The Fall of the Blade: A Girl's French Revolution Diary 1792-1794

My Story: Girls

by Sue Reid

It's 1792. Isabelle, daughter of an aristocrat, lives in a chateau just outside Paris. But France is in the grip of the Revolution, and as terror takes hold of the city, Isabelle's family decides that they must flee to the countryside. But will they be safe there? Will they escape the guillotine's falling blade...?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Middle Grade, French Revolution, Diary, 18th Century

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As typical of a My Story book, this was rather educational. Set in the 1790's during the French Revolution, it was really interesting to see how a young teenager managed to survive, and the struggles and hardships they had to endure. Makes me feel really lucky to live in today's society, with a safe home and food and warmth, unlike these people had. And they got tore from their families. Makes me thankful for mine :) I'm really pleased that Isabelle happened to find Armand at the end, and by such a complete fluke! But I hope that Janine and Robert weren't too worried when they found her missing from their hiding place. I like the amount of people willing to hide other people, and the fact that Isabelle's family hid Armand at the start. I also loved how Cecile was Armand's cousin! That was cool :) Hopefully Isabelle's family's okay though.

[Anna Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabelle is a young aristocrat living in a grand chateau outside of the city of Paris. The French Revolution has already begun, but as the city of Paris turns violent and the safety of aristocrats is threatened, her family decides they must flee further into the French countryside. There, they are threatened with discovery, burdened by a lack of supplies, and faced with the prospect of being taken to prison or even executed. All the while, young Isabelle keeps a diary to record her fears for her life and for France.

The story itself, which takes place in the midst of the more violent events of the French Revolution, was fairly exciting and had a good amount of action. However, I felt that the book was far too short and the ending was abrupt. I never really got a feel for the character of Isabelle, and without spoiling the ending, I felt the concluding entries in her diary were strangely devoid of emotions and thoughts that should have been present for her.

Overall, The Fall of the Blade is a decent addition to the My Story series, and perhaps something that younger readers might be interested in before they move on to heavier and more detailed French Revolution fiction.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabelle begins her diary in the summer of 1792, when she is thirteen. Raised the privileged daughter of an aristocrat in a chateau outside of Paris, Isabelle is frightened and confused by all the changes brought about by the French Revolution. Because she cannot speak freely of her fears, she begins a diary where she can write down all her thoughts and true feelings as everything in her life changes. Because she was born into an aristocratic family, many of the revolutionaries hate Isabelle and her family simply for who they are.

The news from Paris grows worse every day. The royal family are imprisoned and the king is executed. Many of her friends, neighbors, and relatives have fled to the countryside or left France to seek safety in other countries. Isabelle and her own family eventually leave their home, hoping to find refuge in their old chateau in the countryside, but even there they are not safe forever, and are eventually imprisoned. Throughout this difficult time Isabella keeps writing in her diary, hoping that someday the Revolution will be over, she will be free again, and have her diary as a record of all she went through, to show her own children someday.

The Fall of the Blade is enjoyable addition to the My Story series, and I am glad to see the series branching out recently and featuring books set in places other than England. The French Revolution has always been a time in history I found interesting so I really enjoyed reading Isabelle’s story. I do wish the book had been a bit longer and that the ending had been more detailed as I wanted to know what happened to some of the other characters. But overall this was an enjoyable book that I would recommend to readers who enjoyed other My Story books or books from other similar series such as the Dear America or Royal Diaries series.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this cover! The French Revolution was a dark time but then again aren't all revolutions? Isabelle is the daughter of a aristocrat who are now hated by a lot of the French people along with the Royal Family. She keeps a diary about her experiences. She looks after a boy called Armand after she finds him hurt in their garden and her along with her mother nurses him back to health and her father takes him to safety somewhere else. He told them that he was forever grateful to them. After the King and his family are executed Isabelle and her family flee to her fathers childhood home hoping they are safe from the revolution but are not. Isabelle and her brother Francois find a secret passage way beneath the house. In the night her brother escapes without her or her parents leaving a not saying he has gone to fight. Soon after they are put under detention in her own house and after that she and her parents a locked up in prison along with other aristocrats and nuns and priests. She was moved 3 times to different prisons in all of them she isn't in the same cell as her parents and in the last prison is completely separated from them. One night she gets her chance to escape and she does. Soon after in a crowd she finds Armand and together escapes with him on a boat to England leaving her family in France not knowing where they are or if they are ok. I did not think this story was finished. I wanted to know more I was disappointed this wasn't as good as the others. Though I learnt a lot about the French Revolution.

[S.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, quick read. I wanted something quick to read before going on holiday as I didn't want to carry a book with me on my month-long vacation. (I do have a kindle though!) This is a story about a young aristocratic girl, caught in the middle of the French Revolution from 1792 to 1794. I thought it was based on true facts, but alas, it is not; However, it does not detract from the fact that this is a well-written and well-crafted, historical story. I will not be giving anything away as it is a short read. At the end of the 'Diary' there are some historical facts, that are very interesting. It is fascinating to think that all forms of worship were banned during this time and it was the priests and nuns that were persecuted not just the Kings, Queens and aristocrats. This book would suit children from (a mature) ten-year-old upwards. But would also be enjoyable as a 'quick read' for any adult.

[Margaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought the pacing was good, always a bit of drama or tension happening, however, the ending seemed rushed and cut short. i imagine both her parents are dead, along with her friend? i think a couple more pages of them in england could’ve been a nice well rounded ending.

i wished we heard more about her grandma’s place in the beginning, since she talked about her uncle and father having opposite political views, the grandma could’ve been mentioned and therefore when the house was brought up late it would seem less random and out of the blue.

i know these books are for younger readers but they are short, mostly historically accurate and fun so why not.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows an interesting perspective, as it is in the POV of an aristocrat and most of it is set outside of Paris. It really could have used an epilogue, though. I was left with questions about Isabelle’s life post-Reign of Terror.

[Grace Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read if you find yourself wanting to learn about the French Revolution. Surprisingly evenhanded interpretation of the conflict.

[Emily Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great historical fiction novel for young readers. The references are accurate, and the story is believable and interesting.

[Hannah ♡ ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

actually, it's really good. characters were strong. stayed true to history

[Luke Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

alright wish it was longer

[Rupert Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thee books are very popular, so I thought I would read one to see what they are about. On the whole I thought it was pretty good. It provided a good eyewitness view of the opening stages of the French Revolution as seen by a teenage girl from the minor aristocracy. We get to see the optimistic opening stages, the Terror, the wars, the family dislocation, the horror. All pretty well described, though toned a bit for the target audience. The plot trotted along quite well, though I can't say there were many surprises. The main characters were well drawn and described, though I was disappointed in some of the minor characters which were a bit cardboard. Never mind. On the whole I enjoyed it, a good history novel and I would say very good for its intended audience.

[Domi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moje milovanáááá gilotina!^^

[GiraffeAndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zatím asi nejlepší knížka z edice Můj příběh...

[Moo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this just after watching Les Miserables and just before going to Paris!! I love it and still do today!

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Sad.

[Pythonissam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

[Julian]

Quite a solid read honestly, probably quite inaccurate but I had a good time reading it lmfao.

[Tessie Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Série Můj příběh je založen na skutečné události s fiktivní postavou.Isabella mi byla sympatická,v průběhu děje si toho hodně zažila.