To Dance At The Palais Royale

by Janet McNaughton

"Oh, Dougie," she said through her tears, "I'll be going to Canada soon. How can I leave you?" He laid his blackened hand against her cheek. "You know it's right to go, Aggie. The money will be a great help to Mum and Da. I'm past worrying about now." And Aggie relized that even though Dougie was with her he was dead.

When young Aggie leaves Scotland in search of a better future, she must say goodbye to everything dear to her and face the unknown as bravely as she can. In Toronto, Aggie is employed as a servant, and over time she adapts to city life, new ways, and the possilibity of happiness she has never befroe dreamt of.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Canada, Book Club, 20th Century, Fiction

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 1996

About the author

Janet McNaughton is the multi-award-winning author of many books, including The Secret Under My Skin, An Earthly Knight and her most recent novel, Dragon Seer, which was shortlisted for the prestigious TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, as well as both the CLA Young Adult Book Award and the Book of the Year for Children Award. McNaughton lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with her family.

Reviews

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I love stories about young women in domestic service - perhaps because I grew up on Upstairs Downstairs. Here, Aggie Maxwell leaves friends and family behind in Scotland where she has no prospects and travels to Toronto to work as a maid. Her strict older sister Emma limits Aggie's ability to make friends so adjustment to new life is slow and difficult but Aggie ultimately triumphs.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

At one point in this book, McNaughton seemed set to give us a fairy tale, complete with a prince to sweep our Cinderella into a life of ease. She doesn't, which is far more satisfying.

Aggie's journey is the focus here. From child to woman, from coal-miner's daughter to immigrant, from scared and shy to owning her own choices.

I really appreciated the unexpected details - the young Jewish wife haunted by pogroms, the older sister who isn't making the best choices, the space characters give each other to think.

I put this on my daughter's list of choices of books for Gr 9 Canadian Studies because I thought it might be a nice change - an immigrant story rather than a pioneer narrative, the depiction of domestic servants in a more recent setting, the clash between the dreams of a modern century and the realities of class. I'm happy that she chose it and so I got to read it, too.

[TK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a slow start, but a masterful and satisfying conclusion that will leave any reader glad they made the effort!

Simultaneously an enthralling portrayal of young Toronto in the early years of the 20th century.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for the first time in grade 9, even though I didn't finish it I was in love with it. Rereading it now a little over six years later I understand why I loved it. Its absolutely amazing.

[Marshall Marvelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janet McNaughton’s novel, “To Dance at the Palais Royals,” rates as YA. Ms. McNaughton avoids the stereotypical plot foils by engaging her readers with an excellent mix of romance and cultural history in 1920’s Canada. Characters are strong with realistic flaws.

[Cathy Baerg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character's experience was similar to my Nana's experience. Both emigrated to Canada to become domestic servants around the same time. It was interesting for me to gain insights into what my Nana might have experienced. It was also fun to read about Toronto during the late 1920s.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 3 out of 5]

VOYA review 1999

[Katie Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

a favourite book from my childhood that i allowed myself to circle back to. means so much to me, it’s hard not to give it a 5/5.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read, but I can't help but wish it was just a tiny bit longer. I think a short epilogue could have been nice

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a lovely book. The story is lively and keeps the reader wondering what will happen next. My only complaint is that there are a lot of loose ends that I wish had have been tied up. Maybe the author wants to keep the reader guessing or wants the reader to choose what happens to Agnes and her family on their own. Either way I think it would have been better if all those little things got tied up. Still, amazing book. Four stars for this beautiful piece of writing.

NOTE
The description of this book is nothing at all like how it is. Yes, the things in the description here on goodreads is correct for a part of it but, it only summarizes three chapters. Also, Agnes isn't even 14, she's 17. A true description would be:

Agnes Maxwell is a poor off Scottish girl who travels to Canada by her sister Emma's orders after their brother dies in hopes of bringing her whole family to Canada one day. Through her travels in Canada Agnes meets with heartache and issues and maybe even love.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I have reread more than any other. A beautiful coming-of-age story, complete with friendship, heartbreak, and a wonderful love story. I love the history of Toronto mixed in with this story; I read this book when I was even younger than Aggie in the book, and I still try to catch a glimpse of the Palais Royale when I pass it on the highway.

[Gabriele Wills · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather uneven story that seems to go in one direction and then veers off in another, leaving the reader wondering about characters that played such a large part in the first half. Worth the read, but it could have been so much more.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

really disappointing ending.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long book, but a really good one!

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Amy Mathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/to-danc...

[Erin]

4. 2017/06/20
3. 2009/09/19
2. 2008/09/27
1. 1998