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121 ratings, 4.10 average rating, 51 reviews
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published
October 4th 2007
by Orion Childrens
binding
Hardcover, 384 pages
isbn
184255574X
(isbn13: 9781842555743)
description
A thrillingly exciting, action-packed novel about a boy destined to be a hero of the French Revolution
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 283)
bookshelves:
authors-i-adore,
recommended-reads
I loved Sally Gardner's I, CORIANDER, and was eager as could be to get my hands on the ARC for her next book. I was an even happier girl to find that her next book was one that combined two of my favorite topics: the French Revolution (yes, this is a direct result of the Les Miz obsession of my teenage theatre years) and GYPSIES! (Seriously. What is it about the word "gypsies" in any form that I find so irresistible?!)
And glad to say that THE RED NECKLACE was totally engaging, w...more
Read in June, 2008
I loved Sally Gardner's I, CORIANDER, and was eager as could be to get my hands on the ARC for her next book. I was an even happier girl to find that her next book was one that combined two of my favorite topics: the French Revolution (yes, this is a direct result of the Les Miz obsession of my teenage theatre years) and GYPSIES! (Seriously. What is it about the word "gypsies" in any form that I find so irresistible?!)
And glad to say that THE RED NECKLACE was totally engaging, w...more
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Read in July, 2008
This was pretty terrific -- compelling characters, breakneck plot, high tension, gorgeously written (at last, a writer/editorial team that knows the correct conjugations for lie/lay/lain). My one quibble was that the magic seemed somewhat random, and Sido's refusal to leave her abusive father felt a little contrived, in service of the ending.
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bookshelves:
historical-setting,
mystery,
paranormal,
ya-fiction
Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
teens, adults
I would actually give this book 3 1/2 stars. It is the story of a teenage boy, Yann, raised in France just before the start of the French Revolution. He and his guardian are gypsies who use real magic to entertain people at a theatre in Paris. One night they and the "magician" they work for are hired by an extremely vain and foolish marquis (at the behest of a very evil Count) to perform at a private party for some nobility. During their act, the Count murders the magician. With t...more
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bookshelves:
adventure,
anglo-phile,
children-s,
fairytale-fantasy-sci-fi-mythology
Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a fantastical bent
Our story is over, though in its end lies its beginning.
A gorgeous story, with lovely descriptions and superb narration throughout, and an interesting plot. It is light on characterization, which is painted in rather broad strokes, with the protagonists spending very little actual time together. More of the main relationship is propelled through mystical/ emotional means.
Sido, the shy, neglected and mentally/ verbally abused daughter of the weak and spineless Marquis de Villeduv...more
A gorgeous story, with lovely descriptions and superb narration throughout, and an interesting plot. It is light on characterization, which is painted in rather broad strokes, with the protagonists spending very little actual time together. More of the main relationship is propelled through mystical/ emotional means.
Sido, the shy, neglected and mentally/ verbally abused daughter of the weak and spineless Marquis de Villeduv...more
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Read in June, 2008
Gardner, Sally. 2008. The Red Necklace.
This one was good, almost but not quite deliciously good. I think if I hadn't been reading for the 48 Hour Challenge, I could have savored this one a bit more. But even with my focus being a teeny bit distracted by the clock, I must say this one is good. It's historical fiction. It's set in France during the French Revolution. It features some magic-working gypsies. It's got some light romance. But mainly it is all about secrets, mysteries, and murders....more
This one was good, almost but not quite deliciously good. I think if I hadn't been reading for the 48 Hour Challenge, I could have savored this one a bit more. But even with my focus being a teeny bit distracted by the clock, I must say this one is good. It's historical fiction. It's set in France during the French Revolution. It features some magic-working gypsies. It's got some light romance. But mainly it is all about secrets, mysteries, and murders....more
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bookshelves:
teen
Read in June, 2008
This book had me immediately upon reading the first page. The writing was flowery but intense, filled with images but equally gripping and fast paced. It was the tone of the French Revolution itself.
Set during the French Revolution, this is a tale of Gypsies and aristocracy, vengeace and wealth. Yann Margoza works in a magic show with Topolain, the magician and Tetu, a dwarf who can move objects with his mind. Yann himself can throw his voice and read minds. All of their skills are used...more
Set during the French Revolution, this is a tale of Gypsies and aristocracy, vengeace and wealth. Yann Margoza works in a magic show with Topolain, the magician and Tetu, a dwarf who can move objects with his mind. Yann himself can throw his voice and read minds. All of their skills are used...more
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Read in December, 2008
Her first book I, Coriander is excellent - this was...well excellent, definitely. But different. I don't think you can write a book of fiction with the French Revolution as the backdrop and not be affected. Bit of the Scarlet Pimpernel at the end, but still good (and I liked the Scarlet Pimpernel). Worried about a sequel - always worry about sequels. They can be more uncertain than revolution.
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bookshelves:
historical,
romance
Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of Les Miz, fans of Libba Bray's books
A riveting story set during the French Revolution. Yann, an orphan gypsy boy who performs in a magician's act, meets Sido, the lonely daughter of a wealthy but clueless marquis (noble), and both their lives will never be the same. They get caught up in murders, in the frenzy of rioting against the king and his rich subjects, and there's some magic thrown in too--the gypsies can move objects with their mind! I really liked this, partly because I like books set in this time period--if you've seen ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
12/13/14 year olds
I love the French Revolution. It's such an exciting time and makes the most fascinating history, the starving who decide to take a stand against those who blindly spend and dine and drink champagne and redecorate and build and - of course - eat cake. Woven into the exciting story of Yann, TĂȘtu and Topolain is the question of how effective the Revolution was in bringing freedom - did it not essentially consist of glorifying different people, following different laws, but laws of the same, a h...more
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bookshelves:
2008,
how-romantic-,
love-the-setting
Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
readers who likes historical fiction, France, or exotic settings
Everyone knows I romanticize the past. Books like The Red Necklace are why. I love the descriptions in this book--especially of Paris in the winter.
The Red Necklace has characters I care about, and a wonderful, wonderful sense of place. My only quibble is that I "figured out" the family connections quite early. Maybe I was supposed to?
The 18th Century fascinates me, and I loved this look into the world of powdered wigs, buckled shoes, and pewter mugs.
This book reminde...more
The Red Necklace has characters I care about, and a wonderful, wonderful sense of place. My only quibble is that I "figured out" the family connections quite early. Maybe I was supposed to?
The 18th Century fascinates me, and I loved this look into the world of powdered wigs, buckled shoes, and pewter mugs.
This book reminde...more
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bookshelves:
historical-fiction,
young-adult
Read in November, 2008
The last three books I've read (or at least started reading) are set during the French Revolution, which I know next to nothing about.
The Red Necklace is the better of the titles.
The Red Necklace is the better of the titles.
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Read in June, 2008
Another good book from Gardner!
This book came in to the library, and the cover looked interesting, but the historical era was not one I especially prefer to read. I decided to give it a try when I saw it was written by the same author as _I, Coriander_, an excellent book. This one was also highly enjoyable, if a bit slow at points.
The author worked the idea of magic into the idea of the real time period almost too seamlessly. Magic seemed almost...unmagical. And the ending begs for a...more
This book came in to the library, and the cover looked interesting, but the historical era was not one I especially prefer to read. I decided to give it a try when I saw it was written by the same author as _I, Coriander_, an excellent book. This one was also highly enjoyable, if a bit slow at points.
The author worked the idea of magic into the idea of the real time period almost too seamlessly. Magic seemed almost...unmagical. And the ending begs for a...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of Libba Bray, fans of the Luxe
I love Sally Gardner. I adored I, Coriander, and had high expectations for this title as well. I enjoyed it, but was tossed out by a turn of phrase that didn't seem very of the French Revolution. That aside, the details of the marquis' over-the-top lifestyle were jaw dropping, and the hints of romance between Yannick and Sido. A gypsy storyline, which is always good for me as well. I do not assume to know much of the French Revolution so I do need to assume that historical details ar...more
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bookshelves:
to-read
Laini Taylor suggested it, and I thought it looked interesting.
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bookshelves:
teen-historical-fiction
Read in August, 2008
Slow to start but worth sticking with. Set during the French Revolution. Adventure, Gypsy magic, automatons, guillotines, orphans, murder, and intrigue. What more could you ask for? A little more on the romance side then the real historical side but still and all it is historical fiction and is good at setting the scene for the French revolution. Oh those naughty nobles.
It has a MUCH better review in person. May have been set up for a sequel, but I am not positive.
It has a MUCH better review in person. May have been set up for a sequel, but I am not positive.
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bookshelves:
world-historical-fiction
Red Necklace is set at the beginning of the French Revoluntion. It is the story of a magician's assistant and a young girl who saves his life. The girl is the daughter of an aristocrat. She has never felt much love from her father though. Now as trouble is on the rise in the nation of France, the story twists together a little bit of magic, history, murder and romance to make a good read. Will the assistant have a chance to repay her favor? Good for 9th grade plus. VC
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bookshelves:
2008,
age-ya,
historical-fiction
Read in July, 2008
I was surprised to like this as much as I did. The French Revolution interests me and I liked the movie "Marie Antoinette," but I've never read this author and there was a chance that this would be boring. However, the story was intriguing with a bit of magic and opulence and I felt that the uprising of the peasants and the ignorance of the nobility was well-illustrated.
I got this as an ARC from my library director, who got it from the PLA conference.
I got this as an ARC from my library director, who got it from the PLA conference.
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bookshelves:
clau,
read-2008,
ya-fantasy
Read in October, 2008
Very funny in places with good characters. Historical elements are well integrated, until the end when it just falls apart. To many deus ex machina (improbable contrivance in a story characterized by a sudden unexpected solution to a seemingly intractable problem) solutions to the problem that could have been better solved other ways. The ultimate ending is not satisfying and the characters change way to quickly. (Audio edition)
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bookshelves:
borrowed-from-public-library
A very delightful way to spend the day. Yann is a young boy who can throw his voice and read people's minds, and works at doing a bit of magic with a dwarf and a magician, until the latter two meet up with someone from their past. The book also features a beautiful young girl who has a limp and a father who hates her. It all takes place during the beginning of the Revolution, and was hard to put down.
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Read in March, 2008
This is a YA book that takes place during the French Revolution. The main character is a gypsy boy who can read minds. There isn't many shades of gray here. The villain is a maniacal monster of a man. Of course there is also a fair maiden to be rescued. Still, it was a fun read with lots of good adventure. I liked the historical setting with just the gypsy powers to make it a little interesting.
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currently-reading (on 49 people's shelves)
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quotes from this book
"There is nothing to fear except the power you give to your own demons."
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