Ann Rinaldi Reviews

Added June 23, 2006

Brooklyn Rose

Author: Ann Rinaldi
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: May 2006
Genre: Young Adult: Fiction/Historical
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $6.96
ISBN: 0-15-205538-X
Author Email/Website: www.annrinaldi.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Based on the lives of the author's grandparents, and written in diary form, this book is a delightful and personal look at life in the early 1900's. A dash of fiction embellishes the facts surrounding this couple, adding a nice touch of history and evoking an emotional appeal. Young adult readers will be amazed at the story, and will undoubtedly develop an admiration for Rose Frampton.

Rose was an ordinary fifteen-year-old girl living on her parent's plantation in South Carolina. As she faithfully records the events of her days, readers will visit her home, her school and most significantly, they will understand the thoughts of her heart. When Rene Dumarest, a dashing Frenchman, proposed marriage to Rose, her diary revealed her confusion and also her joy. Although Rene was almost twice her age, they were wed and moved to Brooklyn, New York. Her journal chronicles those early days of marriage and the momentous changes it brought to this teenaged girl. Her story is spirited and sweet, as Rose passes into womanhood with a man she loves.

The author has faithfully captured the voice of a young girl growing up in this time period. Small details, like dresses and household chores, paint a realistic picture of her life. Yet, it's the emotional element that takes this story beyond the boundaries of history and into the hearts of readers. The decisions that Rose faces cause a myriad of thoughts to race through her mind. Her fear and apprehension at leaving her home and traveling to New York are spoken of truthfully and in her own words. As a married woman, she struggles to find her place in this strange city, as she recounts significant events with her neighbors. All of this is revealed with the sincerity and simplicity of an innocent girl who has recently become a woman.

Brooklyn Rose is an historical and heart-warming story of a young girl's life slowly maturing with intelligence and grace.

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