"Red Necklace" by Sally Gardner is about an aristocratic girl named Sido and a young magician named Yann. The book is set in France right before the French Revolution. The year is 1789 and we find our characters Sido and Yann leading two very different lives. Sido is locked away in a convent by her father who is too vain and busy to deal with a daughter that has a limp and is plain looking. Yann, on the other hand is enjoying life and performs magic acts in a local Parisian theater each night. Enter Count Kalliovski, a very devious and two-faced man who also happens to hold a few secrets of his own. The Count's character is very pivotable to the health and happiness of our two main characters. (So watch out for the count, he is very tricky.)
The book really picks up steam when the revolution starts and the aristocrats of Paris society are rounded up, arrested, jailed, tried and then killed for being traitors to the revolution. Count Kalliovski is at the center of the revolution and as a result he makes the decision of who is going to live or die. The revolution plays a major role in Sido and Yann's lives because we do not know if they are going to make it out of Paris alive and together.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, magic, intrigue, mystery but can stand a little violence and bloodshed. This is one of the best books that I have ever read. 416 pages
Ages 12 and up
Recommended by April V. Phillips, Librarian
Book Trailer
THE RED NECKLACE by Sally Gardner, Trailer by Robin Henry of Frisco, Texas
https://booktrailersforall.com
