by Bianca Turetsky
Poppy
April 2011
Twelve year-old Louise Lambert is a total fashionista - she follows all the major designers and reads Teen Vogue like it is her bible. She's quite the savvy thrift-store shopper. I was tickled by a brief mention of Polka Dots and Moonbeams - a vintage clothing store in Santa Monica that I used to go to. After Louise receives a mysterious invitation to a private vintage clothing sale, she finds herself magically transported to a cruise ship. My only quibble with the book is that it seems to take Louise forever to realize that, yes, the ship that she's on is the Titanic. Louise comes across as terribly sophisticated for a twelve year-old; I for one couldn't imagine having half the expertise she has about designer fashion, or having the appreciation for vintage clothing that she has, but then again, I was a giant sci-fi nerd and total tomboy at that age, so what do I know? Meanwhile, back in 1912 aboard the Titanic, Louise finds herself being mistaken for the gown's original owner, her distant relative, silent film star Alice Baxter. Explaining that she has amnesia, Louise finds play-acting at being a famous adult fun at first, but grows alarmed when she realizes she's not sure how to get back to her own time, and she alone of all the passengers on board knows the terrible fate of the Titanic.
I loved this book - it's so fresh and different. It hits the perfect note for tween girls, or young adult readers looking for "clean" fiction. The numerous clothing sketches included throughout the book are gorgeous, candy for the eyes. This was a quick, breezy read. The sequel, The Time Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antionette is due out in September, 2012.
I borrowed this book from the library.
Oh I added this to my wishlist aaaaages ago but it got buried by a ton of other books. I might have to bump it up again, considering I'd forgotten about it completely! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a fast read! Dive right in!
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