Marie: An Invitation to Dance, Paris, 1775

Girlhood Journeys: Marie #1

by Kathleen V. Kudlinski

Marie lives to dance. She dreams of becoming a ballerina, but without a sponsor, she knows she will grow up and raise a family, just like her mother. Why can't she be as excited about this future as her friend Joelle?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, France, Historical, Fiction, Middle Grade

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Kathleen Kudlinski is the author of 40 children’s books. Her works range from picture books to the YA level and include natural history, biographies and historical novels.
When not writing, she is a popular speaker and writing instructor. Building on a BS in Biology and six years of classroom teaching experience, Kathleen later trained as a “Master Teaching Artist” with the Connecticut Commission on the Arts as well as presenting at regional and national conferences. Now she eagerly Skypes with classroom, book-, and home-school groups, world-wide.

In her spare time, she paints and leads several SCBWI (Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators) critique groups, and teaches writing for children.

She writes at home beside a deep, wild lake in Guilford CT or at her woodland cabin in Weathersfield, VT with a a rescue macaw clinging to her shoulder and a pitbull warming her feet.

Reviews

[bibbsybibble.*･ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I WAS SO OBSESSED WITH THIS SERIES. The Paris Opera House, the ballet, the convents, the history… it all felt so sunny, magical, and alive 😫 This book gave me some of the sweetest childhood reading moments and I can’t wait to introduce it to my future daughter someday.

[Allie]

Another book I read as a kid that I'm sure is totally passable intermediate fiction. I think books like these are more American Girl read-alikes (from the days before there were one million American Girl books/dolls/merch) and pre-Dear America reads.

[Melissa Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read these books when I was younger but I 'm rereading them . They are not as good as American girl but they are interesting enough . The illustration are beautiful and so are the cover . Good for someone who like American girl style series

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is placed in Paris, France, in 1775. As the French royalty live in luxury, the average citizens are almost starving due to high taxation. The main characters, Marie and Joelle, find beauty in the art, music and ballet available in Paris.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great simple story for children learning to read.