The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Not that she trusted me – she did not, as I knew well. Not because I was responsible – I was not, as she often reminded me. When the Princess of Lambelle’s lace was ready, Grand-Mére decided that I should deliver it. She tells the reader of the long hours she works, making lace alongside her austere ‘Grand-Mére’ and poorly ‘Maman’ (mother). She narrates a tale of loneliness and hard work. It is written in first person, in the point of view of young Isabelle. All of the characters in this novel have constant, genuine personalities and the facts and timeline are accurate.Set in France in 1778 (Just Before the French Revolution), this intriguing and intelligible tale features eleven-year old Isabelle who is a lacemaker in the town of Versailles. The character Ernestine, daughter of a bailiff and companion to Therese, was based on a real person. While you may think it is unlikely that a lacemaker’s daughter could become a companion to the King of France’s daughter, such a thing did actually happen.

This is an excellent read for young adults on the French Revolution. In turn, Isabelle opens Therese’s eyes to some of the atrocities happening in France. As he is surrounded in splendor, Therese points out that it is not the queen’s fault the peasant woman had died. In response, Therese takes Isabelle to visit her brother, the Dauphin, who himself is dying of the same disease. Isabelle is aghast that the queen did nothing to help the family and blames the poor living conditions for the illness. For example, another of Therese’s companions has a sickly mother, who is very poor and dies in a cold, dirty shack. Isabelle is torn between her family and the princess, and it takes much for her to see the situation on both sides. Throughout this story, the author cleverly brings into play a view of both sides of the revolution. George is soon leaning toward the new government and joins the National Guard, but not before warning his sister of the dangers of befriending the royal family. Though Lafayette wishes to protect the king from harm, he is also the head of the newly formed National Assembly, which is giving voice to the common people. Isabelle’s brother, George, is a groom in the stable of the Marquis de Lafayette, who was noted for his devotion to the cause of liberty, having fought in the American Revolution. It just so happened that Madame Royale, Therese, was in need of a playmate that day - and this Isabelle became, permanently.

Isabelle, a lacemaker’s daughter, lives a poor and somewhat miserable life until, delivering lace to a noble at the palace, she is noticed by the queen, Marie Antoinette.

The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley