{Review} The Académie by Susanne Dunlap

Title: The Académie

Author: Susanne Dunlap

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Release Date: February 28th 2012

Source: Publisher for Review

Purchase: Amazon | TBD | Kobo | B&N

Eliza Monroe-daughter of the future president of the United States-is devastated when her mother decides to send her to boarding school outside of Paris. But the young American teen is quickly reconciled to the idea when-ooh, la-la!-she discovers who her fellow pupils will be: Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte; and Caroline Bonaparte, youngest sister of the famous French general. It doesn't take long for Eliza to figure out that the two French girls are mortal enemies-and that she's about to get caught in the middle of their schemes.

The Académie was a great book. It was my second attempt to reading it, and I’m glad that I did. It had French history and a little romance and an ending that I honestly didn’t see coming. I had pictured the ending going in a different direction then what it did. I really enjoy endings that take a different direction than what you expect, because, let’s face it, who likes to be able to know exactly what is going to happen.

This story revolves around three girls lives, Eliza, Hortense and Madeleine. Eliza Monroe is daughter of future president James Monroe and is sent to a French boarding school in Paris. There she encounters the beautiful and reserved Hortense de Beauharnais, step-daughter to Napoléon Bonaparte and Caroline Bonaparte, sister to Napoléon Bonaparte, who will stop at nothing to separate her brother from Hortense’s mother, Josephine.

Eliza is the type of girl who wants to fit in. She soon finds herself in the middle of a feud between Caroline and Hortense. But still so desperately seeks the approval of her new friends. She also believes that she is in love with Eugene, Hortense brother. Only to find out he is in love with Madeleine, an actress’s daughter. She so desperately wants him to notice her that she does the unthinkable to be close to him.

The characters are just simply amazing. The story was also amazing. Dunlap brought history to the 21^st century in this great book. It has a great story with a great ending that is sure to please. My next read by her is In the Shadow of the Lamp, can’t wait to dive it.