Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly- 472 pages

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.
PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Loved this book from start to finish. Revolution is a coming of age story with an incredible mix of the past and the present that enables the characters grow as they connect in this magical way. You will cheer for Andi and Alex throughout the book. Andi is hurt, depressed and as she reads Alex’s diary, she begins to heal. Here we see the past beautifully affecting the future.

-“Life’s all about the revolution, isn’t it? The one inside, I mean. You can’t change history. You can’t change the world. All you can ever change is yourself.”-“History is a Rorschach test, people. What you see when you look at it tells you as much about yourself as it does about the past.”

-“Who knew that listening to a guy sleep could be so much deeper than sleeping with a guy.”

-“I don’t like hope very much. In fact, I hate it. It’s the crystal meth of emotions. It hooks you fast and kills you hard. It’s bad news. The worst. It’s sharp sticks and cherry bombs. When hope shows up, it’s only a matter of time until someone gets hurt.”