Martin Dubow

Reviewed by Breanna F. for TeensReadToo.com

"At its heart, a love story or three, FRANCEY is moreover a tale of mystery, betrayal, murder, and sorrow."

Francey is a mature-beyond-her-years sixth grader who has an incredibly close bond to her father, Rick. Rick is a fabulously known architect who has recently been asked to build a manor for Lord Crimson, who is a rich and sorrowful member of English royalty. But Rick is not to build just any manor. He has been asked to build a manor that imitates a seventeenth-century manor that keeps showing up in Lord Crimson's dreams that practically haunt him every day.

Meanwhile, Francey is having these horrible nightmares that somehow turn out to be memories.

It turns out that Francey has taken on the persona of Susan Sebastian, a seventeenth-century noblewoman. And Francey's nightmares are about her lover, Edward Delaney, who was murdered because of their love. Francey also takes on one of Susan Sebastian's amazing attributes; her ability to draw amazingly well. But if Francey's nightmares continue at the force with which they are coming, something terrible is bound to happen.

With the help of Lizzie (Francey's teacher) and Alex (Lizzie's younger brother), will Rick be able to save Francey in time?

Oh my goodness, this book was amazing! It was a pretty quick read but great just the same. It covered everything readers love; mystery, love, betrayal, murder. Not to mention the fact that the characters themselves were amazing. Rick and Francey's relationship was just perfect for this book, along with Lizzie and Alex's relationship, as well.

Francey was such a strong and lovable character from the beginning. I absolutely adored her. I loved all the suspense and mystery in this book. I highly recommend FRANCEY to anyone who loves reading about the seventeenth century, and of course anyone who loves a great love story.… (plus d'informations)

Intelligent, wise, and caring, sixth-grader Francey could be said to have an old soul. This implication is supported when Francey begins to have horrifying nightmares that are actually the memories of a long deceased Susan Sebastian, a natural and gifted Rembrandt scholar. Francey soon realizes that she shares the same soul with Susan Sebastian as she begins acquiring artistic skills she didn't know she had before. The downside is that Francey is still plagued by intensely graphic nightmares about Susan's past lover, Edward Delaney, who was murdered by the evil and arrogant Lord Trumbull. Could Francey's nightmares be resolved before its stranglehold become too much for her to bear?

Francey casts some new interesting ideas about true eternal love. Perhaps there are souls so strongly connected that they meet again and again through reincarnation. The vivid descriptions, along with the mentions of classical artists and musicians, added spark to the story.

What bothered me about this book is that the main characters are almost too perfect. Francey is an intellectual scholar whose sophistication surpasses most adults; Francey's dad, Rick, is a prestigious architect who loves his daughter more than anything; and Francey's teacher is so obliging to help Francey that she even involves her little brother. I was also slightly surprised that nobody doubted the truth behind Francey's nightmares.

Predictable but charming, this was a good light read.… (plus d'informations)