The red necklace : a story of the French Revolution (original 2007; edition 2008)

I think more than the characters, I enjoyed the setting and the time period. The author admits she wasn't 100% faithful to the history but she captured the feeling of the French Revolution and did highlight that it didn't happen overnight but slowly built and bubbled up. The lead female could have been a little less mousey although she had her moments. ( )

I enjoyed this book, but I summed up my major problem with it while complaining to my roommate. I felt like Gardner got an idea for a story and thought, “Oh, when I can I set this story? I know! The French Revolution!” and so she did. It didn’t feel cohesive enough, or something. Also, totally saw the major plot twist at the end a mile away. [Mar. 2010] ( )

A really good little YA Historical to start off the New Year - set in the French Revolution it is the story of two young teens struggling to survive in the horrors of events that unfolded in France

” This is Paris; here the winds of change are blowing, whispering their discontent into the very hearts of her citizens.”

This is a YA historical fiction set in the days of unrest in Paris, and featuring gypsies, magicians, and a bad-guy of the most evil sort, and showing the great difference in class and opportunity. Although it was quite far-fetched, I was swept away in the story, and learned a bit more about life in the days of the French Revolution. ( )

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner is a story that unfolds against the backdrop of the early days of the French Revolution. The story of two young people who meet on a fateful night, separate for a number of years, and then unite in a time of extreme danger.

Yann Margoza is a performer and he, along with his guardian the dwarf Tetu, and the magician Topolain are brought to the chateau of the Marquis de Villeduval to perform their magic act for his guests. Among the guests is the sinister Count Kalliovski. Like a puppet master, this evil count controls the strings of both people and events that unfold throughout the story. The Marquis has brought his daughter home from school at the request of the Count, although she is being kept practically a prisoner. The Marquis de Villeduval is a weak, greedy man who has mortgaged his estates to the hilt and borrowed money from the Count, he has no interest in his daughter, Sido, considering her flawed. Yann and Sido meet for the first time on this eventful night, and she helps him escape from the Count.

Although published in 2007, The Red Necklace has an old fashioned feel to it, as if it had been written for a previous generation. An adventure story laced with gypsy magic, a budding romance and a more than a few nasty secrets. The story builds to an exciting climax where Yann must save Sido from both the guillotine and the evil clutches of Count Kalliovski. ( )

Another co-worker recommended YA book. The Red Necklace is part fantasy and part historical fiction and I quite liked it. Sido is the daughter of a marquis who used to be rich, and pretends he still is. Yann is part gypsy/part magician/part genius. Their lives are through together on the eve of the French Revolution and end up becoming intertwined throughout the course of the novel. I've read a fair amount of French Revolution YA (I'm not sure how) and these did a comparable job to those books (including Sovay). I liked the slightly mystical twist that Gardner included and I can't wait to read The Silver Blade. ( )

Our story is over, though in its end lies its beginning.A gorgeous story, with lovely descriptions and superb narration throughout, and an interesting plot. It is light on characterization, which is painted in rather broad strokes, with the protagonists spending very little actual time together. More of the main relationship is propelled through mystical/ emotional means. Sido, the shy, neglected and mentally/ verbally abused daughter of the weak and spineless Marquis de Villeduval is a decent heroine. I wished that a little more attention had been paid to her and what she must have endured. I did get irritated at her refusal to leave her awful father behind, who had only ever hated and hurt her, but I could understand it nonetheless.The Marquis himself is almost comic in the pathetigue of his self-absorbed stupidity, selfishness and unmitigated blindness to reality.Count Kalliovski, our villain, exuded creepy, evilness right out of the pages of this book. Murderer of Topolain, Anis and countless others. Mysterious. Lustful. It is hinted at more than once that he has made some sort of pact with evil. ALl we really know is that he is Yann's father and that he had been "in love" with Anis, Yann's mother, and murdered her when she would not have him. At the end, it appears the Devil really is going to get him, that "cursed soul." Yann and Sido best beware!Yann Margoza himself. 14 at story's beginning, 17 at the denoument and on his way back to France at the height of the French Revolution to try and save innocents from the slaughter. A full-blooded Gypsy/ Romany, he is quite gifted. Able to see the future and read minds, he can also work the threads of light, not to mention a talent for throwing his voice. There are hints that Yann is a great shaman-possibly the most powerful yet... Possibly, also, the "King of the Gypsy. That was less clear.This is all set against the breathless backdrop of the French Revolution, one of the darkest periods in the history of Europe and certainly one of the most devastating for humanity. The bestial cruelty and sheer hateful butchery that was daily engaged in during those years of confusion and wholesale slaughter is still sickening to even contemplate. Sally Gardner seems to present the Revolution as good ideas gone terribly, horribly awry. I believe that the ideas of equality and freedom are paramount to all of mankind, at all times. No argument there. But after having looked into the Revolution's roots, I would have to say that Egalite and Liberte were not the driving forces that inspired those who engineered the Revolution - far from it as they sought to set themselves up as their own special class the first opportunity they had. They used those admirable and monumental goals to gain the support of the masses.... and then betrayed them when it no longer served their purposes to string them along. One review I saw suggested that Gardner portrayed Danton, Marat and Robespierre favorably, but I saw no sign of that. In fact, since they hang out with Kalliovski, I would say they are tinged by association with evil. I discovered that there is a second book in what is being labled the "French Revolution" series,though there is no indication if that is the end or if more are planned. It is due out next spring: The Silver Blade. Really looking forward to that volume. The Count is indeed back and kidnaps Sido, again, so Yann has to go get her.... I wonder what role the charm that Yann gave Sido will play?Oh, and the US cover? Did not like it. If the girl on the cover is supposed to be Sido, she should have dark hair. If not, who is she supposed to be? ( )

I had really high expectations after reading I, Coriander. In a way, I was disappointed that I didn't find myself enjoying it as much. I love stories of the French Revolution. I had to keep reminding myself that it was written for a much younger audience and for what it was, it was good. I struggled to get 'really' into it, but I still enjoyed it very much, ( )

As a book of magical realism, it’s really good. I liked the interweaving of real historical events with magical ones, and I especially liked how the magical stuff just was, without any big fanfare or anything. The writing was very pretty in some places, and the pacing of the story was almost perfect. I also really liked the idea of the book, which is very interesting (and magical!) and why I decided I wanted to read it in the first place.

But I was really disappointed by the characters. They never felt like “real” people to me– by which I mean I didn’t feel they had any depth. All the time I was reading The Red Necklace it felt like I was watching a puppet show instead of becoming part of the story. You know what I mean? There was no connection between myself and the characters.

Read the rest of my review at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog! ( )

This book was one of the best historical-fantasy books I have ever read! Trying to find Silver Blade now! ( )

The Red Necklace takes place in the chaotic fires of the French Revolution, following the romance of young Yann, a Gypsy mind reader and voice thrower, and Sido, the daughter of a French noblemen.

I loved this book -it's beautifully written and filled with so much fascinating historical detail but still manages to come across as a great work of fiction rather than a history lesson. Yann is a really interesting character to read about, and I enjoyed the inclusion of a small mystical element surrounding Yann's Gypsy connections. I particularly enjoyed Yann's time in London in the the middle of the story, which allowed for some variety in the novel's setting.

Sadly, Sido, the "girl" of The Red Necklace, was the weakest link for me. She had hardly any personality and was particularly boring. She just allowed all of the activities of the Revolution happen around her, and would have accepted her unwanted marriage to another nobleman because that was the life she was supposed to lead. While Sido did become more interesting near the end of the novel, it was difficult for me to really root for her.

Sally Gardner also offers a wonderful, crafted writing hand for the YA historical fiction genre. Her voice is clean and a joy to read, as well as closely woven with action, intrigue, mystery and suspense. Even though I was only vaguely interested in The Red Necklace when I picked it up, I ended up reading the novel in less than a day. This wonderful historical romance manages to be romantic and adventurous at the same time without feeling sappy.

I'm going to go out and pick up Gardner's other YA novels, particularly the sequel to The Red Necklace, The Silver Blade, as soon as I can! ( )

Highly recommended. I'll write something after I've looked at other reviews. ( )

The greatest thing about The Red Necklace was the cover. You've got pretty hair and a pretty dress, clearly the book must be good, right? Wrong, this book was horrible!The writing was disjointed. Something would happen to one of the characters, such as Sido, and instead of developing what happened, Gardner immediately ended the chapter and would switch to the other character, Yann. Also things would happen out of nowhere, like all of a sudden we find out the "dwarf" - yes that's the term she used, could perform magic. I seriously said WTF out loud several times while reading this book.I feel like this book was awkward, I really think a lot of bad choices were made by the editor. One thing which really bugged me was the narration, in the beginning it went back and forth one chapter would focus on Sido, the next would focus on Yann. Then, partway through the book, there were three chapters focusing on Sido, then one on Yann, then one on Sido, then two on Yann. That's awkward, Ms. Gardner, pick a style and stick with it. Either you do alternating chapters or you don't it's that simple. If you've read my reviews before, you know that characterization is very important to me. The Red Necklace was pretty disappointing in the way of characters. Sido and Yann were fairly flat, they were cliched good guys. Sido's father, the marquis was a douche with zero redeeming features. The bad guy, Count Villovski was just a bad guy with no humanity. I mean, if you really want me to care about your characters, make them human, make them relatable. Honestly, Sido's main defect/life problem was that she walked with a limp. Are you serious? Gardner is writing about the French Revolution and the worst flaw she can come up with is a limp? Ahhh, seriously people are rioting over goddamn bread,and we are expected to care about an aristocrat with a limp? This wasn't the worst book I've ever read, not by a long shot. But it's in my top 10 awkward books! ( )

The Red Necklace starts on the brink of the French Revolution and tells the story of gypsy Yann and his friends. The story goes from Paris to London and back again as Yann tries to save an aristocrat's daughter whom he has fallen in love with.

I picked this up because I wanted to learn a little more about The French Revolution and although that historical period acts as a backdrop to this story, The Red Necklace is more of a fantasy. I didn't realise that this is also a story for young adults either. Neither of these are bad points though. I found The Red Necklace engaging, fast paced and engrossing. I read it very quickly and will be adding Sally Gardner's other novel to my reading list. ( )

Product Details

* Pub. Date: September 2009
* Publisher:Penguin Group (USA)
* Format: Paperback, 416pp
* Sales Rank: 64,343
* Age Range: Young Adult

* ISBN-13: 9780142414880
* ISBN: 0142414883

The Red Necklace is a historical fiction story that takes place during the French Revolution. The story begins with a magic show. Yann, a young gypsy orphan, is raised by Tetu, a dwarf that seems to be keeping secrets from him. Yann can read minds and occasionally see into the future, while Tetu is able to move things without touching them. The showman of the group is the magician Topolain. Their show is so popular because they seem to give life to a doll. Unfortunately, Topolain’s vanity and greed gets the best of him. They end up taking a show for Count Kalliovski, which ends up with the murder of Topolain. Yann and Tetu barely escape with the help of Sido, the marquis’s ignored daughter. This is where the adventure begins. Tetu puts plans in motion to have Yann go to London to stay with a banker’s family. In their attempt to escape, Tetu is shot. Yann believes him dead and forces himself to carry on with Tetu’s wishes. Yann studies to become a gentleman in London, but destiny catches up to him. He goes to the gypsy camp and trains to use the strings of light that allow Yann to move things without touching them. Then Yann has to go back to Paris during the worst political uprising in their history and try to save Sido.

I really enjoyed this story. I go back and forth with historical fiction. There are times that I get bored with the setting and would like to have something either more fictional or more factual, but this was a great story. The middle is a little slow, but the ending is definitely worth the wait. I felt like I learned a bit about the French Revolution as well as enjoyed a great fantasy type story. Yann is a character that you can really sink your teeth into. He has multiple levels and the reader can struggle through life with him. There are a few unanswered questions about his character which I think the author has given the reader room to interpret. Sido is also a wonderful character. She is such a good-hearted woman. There is a large part of her character that is historically accurate, even though as a reader I don’t want her to be. All in all, I think this would be a gripping tale to give to a student that is hesitant to read something that has to do with history. It’s a good bridge with history and fantasy.

4/5 stars ( )

I usually am a very big fan of historical fiction---if it is done right. Ann Rinaldi is probably my top historical fiction writer--she happens to write stuff geared more towards kids, and to me that is an awesome balance. Sally Gardner is perhaps just a hair under her-- throughout the entire story (and it is quite a lengthy story) I was completely captivated. The setting is 1789-1792 France, with a brief switch over to England. I saw similarites to The Scarlet Pimpernel and A Tale of Two Cities both, not only in the setting and plot but also in the story's more intricate details.Sally Gardner is a perfect author for young readers because she has such a natural gift for using literary elements-- The Red Necklace is full of clever metaphors, allusions and personifications as 18th century France is brought to life. In response to opinions that Gardner "overexaggerates" in her story - both with respect to characters and situations - I humbly remind people that the French Revolution was one major exaggeration after another. Aristocrats were extremely foppish and out-of-touch with reality, and poor, wretched, put-upon peasants turned out-of-control savage. The time of this age swung from one extreme to another. And the two main villains of the novel--a foppish (that's my word of the day, I guess) Marquis and the sinister Count Kalliovski --are entertainingly one-sided. JUST BECAUSE A CHARACTER IS ONE-SIDED DOES NOT MEAN HE IS FLAT! Sometimes the best villains - especially in childrens/YA literature - are the ones who are just downright bad. That being said, the narration didnt really show Kalliovski's POV until the very last of the story, and I would have liked more of a window into his behavior throughout the story. I'm totally okay with evil characters doing evil things, but I'd like to know why they do evil things or what their purpose is for doing evil things. I'm still a bit confused, in fact, about Kalliovski's reasons for doing anything. While I love the story's two protagonists - a mysterious gypsy boy named Yann and a longsuffering aristocrat-with-a-heart-of-gold Sido, I feel a bit disappointed by their relationship. Reading reviews of The Red Necklace, I was under the impression that the book would spend a great deal of time - or at least SOME time - on their romantic development, but actually, they only have a few conversations together. Yes, they're in love and all that, but why? Sally Gardner is such a talented author and she really has a gift for words, so I wish she could have given their relationship a bit more detail. - My one main criticism of the book comes out of this: Her beginning and end segments are clearly the strength of the book, and the middle drags. That being said, the last half of the book, I'd say (beginning when the book flashes forward to 1792) at times feels really rushed, and her once descriptive narrative voice gets choppy and sloppy. For example, when Yann first sees Sido after a 3-year-absence, they just start talking like "oh, whatever. there you are." And then ending...? It should have been better explained. I knew it was coming, but still... an author really needs to expand on the great "WHY's" of their books. And one more nitpicky thing: In historical fiction (particularly kids/YA) you cant just throw out characters without taking the time to explain who they are. The "Big Three" of the Revolution--Robespierre, Marat, and Danton, are all mentioned, but in a very random "name-dropping" sort of way. I knew who they were just because I'd just taken a class talking about the Revolution, but kids will have no idea who they are, so they might as well not have been mentioned. - I will admit that my little issue could stem totally from the fact that I am a college-age history major. MS and HS kids will love this, and I certainly see this as a book I could read aloud to my future students. NOW ON TO THE NEXT! ( )

Recommend to agood Grade 7 reader who likes historical fiction. ( )

In France at the time of the revolution, Sido is the unloved daughter of an aristocrat in debt to a manipulative man. Yann is a magician's assistant. When the revolution starts, they find themselves threatened by the same evil man. ( )

Yann Margoza is a Gypsy boy with unusual talents: he can throw his voice and read people’s thoughts. He uses these gifts at a run-down theater in Paris, working with a magician and a dwarf named Têtu. One day, the performers get what seems to be the job of their lives: they will perform for a spendthrift marquis at a party where much of the nobility of France will be present. However, they find their lives in danger when the sinister Count Kalliovsky, murderer and collector of secrets, becomes their enemy. Yann barely escapes with his life – but not without first meeting Sido, the marquis’s beautiful and neglected daughter. The connection between them sustains them both for many years, and when the French Revolution begins to explode into violence, Yann is the one who must rescue Sido from both the evil count and the bloodthirsty Parisian mob.

I really enjoyed this book! The first couple of chapters were slow, but after that it definitely picked up. It’s hard for me to summarize the book, because there’s a lot going on with Count Kalliovsky that doesn’t necessarily relate to the main plot, such as his plan to marry Sido (and thus control her fortune), his murky past, and his penchant for leaving red necklaces around the throats of his murder victims. At first, I wasn’t too impressed with the count as a character, since he seemed too much like Pure Evil; but he actually was somewhat developed throughout the book, and I’m sure that trend will continue in the sequel. I liked almost everything about this novel, including the rich symbolism of the title and the cover! My only real complaint is that Yann and Sido barely spend any time together, yet somehow they’re in love. I would like to see their relationship developed a lot more! Luckily there’s at least one sequel out, The Silver Blade, and I definitely plan to pick it up soon!

from OverDrive

What truly got me interested in the book was the cover and the bio on the back, but after reading it the bio isn't good enough to explains how beautiful and and amazing this book is. I don't think any bio could. The words are smooth and wonderfully described. You feel as if you really there in Paris or London during the French Revolution. The book has everything from Murder, Magic, romances, history.
The things I absolutely adored with this book is the characters and how they're developed. I mean Count Kalliovski is truly evil and Marquis De Villeduval is totally oblivious and greedy. My favorite characters were Sido and Yann. For some reason they reminded me a lot of Romeo and Juliet.
The words were written with care and love because you feel a lot of emotion towards this book and could see every minute of it in your mind. Some of the plot twists were predicable but that didn't stop the beating in my heart as all the adventure scenes and exciting moments came along.
Some of the disappointing things in the book is some chapters are slow to read and that some of things happening in the book are predicable. Also I've seen numerous covers of this book and I must say that this book is aimed at both girls and boys. Don't judge the cover nor the bio by this extraordinary book. ( )

I read this for an assignment. Quite enjoyed it, although would not rave about it. ( )

Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com

THE RED NECKLACE is a fascinating tale of the French Revolution, the story of Yann, a gypsy boy, and Sido, the daughter of a Marquis. As fate would have it, their histories are intertwined in a way that both need the other if they are to have any hope of surviving the bloodbath of the Revolution.

Gardner's thorough research and grasp of the zeitgeist is apparent. The power of gypsy magic was a well-accepted fact of the time period and the inclusion of the paranormal does not distract from the historical context of the novel, but actually adds to the dangerous and unpredictable atmosphere of the times. Dialogue between the aristocracy could have been more sophisticated to better illustrate the principles of the Revolution, but Gardner does an overall excellent job of depicting the Reign of Terror.

The night that Yann and Sido first meet, Yann is working as a magician's apprentice, putting on a show for the Marquis and other members of the French aristocracy, including the sinister Count Kalliovski. When the magician is murdered by Kalliovski, Sido shows unexpected courage in helping Yann escape a similar fate.

Years pass before Yann has a chance to repay the favor. Sido, like all French aristocracy, is in danger of the raging passions from the hoi polloi, and also from an impending marriage to Count Kalliovski, a fate that is perhaps worse than death. Can Yann rescue Sido from both the guillotine and one of the most merciless men on the planet?

Gardner is successful in crafting a strong hero in Yann, though Sido is at times a frustratingly passive damsel in distress. However, she does have rare moments where she manages to redeem herself and display heroine potential.

The Marquis de Villeduval, Sido's father, is an utterly despicable - if somewhat flat - character with nary a redeeming quality. Count Kalliovski is a wonderfully constructed villain, with danger and power augmenting his every action, and an open-end that allows him to return with a vengeance in THE SILVER BLADE, Gardner's follow-up, detailing the height of the Reign of Terror. ( )

Sally Gardner is awesome. This book is full of action, magic, budding romance, evil, and facts about the French Revolution that you probably didn't know; I know I didn't. And the best part? It's not about Marie Antoinette. She's mentioned, of course, but just that. In The Red Necklace Gardner shows readers how the French Revolution affected rich people besides the queen, peasants who had everything to gain from the Revolution, and the terrified people in between: those who had served, helped, or worked for the aristocracy a bit too long to look good in the eyes of the Revolutionaries but did not have the finances themselves to flee to England. The back matter explains the political and financial triggers for the French Revolution. She even manages to make sure that this back matter doesn't read like a history book.

My only real problem with this book is the pretty, pretty cover on the American edition. It's hard for me to complain because, to be honest, I would never have picked up this book if I had only seen some of the other covers. It looks too History Channel or something. I picked up this book because of the pretty girl in a fancy dress who is so obviously being beheaded, because that's what pretty girls in fancy dresses (especially blonde ones who could be mistaken for Marie Antoinette from behind) did during the French Revolution. I thought I was going to read a story about her.

That girl is not in this story. I didn't miss her, but she's why I picked up the book. I'm sure that girl on the cover is why a lot of people will pick up this book. I don't think they'll be disappointed either. I'm more worried about the readers who might really enjoy Yann's story and all of the little details about how those not in the aristocracy (like that girl obviously is) experienced the French Revolution, but won't pick up this book because of that girl on the cover.

This cover is just one more in the long line of "girls in period dresses" covers that have been gracing the shelves lately, but the story in the pages could be a "boy" book. I hate that term, because I think that the idea that boys can only read books about boys while girls can read books about anyone is ridiculous. But if I can't even get my girlfriend to read this book (even though she was really interested in it after reading my booktalk) because it's too girly looking, what chance is there that a teenage boy will pick it up voluntarily?

In conclusion: Great book. Misleading cover. Potential audience lost. ( )

The Red Necklace is a really riveting young adult fantasy novel that focuses on a French boy of gypsy origins, Yann, who has magical abilities to move things and read people's minds. It also features a young aristocrat woman, Sido, who is trying to escape marriage to a vile, older man who excellently reinvents himself with each change in the political climate of France. The characters are all very richly-drawn and engaging. The story gets a bit bogged down in itself a couple of times, but generally moves at a clipping pace.

I really like the way Sally Gardner set up the story by showing different sides of the conflict. The French Revolution was certainly a long time coming, but she shows each side of the bloody mess objectively. I also liked the bonus of Yann and his mentor being of gypsy background. It added another nuance to the story without overpowering it. I am excited to see how that backstory develops. There is also a somewhat Star Wars-esque plotline introduced near the end, but I won't get into that one- don't want to ruin the read for anyone else.

All in all, a really fun and interesting read. Highly recommended if you like fantasy or historical fiction.

Truncated from full review at:
http://aartichapati.blogspot.com/2009/07/red-necklace.html ( )