Paris for two / Phoebe Stone.

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Title:

Paris for two / Phoebe Stone.

Author:

Stone, Phoebe, 1947-

ISBN:

9780545443623

Edition:

First edition

Physical Description:

257 pages ; 20 cm

Abstract:

Twelve-year-old Petunia is used to living in the shadow of her fourteen-year-old half-sister, Ava, their mother's favorite, but now that the whole family has moved to Paris for a year, Pet finds herself stepping into the light, making new friends, uncovering secrets, and, inspired by the classic French dolls she has found, revealing an unexpected talent for designing dresses--and her beautiful sister does not take it well.

Subject Term:

Sisters -- Juvenile fiction.

Fashion design -- Juvenile fiction.

Mothers and daughters -- Juvenile fiction.

Families -- Juvenile fiction.

Dolls -- Juvenile fiction.

Self-confidence -- Juvenile fiction.

Family life -- France -- Paris -- Juvenile fiction.

Geographic Term:

Paris (France) -- Juvenile fiction.

France -- Juvenile fiction.

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library	Juvenile Fiction Book Hardback	120791002769809	J STO	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

Anywhere but Paris... The best cure for a terrible crush on someone like Windel Watson is a trip across the ocean. That's what twelve-year-old Petunia Beanly thinks, until she hears where her family is moving. Not Paris. Not France. Anywhere would be better. Because that's where Windel will be, too.When the Beanly family gets to Paris, Pet's older sister seems right at home. Ava swans around looking beautiful, and making Pet feel even smaller and more awkward. It feels like Paris has a place for everyone except Pet. All she wants to do is hide in a dark room with the pillows over her head.But it turns out Paris has plans for Petunia Beanly. There are three bouquets awaiting her. If Pet can only find her courage, each bouquet will open a door and bring with it a sparkle that will change everything. And the person behind it? That will be Paris's biggest surprise of all.

Reviews (4)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-6-The relationship between 12-year-old Petunia and her older stepsister is mean-spirited and filled with friction. Their family of four has moved to Paris during Petunia's father's sabbatical year, and each member of the family is coping with a new environment with varying degrees of success. The mother shows a clear preference for her biological daughter over her younger stepdaughter, even when the elder girl demonstrates poor behavior in her presence. Stone includes cultural markers and French words to create a Parisian ambience, but there are, unfortunately, also tired stereotypes of beret-wearing French people and rude waiters. The novel presents a glimpse of a dysfunctional family with sibling rivalry and parents who are either uninterested in or distanced from their children's behavior. The snide comments between the sisters may seem hurtful to sensitive readers, but those who struggle with challenging sibling relationships may be relieved to see this common familial friction depicted on the page. This contemporary, realistic fiction novel has an inviting, page-turning pace. VERDICT Issues of sibling fighting and the challenges of creating a harmonious blended family are set against a Hollywood-esque Parisian background.-Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

This confection of a story about scrappy 12-year-old Petunia "Pet" Beanly and her family while on sabbatical in Paris delivers a satisfying look at sibling rivalry and discovering true talents. Initially, Pet imagines writing a book on being a younger sister, peppered with advice culled from her experiences with her glamorous, much adored sibling, Ava. Pet also designs dresses, something her sister and mother criticize, but when she finds a mysterious doll dress in an armoire-one with connections to the elderly concierge in her building and a French family-Pet's sewing and design talents blossom. Drama ensues as Pet steals a letter from Ava's love interest, enters a fashion design contest, endures the aftermath of her first crush, and befriends the concierge. Stone (The Romeo and Juliet Code) builds believable betrayal and resolution between the two sisters, though Pet's complex relationship with her mother, who struggles with depression and favors Ava, is too tidily resolved. Regardless, readers will be charmed by Pet as she bonds with Ava and embraces her own strengths. Ages 8-12. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Horn Book Review

Twelve-year-old Petunia Beanlys father, a Flaubert scholar, is thrilled to be spending a year in Paris on sabbatical. The rest of the family, not so much. Pets fourteen-year-old sister Ava (their mothers darling) is prickly on a good day, and Mom, a frustrated artist, spends her time suffering ennui and badmouthing Avas long-estranged biological father. Pet doesnt mind Paris per seshes started to make friends (Collette, the concierge in her building; plus fellow resident Monsieur Le Bon Bon, his parrot Albert, and Le Bon Bons eight-year-old nephew Jean-Claude)but shes mortified to be in the same city as piano prodigy Windel Watson, her ill-advised crush-from-home. And all of this is just the tip of the iceberg for Stones quirky, multifaceted characters. Her protagonists (The Romeo and Juliet Code, rev. 3/11; The Boy on Cinnamon Street, rev. 1/12) tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, and here thats almost literally true: Pet, a budding clothing designer, is working on a collection for the Sew! Youre in Paris! youth fashion contest, inspired by the beautiful doll clothing created by Collettes Nazi-resistor seamstress grandmother. In her own idiosyncratic style, Stone has created a grand, romantic, heartfelt (if somewhat meandering) tale that will make readers long for the city of light. elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Petunia and her family have moved to Paris for a year, but culture shock not to mention her perfect older sister threatens to eclipse Pet. Haunted by spectacular failures to impress Windel, her crush, she is dismayed to find that he is also in Paris. But when Pet discovers an exquisite doll dress in an old armoire, she meets Collette, the elderly concierge. Collette slowly reveals the dress' history and her own tragic past. Throughout the book, Pet finds solace in designing and sewing clothes, despite her sister's scorn and mother's disapproval. Her sewing leads to a fashion design contest for young expats, to a dramatic confrontation between the sisters, and, eventually, to Windel. The writing can be uneven, by turns lyrical and stilted, and while Pet and her father are well-developed, her mother, sister, and background characters never fully leave the page. Still, the unfolding story of Collette's tragedy and the upcoming fashion show, plus humorous moments surrounding Windel, pull the reader through to a satisfying, if unsurprising, conclusion.--Harold, Suzanne Copyright 2016 Booklist

Excerpts

Dad says thousands of writers have used literally billions of words trying to describe 'love' without success. But I could tell him it is easy to describe. That moment a little bird that had been sleeping for so long inside me turned over. It turned over and its cold, still feathers began to warm. Until then I had known so little about Windel, only the way he wandered into history class, often late. Now everything was different. It was his secret life. His never-before-seen confidence. His smoky, hidden moodiness. His obvious passion. And it was the music. Excerpted from Paris for Two by Phoebe Stone All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.