Book-It 'o14! Book #48
The Fifty Books Challenge, year five! ( 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) This was a library request.
Title: The Cameo Necklace (A Cécile Mystery) by Sarah Masters Buckey
Details: Copyright 2013, American Girl
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover):
"Cécile steps off a crowded showboat and stumbles. When she gets up, the precious necklace she'd borrowed from her aunt is gone. Desperate to find it, she tracks down the people who were nearest to her in the crowd. Her search takes her into many corners of New Orleans, into high society, even to dangerous places beyond the city...and deep into secrets she never imagined."
Why I Wanted to Read It: Remember my remembrances of the American Girl franchise? And my reviews of the character Kit's six-book series? And my reviews of the character Rebecca's six-book series? And my reviews of the characters Cécile and Marie-Grace's six-book series? And my review of Marie-Grace's mystery? Okay, then.
How I Liked It: I had much higher hopes for this mystery than I did the last. For one, it's a character I actually liked, two, it's by an acclaimed author (another mystery she wrote for American Girl garnered an Edgar Award nomination).
I was not disappointed, and this book gives a better feeling of how the mysteries are supposed to function in the line. The general set up, list of possibilities, investigating each to the conclusion, and finally reaching a verdict appear to be standard formatting. Not so standard from the previous is the fact the mystery occurs in the midst of the setting (history), not the other way around (a bit of history in a mystery book). The book's greater message feels the same as the series' message, to create a feeling of familiarity in history in modern children (by teaching history), and orients it entertainingly.
The book highlights the growing unrest over the slave trade that would eventually be a key factor in the Civil War of the next decade, particularly details specific to New Orleans's location (swamps that were used by slaves to escape). It manages to impart the sense of fear and unease even amongst gens de couleur libres like Cécile and her family (while out with her brother, he is briefly but terrifyingly mistaken by two slave catchers as a runaway slave, for whom he matches the general description) who have to keep their papers, documents proving that they are legally free, with them at all times.
The book has the elements of the great American Girl books; a compelling heroine, a difficult situation that requires bravery and ingenuity, a strong history lesson, and ultimately an entertaining read.
Title: The Cameo Necklace (A Cécile Mystery) by Sarah Masters Buckey
Details: Copyright 2013, American Girl
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover):
"Cécile steps off a crowded showboat and stumbles. When she gets up, the precious necklace she'd borrowed from her aunt is gone. Desperate to find it, she tracks down the people who were nearest to her in the crowd. Her search takes her into many corners of New Orleans, into high society, even to dangerous places beyond the city...and deep into secrets she never imagined."
Why I Wanted to Read It: Remember my remembrances of the American Girl franchise? And my reviews of the character Kit's six-book series? And my reviews of the character Rebecca's six-book series? And my reviews of the characters Cécile and Marie-Grace's six-book series? And my review of Marie-Grace's mystery? Okay, then.
How I Liked It: I had much higher hopes for this mystery than I did the last. For one, it's a character I actually liked, two, it's by an acclaimed author (another mystery she wrote for American Girl garnered an Edgar Award nomination).
I was not disappointed, and this book gives a better feeling of how the mysteries are supposed to function in the line. The general set up, list of possibilities, investigating each to the conclusion, and finally reaching a verdict appear to be standard formatting. Not so standard from the previous is the fact the mystery occurs in the midst of the setting (history), not the other way around (a bit of history in a mystery book). The book's greater message feels the same as the series' message, to create a feeling of familiarity in history in modern children (by teaching history), and orients it entertainingly.
The book highlights the growing unrest over the slave trade that would eventually be a key factor in the Civil War of the next decade, particularly details specific to New Orleans's location (swamps that were used by slaves to escape). It manages to impart the sense of fear and unease even amongst gens de couleur libres like Cécile and her family (while out with her brother, he is briefly but terrifyingly mistaken by two slave catchers as a runaway slave, for whom he matches the general description) who have to keep their papers, documents proving that they are legally free, with them at all times.
The book has the elements of the great American Girl books; a compelling heroine, a difficult situation that requires bravery and ingenuity, a strong history lesson, and ultimately an entertaining read.