A Little in Love

April 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-Eponine Thenardier, also known as the "Jondrette girl," is a character from Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Miserables. Born into a family of criminals, she must lie and steal in order to survive. Despite her cruelty to Cosette and others, her actions do not portray her true inner self. Only through self-sacrifice does she find a way to rise above the darkness that surrounds her. She saves her baby brother from starvation and finds beauty in the world through her love for Marius. During her brief but turbulent life, Eponine finds redemption. Fletcher re-creates Hugo's 19th-century France with vivid scenes and heartrending dialogue. She delivers Eponine's backstory with a tenderness that reveals goodness found within a young girl looking for love in a cruel world. Narrator Melody Grove delivers a brilliant performance with flawless French and dramatic character vocalization. VERDICT This retelling of a famous story in a fresh, new way is a great listening experience for teens and adults. ["The entire tale will be long remembered, and is a must-read for all Les Mis fans": SLJ 6/15 starred review of the Scholastic Chicken House book.]-Alice Davidson, Indianapolis

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