second book in the way it starts to develop the themes. That's where we first get an indication that yellow fever is going to be bad this year. Books 4 and 5 are deep in it. By the end of 5, it's clear that life is returning to normal, and book 6 celebrates that.
I also think both the main characters get shortchanged. Because the series is split between them, we get half as much time with each girl. Even though they do appear in each others' books, the friend is not present for the majority of the book. And since we follow them through this epidemic, we don't get the full range of hopes and dreams and fears we would normally get - so much of their energy is focused on the crisis at hand. By the end of six books, I still feel like I'm only just getting to know these girls.
I have two of their three mysteries, so those are next on my to-read pile. Perhaps they'll help further their character development.
March 17, 2024
cecile entering her poet era here, love to see that!!
July 28, 2020
The moral of the story is that you should seek applause for self-centered, performative acts of charity. This book is incredibly dull and slow-moving, and the entire story revolves around Cecile's desire to showcase herself at a fundraising benefit for the orphans. Sure, she wants to help, but what she really wants is to be noticed and praised, not to participate in any of the behind-the-scenes work. She is offended that her family doesn't jump to the same conclusion that she does, that she should be part of the show itself, and is determined to show everyone how gifted and compassionate she is.
She also insists that she knows exactly what newly orphaned children are going through, and attempts to express that in a badly written poem about the yellow fever epidemic that New Orleans was beginning to recover from. She receives wildly enthusiastic applause, and gets a big hug from the orphan girl whom she has been trying to impress. It's all very shallow, and as another reviewer noted, even though people in New Orleans had limited entertainment options in the 1800s, a nine-year-old's poetry declamation should never have gotten such a dramatic response.
I thought that this book about post-epidemic recovery could be interesting and relevant to COVID-19 dynamics, but I didn't connect with anything in this whole story. It is incredibly dull and self-centered, and its only merit is the demonstration that toxic charity is the domain of the economically and socially privileged, regardless of race.
She also insists that she knows exactly what newly orphaned children are going through, and attempts to express that in a badly written poem about the yellow fever epidemic that New Orleans was beginning to recover from. She receives wildly enthusiastic applause, and gets a big hug from the orphan girl whom she has been trying to impress. It's all very shallow, and as another reviewer noted, even though people in New Orleans had limited entertainment options in the 1800s, a nine-year-old's poetry declamation should never have gotten such a dramatic response.
I thought that this book about post-epidemic recovery could be interesting and relevant to COVID-19 dynamics, but I didn't connect with anything in this whole story. It is incredibly dull and self-centered, and its only merit is the demonstration that toxic charity is the domain of the economically and socially privileged, regardless of race.
May 14, 2024
Such a cute ending! This series was so fun to read and I also learned a lot about history and New Orleans specifically, which was really cool! :)
January 29, 2012
boy, am i ever relieved that this is the last book in this series. i am not wild about these characters.
this one is all about how some folks in new orleans decided to organize a benefit for the local orphanages, which are housing more children than ever since the yellow fever epidemic. everyone is excited & wants to contribute. mme oceane has been invited to sing a song & cecile suggests that marie-grace sing a duet with mme oceane, as marie-grace has such a pretty voice. armand wants to paint backdrops, mrs. rey is going to contribute some pies or something, & of course cecile wants to help out as well. but how? a children's choir is performing, but cecile is pretty self-aware about the fact that she doesn't have a great voice. all she really wants to do is a recitation. she loves to recite.
um. i know it was a different time & everything, maybe recitations by nine-year-olds were the height of world-class entertainment in 1853, but this sounds totally, totally boring to me.
cecile works with someone down at the theatre to choose the perfect recitation. she wants to read something that will really speak to the children in the orphanages--something that captures the fear they felt losing their parents, but also the hope they have for the future. she finds a poem about a thunderstorm & thinks it checks all the boxes. she works her ass off memorizing it & learning how to recite it with just the right emotion. then she screens it for an audience of one: a little girl who is temporarily staying at the orphanage after her brother (her only family) collapsed in the street from yellow fever. (incidentally, i really wonder how realistic it is for people to be repeatedly described as just keeling the fuck over one day from the fever, while they're out living their every day lives. if i wake up one day with even a whisper of a sniffle, i dive right back into bed & stay there until i feel 100% better. you won't catch me keeling over with yellow fever in the cracker aisle at the local grocery store!) the little girl does not get the thunderstorm poem. cecile is crushed.
marie-grace suggests that cecile write her own poem. because if there's one thing that's even worse than listening to a ten-year-old recite some abstract poem about a thunderstorm, it's listening to a ten-year-old recite a poem she wrote herself. that cloud of dust you see is me booking it for the nearest exit.
cecile is non-plussed. she thinks her talent is in recitation (HOW IS THAT A TALENT?), not writing. but she gives it a whirl & is surprised when the words start flowing. she has no trouble writing a lovely (to her) poem that perfectly captures her assumptions about how the orphans must feel. because this entire series of books is basically about how a couple of privileged, relatively spoiled little girls save the less-fortunate with their amazing powers of empathy. *puke*
the book even includes cecile's poem in full. it's not good. i know it was written by the author of the book & not cecile, & maybe she made it purposefully kind of rotten so it would seem more like a young girl wrote it, but...suffice to say, not everyone can or should write poetry. cecile decides that her gift is her ability to put the orphans' feelings into words. because god forbid that poor children be allowed to speak for themselves, amirite?
this one is all about how some folks in new orleans decided to organize a benefit for the local orphanages, which are housing more children than ever since the yellow fever epidemic. everyone is excited & wants to contribute. mme oceane has been invited to sing a song & cecile suggests that marie-grace sing a duet with mme oceane, as marie-grace has such a pretty voice. armand wants to paint backdrops, mrs. rey is going to contribute some pies or something, & of course cecile wants to help out as well. but how? a children's choir is performing, but cecile is pretty self-aware about the fact that she doesn't have a great voice. all she really wants to do is a recitation. she loves to recite.
um. i know it was a different time & everything, maybe recitations by nine-year-olds were the height of world-class entertainment in 1853, but this sounds totally, totally boring to me.
cecile works with someone down at the theatre to choose the perfect recitation. she wants to read something that will really speak to the children in the orphanages--something that captures the fear they felt losing their parents, but also the hope they have for the future. she finds a poem about a thunderstorm & thinks it checks all the boxes. she works her ass off memorizing it & learning how to recite it with just the right emotion. then she screens it for an audience of one: a little girl who is temporarily staying at the orphanage after her brother (her only family) collapsed in the street from yellow fever. (incidentally, i really wonder how realistic it is for people to be repeatedly described as just keeling the fuck over one day from the fever, while they're out living their every day lives. if i wake up one day with even a whisper of a sniffle, i dive right back into bed & stay there until i feel 100% better. you won't catch me keeling over with yellow fever in the cracker aisle at the local grocery store!) the little girl does not get the thunderstorm poem. cecile is crushed.
marie-grace suggests that cecile write her own poem. because if there's one thing that's even worse than listening to a ten-year-old recite some abstract poem about a thunderstorm, it's listening to a ten-year-old recite a poem she wrote herself. that cloud of dust you see is me booking it for the nearest exit.
cecile is non-plussed. she thinks her talent is in recitation (HOW IS THAT A TALENT?), not writing. but she gives it a whirl & is surprised when the words start flowing. she has no trouble writing a lovely (to her) poem that perfectly captures her assumptions about how the orphans must feel. because this entire series of books is basically about how a couple of privileged, relatively spoiled little girls save the less-fortunate with their amazing powers of empathy. *puke*
the book even includes cecile's poem in full. it's not good. i know it was written by the author of the book & not cecile, & maybe she made it purposefully kind of rotten so it would seem more like a young girl wrote it, but...suffice to say, not everyone can or should write poetry. cecile decides that her gift is her ability to put the orphans' feelings into words. because god forbid that poor children be allowed to speak for themselves, amirite?
November 15, 2024
A lackluster ending to a series I did enjoy, despite it all.
I don't understand why - from a writing perspective - Marie-Grace is so excited about going on the trip. For a few MONTHS. Away from her father. She was so upset about this prospect last book...! And of course, it's a vacation, so I can see why a real 10 year old girl would feel different. But It just felt like a shock in a storytelling way.
And it felt far too late into the series to introduce a character like Perrine. Cécile's poem was... appropriate for her age. It was fine.
I don't understand why - from a writing perspective - Marie-Grace is so excited about going on the trip. For a few MONTHS. Away from her father. She was so upset about this prospect last book...! And of course, it's a vacation, so I can see why a real 10 year old girl would feel different. But It just felt like a shock in a storytelling way.
And it felt far too late into the series to introduce a character like Perrine. Cécile's poem was... appropriate for her age. It was fine.
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June 10, 2022I find it kind of hilarious that people are complaining about this series because the CHILDREN are self-centered. All the children in AG books are self-centered in one way or another! Of course they don't care that much about yellow fever until it effects them personally! THAT'S REALISTIC.
Granted, these stories are weaker than other AG books but I'm laughing at the absurdity of expecting books about CHILDREN to be some intense, moral story. I think Cecile wanting to be on stage to preform something and get applause from it is hardly that selfish for a NINE YEAR OLD.
Granted, these stories are weaker than other AG books but I'm laughing at the absurdity of expecting books about CHILDREN to be some intense, moral story. I think Cecile wanting to be on stage to preform something and get applause from it is hardly that selfish for a NINE YEAR OLD.
May 7, 2025
3.75 stars. Cute ending to the series. They really strengthened the friendship and I love that the storylines of the epidemic and orphans stretched over the last 4 books. It was nice to not have that story rushed.
January 22, 2014
I think I'm going to remember this series as "those stories about the epidemic" whether I want to or not! The aftermath shows that the difficulty isn't over yet. Cecile finds the way she can help the orphans of the city. A good story and a satisfying conclusion to everything.
September 23, 2022
As a little girl. I was opposed with American Girl. I still really enjoy the stories. American Girl really got me into reading. I started American Girl when I was 9. I loved them ever since.
September 1, 2022
Unfortunately I feel like this series was bookended by its weakest books. Cécile seems unaware that the epidemic is still around her. Given our current pandemic surges and declines and the lack of awareness, it probably shouldn’t be a surprise a child is out of the loop on the latest disease news, especially in this era. I did appreciate a reference to her father’s ongoing work to make monuments; as someone still waiting on a family member’s headstone 11 months from a pandemic death it was a small detail that captured the era of people moving on while others are left behind.
This book left me realizing that despite the ongoing insistence of Marie-Grace and Cécile’s friendship, they could not be more different. I think it was nice to glimpse two young children who overlapped briefly but will move on from one another in adulthood. While realistic, it left me a bit sad that this short version was the story we told. I wish I’d seen a larger series for each girl and maybe the supplementals showing this period. Instead we could see Marie-Grace as her father’s sidekick in the north and her move south and then Cécile’s journey after the fever, finding herself and living in a family where maybe they’re all taking on different roles as their city changes. This book left me with the most curiosity of what happens next but also a sadness that I barely got to know one American Girl, let alone two.
This book left me realizing that despite the ongoing insistence of Marie-Grace and Cécile’s friendship, they could not be more different. I think it was nice to glimpse two young children who overlapped briefly but will move on from one another in adulthood. While realistic, it left me a bit sad that this short version was the story we told. I wish I’d seen a larger series for each girl and maybe the supplementals showing this period. Instead we could see Marie-Grace as her father’s sidekick in the north and her move south and then Cécile’s journey after the fever, finding herself and living in a family where maybe they’re all taking on different roles as their city changes. This book left me with the most curiosity of what happens next but also a sadness that I barely got to know one American Girl, let alone two.
October 16, 2023
Meh. This book was a mediocre end to a series that just doesn't stand up to the other historic characters. I think part of the problem is trying to split between two girls and it felt forced. I also think it was a mistake to depart from the tried and true Meet, Lesson, Surprise, Birthday, Summer, Changes format. This particular book took a character that interested me and made her seem very self centered and unlikeable. While her poem was perhaps fine for a 9 year old I agree with others that it wasn't good. And Cecile is super worried about her own performance and how others will perceive her instead of how things will benefit the orphans.
Other beef I had with the series: really only 2 of the 6 books address the epidemic at all. I would have liked to learn more about how people were coping and the aftermath of rebuilding not just this final book that focused on Cecile writing a bad poem for a single benefit.
Other beef I had with the series: really only 2 of the 6 books address the epidemic at all. I would have liked to learn more about how people were coping and the aftermath of rebuilding not just this final book that focused on Cecile writing a bad poem for a single benefit.
November 17, 2019
I don't have too many thoughts on this, the shortest of the six (partially because there's no next-book preview). The epidemic is slowing, but there's still a lot of orphans so it's benefit celebration time~
I still think it's pretty great to have Cecile as the character of privilege in these books rather than Marie-Grace, but it still gives me pause for "how will reciting a poem help orphans??" (Cecile's decision to write her own that they'll understand rather than a metaphor-laden entry makes sense, though).
Overall, I think the co-lead experiment was interesting, and an indication of shaking up the format- I haven't read Rebecca's books yet but will do so soon, because based on titles she seems to be the last of the core-six format (Julie's definitely pushed them a bit, but still followed thematic beats).
I still think it's pretty great to have Cecile as the character of privilege in these books rather than Marie-Grace, but it still gives me pause for "how will reciting a poem help orphans??" (Cecile's decision to write her own that they'll understand rather than a metaphor-laden entry makes sense, though).
Overall, I think the co-lead experiment was interesting, and an indication of shaking up the format- I haven't read Rebecca's books yet but will do so soon, because based on titles she seems to be the last of the core-six format (Julie's definitely pushed them a bit, but still followed thematic beats).
March 12, 2025
I did a pretty quick rating for this series because I can sum everything up right here.
I think the concept of writing a best friends series and awesome! But I wish it would have been executed better. If the girls each had six books to fully flesh out there story, I think I would have bee n able to better connect with them as characters. Both of their middle books were the more interesting ones out of the series. I just could not help wishing and wanting more out of his series. Out of all the AG series so far that I have read, this one would be my least favorite which is a real shame. There was so many bits and pieces in this series that are great to teach children, but the execution for me was less than desired.
Ranking:
1. Kaya 1764
2. Caroline 1812
3. Josefine 1824
4. Felicity 1774
5. Marie-Grace & Cecile 1853
6. Elizabeth 1775
I think the concept of writing a best friends series and awesome! But I wish it would have been executed better. If the girls each had six books to fully flesh out there story, I think I would have bee n able to better connect with them as characters. Both of their middle books were the more interesting ones out of the series. I just could not help wishing and wanting more out of his series. Out of all the AG series so far that I have read, this one would be my least favorite which is a real shame. There was so many bits and pieces in this series that are great to teach children, but the execution for me was less than desired.
Ranking:
1. Kaya 1764
2. Caroline 1812
3. Josefine 1824
4. Felicity 1774
5. Marie-Grace & Cecile 1853
6. Elizabeth 1775
December 18, 2023
Cécile and Marie-Grace are preparing for the fundraiser for the orphans of Trinity Church. The amount of orphans has at least doubled since the epidemic of Yellow Fever. Marie-Grade and Cécile work together to help each other get ready for their performances. Cécile feels in her heart that she needs to do something for the children and eventually finds the words to write a poem of her own to share. These two girls have started a new friendship that was bonded by the trauma of surviving the epidemic raging through their town. The girls want to continue their friendship into the future. This was a sweet ending to a sweet series.
August 28, 2021
I really wanted to liked these books but this whole series was incredibly dull. I had no attachment to any of the characters and i couldn't care less about the plot. Which is odd because it SHOULD be an incredibly relatable storyline right now (public health crisis, awful pandemic, people who are sticking their heads in the sand about how awful things are). There really wasn't anything redeeming about these books - even the illustrations and the historical note were bad. :-(
November 2, 2020
Definitely the best of this series. This had a plot with multiple events and a character with genuine emotions. It brought interesting historical events to life through the lens of fiction. I wish the other books had done this as well, but I'm now feeling more comfortable with the fact that Denise Lewis Patrick wrote Melody's books as well.
December 16, 2018
Honestly cried
October 15, 2019
This was a good book. It was really interesting when Cecile helped the orphan's. I really liked this book because it was based on caring about others.
April 29, 2021
Great historical book
A great book of fiction and non-fiction. I always love to read the historical facts behind the story. Highly recommended for all ages.
A great book of fiction and non-fiction. I always love to read the historical facts behind the story. Highly recommended for all ages.
December 4, 2021
A nice end to the Marie-Grace/Cecile series, but the artwork just isn't up to par with others in the American Girls canon.
February 24, 2022
This is one of my favorite American Girl books I’ve read. I love Cecile’s poem so much. This is a really sweet and touching story.
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March 6, 2025 📱
Overall, I preferred Celine's story to Marie Grace's. I felt there was more going on with Celine's storyline, and I liked seeing her family.
Overall, I preferred Celine's story to Marie Grace's. I felt there was more going on with Celine's storyline, and I liked seeing her family.
March 26, 2025
We get to see Cécile's newfound talent for poetry writing and reciting when she prepares a piece for a benefit to help the orphans left after the yellow fever epidemic sweeps through New Orleans.
August 1, 2025
hard to get through but quick read
September 24, 2025
Cecile and Josefina were my two favorite American girls
December 30, 2025
I really enjoyed seeing both Marie Grace and Cécile's POVs, and I think that ending their series with a story about children being heard and understood during an epidemic is fitting.
December 28, 2025
i don’t remember if i thought the poem was deep as a kid
October 22, 2022
Full series review for Marie-Grace and Cecile:
The fundamental issue with Marie-Grace and Cecile is the split formatting. Neither girl gets enough time in the spotlight to be cared about to the extent of the other historical girls and their stories suffer for it. I found Cecile to be far more interesting than Marie-Grace and her backstory of being a free girl of color in New Orleans was one which I don't think I've seen explored in fiction before. Marie-Grace, however, I found far less interesting. On her own I would have just found her a mediocre lead with a cute doll, but being contrasted with Cecile just made her even less compelling to me, though I like her more by the end. I also wish that the girls had interacted more and we spent more time focused on their friendship. All that being said, Marie-Grace and Cecile are two of the dolls with the cutest designs (in my opinion) and I love their outfits. I just wish their stories were stronger.
The fundamental issue with Marie-Grace and Cecile is the split formatting. Neither girl gets enough time in the spotlight to be cared about to the extent of the other historical girls and their stories suffer for it. I found Cecile to be far more interesting than Marie-Grace and her backstory of being a free girl of color in New Orleans was one which I don't think I've seen explored in fiction before. Marie-Grace, however, I found far less interesting. On her own I would have just found her a mediocre lead with a cute doll, but being contrasted with Cecile just made her even less compelling to me, though I like her more by the end. I also wish that the girls had interacted more and we spent more time focused on their friendship. All that being said, Marie-Grace and Cecile are two of the dolls with the cutest designs (in my opinion) and I love their outfits. I just wish their stories were stronger.
August 3, 2016
Recap:
Cecile Rey is one of the "gens de couleur libres" or "free people of color" living in New Orleans in 1853. Together, she and her friend, Marie Grace, experience all that the diverse, busy city has to offer: Mardi Gras parades and costume balls, outdoor French markets, helping to fight a yellow fever epidemic, volunteering at a local orphanage, and performing at a city-wide benefit for the orphaned children.
Review:
Happy Mardi Gras, book lovers! In honor of the holiday, today I'm featuring a series set in New Orleans, and the first two books take place during Mardi Gras!
I was first inspired to cover this American Girl series after seeing a feature on author Denise Lewis Patrick on The Brown Bookshelf. I'd never given a thought to the authors behind my beloved American Girl books, and reading the story of how Patrick was asked to author the Cecile series piqued my interest. The Cecile series is unique from that of the other American Girls because she shares her books with a girl named Marie Grace. I read "Meet Marie Grace" and then all of the Cecile books in the series, and it's very clear that the two authors plotted the stories out together. Between the two "Meet ____" books, some lines were actually word-for-word the same. I'm really not sure why they chose to have two main characters this time. If any of you know, please fill me in!
On the surface, the Cecile/Marie Grace series follows the same "formula" as every other in the AG line. We "Meet" the girls, they go through some "troubles" but eventually save the day, and everyone ends up stronger and wiser. A little didactic, yes... but these characters are brave, self-confident role models for little girls today. I really like the fact that each book includes a chapter of nonfiction in the back, explaining how the events in the story are a reflection of real events from the past.
Cecile's story is notable because, unlike so many black characters in historial fiction - including Addy!, she has no ties to slavery. In fact, her family is one of the wealthier in New Orleans. She speaks French fluently (a french glossary and pronunciation key is in the back of every book!), takes lessons from a well known Opera singer, and attends a private school. Stereotypical, Cecile is not. Now I love Addy and I think her story is an important one, but I also think it's exciting to see such a unique narrative through Cecile.
Recommendation:
Gosh, I love the American Girls. This series, and the rest in the AG collection, are perfect for elementary school aged girls. And have you been to the AG website lately? There are games, videos, and apps galore!
Cecile Rey is one of the "gens de couleur libres" or "free people of color" living in New Orleans in 1853. Together, she and her friend, Marie Grace, experience all that the diverse, busy city has to offer: Mardi Gras parades and costume balls, outdoor French markets, helping to fight a yellow fever epidemic, volunteering at a local orphanage, and performing at a city-wide benefit for the orphaned children.
Review:
Happy Mardi Gras, book lovers! In honor of the holiday, today I'm featuring a series set in New Orleans, and the first two books take place during Mardi Gras!
I was first inspired to cover this American Girl series after seeing a feature on author Denise Lewis Patrick on The Brown Bookshelf. I'd never given a thought to the authors behind my beloved American Girl books, and reading the story of how Patrick was asked to author the Cecile series piqued my interest. The Cecile series is unique from that of the other American Girls because she shares her books with a girl named Marie Grace. I read "Meet Marie Grace" and then all of the Cecile books in the series, and it's very clear that the two authors plotted the stories out together. Between the two "Meet ____" books, some lines were actually word-for-word the same. I'm really not sure why they chose to have two main characters this time. If any of you know, please fill me in!
On the surface, the Cecile/Marie Grace series follows the same "formula" as every other in the AG line. We "Meet" the girls, they go through some "troubles" but eventually save the day, and everyone ends up stronger and wiser. A little didactic, yes... but these characters are brave, self-confident role models for little girls today. I really like the fact that each book includes a chapter of nonfiction in the back, explaining how the events in the story are a reflection of real events from the past.
Cecile's story is notable because, unlike so many black characters in historial fiction - including Addy!, she has no ties to slavery. In fact, her family is one of the wealthier in New Orleans. She speaks French fluently (a french glossary and pronunciation key is in the back of every book!), takes lessons from a well known Opera singer, and attends a private school. Stereotypical, Cecile is not. Now I love Addy and I think her story is an important one, but I also think it's exciting to see such a unique narrative through Cecile.
Recommendation:
Gosh, I love the American Girls. This series, and the rest in the AG collection, are perfect for elementary school aged girls. And have you been to the AG website lately? There are games, videos, and apps galore!
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