Mira's Diary: Lost in Paris
by Marissa Moss
Release date: September 24th, 2012
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade
Format read: ARC
by Marissa Moss
Release date: September 24th, 2012
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade
Format read: ARC
SUMMARY
"Mira is shocked when she receives a postcard from her missing mother from Paris.
Her father decides it's time for a trip to France to search for her.
While visiting Notre Dame, Mira touches a gargoyle and is whirled into the past.
There she meets the famous painter Degas and catches a brief, shocking glimpse of her mother.
Mira begins to suspect that her mom didn't run out on them,
but is a prisoner of the past.
Can one family on an incredible worldwide adventure stop a plot in time?"
MY REVIEW
What a surprising little time-traveling gem! I did not expect this "diary" to go the way that it did! Marissa Moss really knows her readers and how to tell a story fluently in journal form.
I was a bit surprised at the fact that Moss had chosen to dive into the 19th century Paris, France, surrounded by French artists and well into France's politics too. As much as the time-traveling was the main concern of the main character, the story focuses on intolerance and political corruption. At times, in my opinion, a bit too mature for the lower ages of the middle grade crowd.
I was a bit surprised at the fact that Moss had chosen to dive into the 19th century Paris, France, surrounded by French artists and well into France's politics too. As much as the time-traveling was the main concern of the main character, the story focuses on intolerance and political corruption. At times, in my opinion, a bit too mature for the lower ages of the middle grade crowd.
The story begins with us getting to know Mira and her family, her mother has left them and they are dealing with why she would leave without any indication of her ever being unhappy and needing an outlet. Mira's father is so positive that her mother has left unwillingly and will be back as soon as she can. Her brother believes that she was having an affair and has gone to create a new life. Mira can't believe that her mother would ever leave such a loving and talented husband or a smart and promising son... but she thinks that if she had any reason to leave behind anything, it would be Mira.
And then they receive a postcard from Paris with a breezy message ending with "Love, Mom" - no one understands why she is there and why she sounds... happy?
Off to Paris they go!
Within a few hours of being in Paris, Mira time-travels back to 1881 and is off on her first adventure ever. While back-in-time, she meets a handsome boy who works with the famous artist, Degas. Thrown right into the middle of the artists world, Mira, who wishes to be an artist herself, observes her new world and doodles along the pages of her journal. Yes, the journals is filled with all kinds of drawings by her.
Mira also sees and finds things that she's never thought of being in the midst of.
Coming from a world that she always took advantage of and never had to think twice about, she is surprised by the intolerance of the Jewish people in France and soon discovers that there are deeper things going on within the society and government.
Readers will learn a lot about France's history and art history, while seeing a bit of a romance brew between Mira and Dega's assistant, Claude. The suspense of finding out what is going to happen, will Mira find her mother and how Mira will get back to her own time will keep you up for hours to finish this book!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Marissa Moss
Who is Marissa Moss anyway???
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Enter to win a finished copy of MIRA's DIARY: LOST IN PARIS by Mariss Moss
directly from Sourcebooks!!! (Sorry, U.S. and Canada only.)
directly from Sourcebooks!!! (Sorry, U.S. and Canada only.)
Id probably want to go to the future in Japan, want to see what new mind blowing techs they got :P Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDelete- Farah @ MajiBookshelf
I would definitely go back to the 1920's. Everything about that time with flappers and all their fun dresses and the more freedoms girls started having like voting sounds like something I'd love to experience : ) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to go back to the 1950s - I Love Lucy is one of my favorite shows and it makes that time period seem like so much fun :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for having the giveaway!
I would also go to the 1920's :) Thanks for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a toughie. I'd probably go back to 1920s Paris, as long as I could be where the action was.
ReplyDelete