On the Brink of Paris

January 1, 2007
Gr 5-8-This third episode finds eighth-grader Lily and seven of her classmates in Paris. During the trip, she keeps a journal that she is sure will provide material for her Great Parisian Novel. She admits in the very first line that "Everything I know about Paris, I've learned from the Madeline books." The class geek, the Vault of Information, and the flower child provide comic relief, if not believable story lines as the detail-disoriented Lily careers through the city without ever reading the guidebook or listening to the chaperone. References to pop culture may stump readers and rob this book of a timeless feel, but it will satisfy those looking for light, fun fiction."Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2007
Thirteen-year-old diarist Lily B. is back with plenty to write about as she and the members of her French class head off to Paris. As usual, her amusing voice ("Everything I know about Paris, I learned from the Madeline books") carries the day. This book is primarily a travelogue as the kids eat French food, shop, and see the sights--from Notre Dame to Disneyland Paris. A chance meeting with Lily's idol advances what there is of the plot. Lily's fans will like this, and the enthusiastic teen may pick up some new readers along the way.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)