The Lacemaker and the Princess [Hardcover]

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Author)

Book Description

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD ISABELLE IS A LACEMAKER IN THE TOWN OF VERSAILLES.

One day as she delivers lace to the palace, she is almost trampled by a crowd of courtiers -- only to be rescued by Marie Antoinette. Before Isabelle can believe it, she has a new job -- companion to the queen's daughter. Isabelle is given a fashionable name, fashionable dresses -- a new identity. At home she plies her needle under her grandmother's disapproving eye. At the palace she is playmate to a princess.

Thrown into a world of luxury, Isabelle is living a fairy-tale life. But this facade begins to crumble when rumors of starvation in the countryside lead to whispers of revolution. How can Isabelle reconcile the ugly things she hears in the town with the kind family she knows in the palace? And which side is she truly on?

Inspired by an actual friendship between the French princess and a commoner who became her companion, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley offers a vivid portrait of life inside the palace of Versailles -- and a touching tale of two friends divided by class and the hunger for equality and freedom that fueled the French Revolution.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Eleven-year-old Isabelle, a third-generation lace maker, is making her first delivery to the Palace of Versailles when she is nearly trampled by a crowd. Astonishingly, it's Marie Antoinette who rescues her, and the queen invites Isabelle to meet Princess Marie-Therese, who chooses Isabelle to be her friend. So begins Isabelle's double life--a lace maker in the morning and royal companion in the afternoon. As the French Revolution brews outside the palace, Isabelle begins to challenge the conventional wisdom that God ordains the social order, even as she staunchly disagrees with accusations leveled against the royal family. Skillfully integrated historical facts frame this engrossing, believable story. Readers will be captivated by the child's view of Versailles, its glittering halls infested with rats; the drudgery of daily work; and the terrors of the French Revolution. The unlikely, fragile friendship that crosses class boundaries will speak straight to young readers' own concerns. An appended author's note gives more historical context and addresses possible complaints that Isabelle's first meeting with the queen is a plot contrivance. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is the author of several historical novels, including For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy, which received starred reviews in Booklist and Kirkus Reviews and was an IRA Teacher's Choice, a VOYA Top Shelf Fiction selection, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and a Bank Street Best Book. She lives with her husband and two children in Bristol, Tennessee.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (May 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416919201
• ISBN-13: 978-1416919209
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,075,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, May 31, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lacemaker and the Princess (Hardcover)

Isabelle and her family make lace in the town of Versailles. They're behind on their rent and work to keep up with the bills. If only they could get someone from the royal household wearing their lace, then they might stand a chance.

When Isabelle delivers some lace to the palace, she purposely takes a wrong turn to view more of the castle. She bumps into Marie Antoinette, who introduces the young girl to her daughter. The princess and Isabelle become friends and Isabelle changes from the lacemaker to a member of the royal household each day she visits, only to return to reality when she leaves for the day. Problems at home force Isabelle to take over the family business and to live the life she's come to despise.

Then she hears grumbling from the townsfolk and even her brother. There's talk of a revolution of change for the common people. Isabelle defends her friend without question, but soon she hears and sees things that make her mind whirl. Can friendship conquer family?

This story addresses the question of loyalty and what happens when you're torn between two sides. An alternative look at the court of Marie Antoinette is also entertaining. THE LACEMAKER AND THE PRINCESS is a historical novel that fans of the new movie Marie Antoinette will enjoy.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for girls and moms both!, April 24, 2009

By 

dinkvaz - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lacemaker and the Princess (Hardcover)

I got this book for my 7 year old daughter, but wanted to read it first to make sure it was appropriate. I found it to be good for both of us!

I enjoyed it immensely, as I am a fan of historical fiction novels. But the best part is, my daughter loves it too.

The only cautions for younger readers are:
1. there's an accusation/gossip about the queen possibly staying out all night with men who are not her husband
2. there is some "blood" at the end of the story as a result of rebellion/fighting

But I believe the book to be appropriate in its detail (or lack thereof with respect to sex/violence).

I highly recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable historical fiction, November 28, 2008

By 

Debbie (Harrison, AR United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Lacemaker and the Princess (Hardcover)

This novel is a historical set France starting in 1788. Details of the time period are skillfully woven into the story, and the problems Isabelle faces comes from the problems of the period. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historicals and is interested in the period.

The pacing is very good, and the characters were engaging and interesting. There was no romance (so no sex or kissing), and I don't recall any cussing. I'd recommend this as "a good, clean fun" novel.

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