{Synopsis} –In 1789, with the starving French people on the brink of revolution, orphaned Celie Rosseau, an amazing artist and a very clever thief, runs wild with her protector, Algernon, trying to join the idealistic freedom fighters of Paris. But when she is caught stealing from none other than the king's brother and the lady from the waxworks, Celie must use her drawing talent to buy her own freedom or die for her crimes. Forced to work for Madame Tussaud inside the opulent walls that surround Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Celie is shocked to find that the very people she imagined to be monsters actually treat her with kindness. But the thunder of revolution still rolls outside the gates, and Celie is torn between the cause of the poor and the safety of the rich. When the moment of truth arrives, will she turn on Madame Tussaud or betray the boy she loves? From the hidden garrets of the starving poor to the jeweled halls of Versailles, “Madame Tussaud's Apprentice” is a sweeping story of danger, intrigue, and young love, set against one of the most dramatic moments in history.
{My Thoughts} – This book turned out be exceptional. When I had received it and read the back I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. I have this rule though. I will read the first five chapters of a book before I completely decide if I am going to like or not like the book. The books like I said was exceptional and it surprised me. It really surprised me and I am glad it did.
Madame Tussaud’s Apprentice is about a girl named Celie and a boy named Algernon. They have both shared in their losses when it comes to people that they loved and cared about. Celie lost her mother, father and brother. Algernon lost his girlfriend Julia. They both end up living on the streets and join forces to pull cons and steal from those that are more wealthy then they are.
Eventually, one of their cons go bad and Celie ends up in prison. She faces being hanged and has no option but to use her drawing talent to attempt to save herself without giving up Algernon and another boy that was involved in the con. When she is approached in prison by the Kings brother, the prison keeper and Madame Manon she chooses not to cooperate. Madame Manon knows she is capable of drawing, unsure how she knows but she helps to save her life by exploiting that special talent. She accepts that Celie didn’t give up her accomplishes but she still wants to help the girl and not leave her to die. She decides to make a wager with the kings brother that she can straighten the girl out. This wager is what saves Celie’s life.
She then starts to learn under Madame Manon and she becomes good at what she has learned. Algernon and her both eventually start to live with Madame Manon. However, Algernon joins the Rebellion and Celie is forced to join him. Madame Manon and her family as well, because it appears to be the only way in which they shall survive the rebellion in which the rebels wants to kill everyone that had ever been in association with the king or the royals.
Celie is soon forced to make a choice. Stay with Madame Manon and her family, a family that has shown her nothing but kindness and love. Or to follow Algernon her one true love and become a full blown rebel like he is. It is a hard and difficult choice to ask anyone to make and it isn’t fair that she much choose. If you’d like to know what happens you will need to read the book. I promise you won’t regret reading it, because I don’t, this is one I look forward to re-reading again in the future and passing on to my daughter.
Final Conclusion: 5 Star Rating.
