"I look up now into the oval mirror and see barely a trace of the mud-splattered girl tearing through the woodland on her horse, or the barefoot girl wading at Schonbrunn... I have become what Mama set out for me to be. Majestic. A Dauphine and eventually a Queen."

So writes the headstrong 13-year-old Maria Antonia--future Queen of France--in her diary on October 23, 1769. In this engrossing addition to the Royal Diaries series (Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile), Kathryn Lasky invents a diary of the young Marie Antoinette in 1769--the year she is to be married off to Dauphin Louis Auguste, eldest grandson of the French king Louis XV. Arranged marriages were common in that day and age--as the Empress Theresa (of the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic Nations) sought to consolidate power among nations by marrying off her children. Thus, the future of Austria and France falls upon Maria Antonia's young shoulders.

To prepare her for this awesome responsibility, she must be trained to write, read, speak French, dress, act... even breathe. Things get even more grim as she is shipped off to the court of Versailles and introduced to her puffy, awkward future husband and confronted with the court's ridiculous customs. Marie--an opinionated and insightful young woman--mocks the court of "impeccable etiquette and manners" that makes up nasty rhymes about those they hate, but panics when her hair is mussed. Lasky has done an excellent job of creating a very human character in the young Marie Antoinette--one whom young readers will want to learn more about. Fortunately, her story is given plenty of context with an epilogue describing the history of the young Queen after 1769, a historical note offering an 18th-century context, a Habsburg-Bourbon family tree, and various portraits of the royal family. (Ages 9 to 13) --Karin Snelson


From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Lasky takes historical fact and weaves it into a sympathetic account of an adolescent Marie Antoinette. Antonia's diary begins shortly before her politically arranged betrothal and marriage to Louis Auguste, Dauphin of France. It describes her struggles with strange new customs, in particular the elaborate French Court etiquette. The descriptions of Versailles and palace life hold true to fact and fit well into the diary of the Dauphine experiencing her new country. The diary also does a believable job of taking Marie Antoinette from a girl of 13 to a young woman of 15. Antonia goes from playing childhood games to become Marie Antoinette, future queen, playing political games with Madame du Barry. At the conclusion of the novel, an epilogue continues the story to its historical completion. Notes and a family tree are useful for readers who know little of 18th-century royalty and politics. This will be a popular addition for readers who favor the diary format in historical fiction. An excellent companion to this series is Milton Meltzer's Ten Queens (Dutton, 1998).Carolyn Janssen, Rockford Public Library, IL Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Maria Antonia of Vienna has her whole life mapped out ahead of her. She is to marry Dauphin Louis Auguste, eldest grandson of King Louis XV. As his wife, she will be called Marie Antoinette, and will be the highest princess of France. Upon the death of the King, she will become Queen Marie Antoinette. But she dreads both new roles. I am just thirteen...I am not yet ready to be a dauphine, let alone Queen, she writes


Card catalog description
In 1769, thirteen-year-old Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa, begins a journal chronicling her life at the Austrian court and her preparations for her future role as queen of France. Includes information about the history of the period, a family tree, and contemporary portraits.

ANNOTATION

In 1769, thirteen-year-old Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna, daughter of Empress Maria Theresa, begins a journal chronicling her life at the Austrian court and her preparations for her future role as queen of France. Includes information about the history of the period, a family tree, and contemporary portraits.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Marie Antonia of Vienna has her whole life mapped out ahead of her. She is to marry Dauphin Louis Auguste, the eldest grandson of King Louis XV. As his wife, she will be called Marie Antoinette and will be the highest princess of France. Upon the death of the king, she will become Queen Marie Antoinette. But she dreads both new roles.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Children's Literture

Set in eighteenth century Austria and styled as a personal diary, this addition to "The Royal Diaries" series allows readers a peek into the life of Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna--better known in history as Marie Antoinette. From irreverent accounts of horseback riding through mud puddles and wading in fountains to the much more serious matter of preparing to marry the king of France, readers will be drawn to this engaging historical figure. Although often remembered for her extravagance and senseless spending, Marie Antoinette is shown in this diary as a young girl coming to terms with the heavy burden and responsibilities of royalty. Young readers will clearly relate to this theme of growing up despite distance in time and economic status. In the classroom, this novel presents a reader-friendly account of the time period in European history and establishes excellent background for the French Revolution. Accompanied by an epilogue, historical note, family tree and reproduced portraits, this historical novel can also serve as reference material. 2000, Scholastic Inc., Ages 12 to 15, $10.95. Reviewer: Leah Hanson

VOYA

This entry in The Royal Diaries series portrays Marie Antoinette during the period of her betrothal and marriage to the dauphin, the future King Louis XVI, of France. As the diary begins, thirteenyear-old Maria Antonia of the Habsburg dynasty of Austria is facing her imminent engagement. She does not feel ready to be a queen and knows she has much to learn. She chronicles her thoughts, feelings, lessons, and concerns during the twoyear transition from childhood to her role as a young wife and future queen of France. Marie Antoinette is seen as a young girl with the attendant emotions and concerns of her young readers. She is bored with her studies, wants to go sledding and riding, is embarrassed by her domineering mother, and fears the approaching changes in her life. Author of an earlier Royal Diaries title, Elizabeth I (Scholastic, 1999/VOYA December 1999), Lasky incorporates much historical detail to inform and entertain in this comingofage story. The descriptions of the fantastic hair styles and dresses and the elaborate rituals and etiquette required at the Court of Versailles should fascinate today's young adults. The author's depiction of the political and dynastic reasons for the marriage of the young royals establishes the historical context of the novel that engages young readers learning about this period in history. The diary ends in January 1771, but an epilogue and historical note briefly bring the story of Marie Antoinette to its tragic end. A family tree and illustrations compliment the story. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9).2000,Scholastic, Ages 12 to 15, 240p. PLB $10.95. Reviewer: Vicky Yablonsky

Parent Council Reviews

Do you think it's hard to be polite and well-mannered? Read this book and you'll be amazed at how many etiquette rules there were in Marie Antoinette's French court! This book entertains and teaches at the same time. It's great for a study of the French Revolution, and it's a fun book to read as well. Part of the "Royal Diaries" series. 2000, Scholastic, Inc., $10.95. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: A. Braga SOURCE: Parent Council, September 2001 (Vol. 9, No. 1)

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Lasky takes historical fact and weaves it into a sympathetic account of an adolescent Marie Antoinette. Antonia's diary begins shortly before her politically arranged betrothal and marriage to Louis Auguste, Dauphin of France. It describes her struggles with strange new customs, in particular the elaborate French Court etiquette. The descriptions of Versailles and palace life hold true to fact and fit well into the diary of the Dauphine experiencing her new country. The diary also does a believable job of taking Marie Antoinette from a girl of 13 to a young woman of 15. Antonia goes from playing childhood games to become Marie Antoinette, future queen, playing political games with Madame du Barry. At the conclusion of the novel, an epilogue continues the story to its historical completion. Notes and a family tree are useful for readers who know little of 18th-century royalty and politics. This will be a popular addition for readers who favor the diary format in historical fiction. An excellent companion to this series is Milton Meltzer's Ten Queens (Dutton, 1998).-Carolyn Janssen, Rockford Public Library, IL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Kirkus Reviews

Psychologically astute and packed with historical detail, this faux diary opens when Marie Antoinette [then called Maria Antonia] was a 13-year-old youngster. Despite Marie's nobility and lavish lifestyle, she comes off as an engaging and understandable adolescent though living under the tight domination of her imperious mother, the Empress of the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic Nations, who strictly controlled her daughter's education and behavior. Readers should identify with her struggle to achieve autonomy and sympathize when she's married off to the unappealing Louis Auguste, the future king of France, at the tender age of fourteen. The particulars of royal life in the early 1770s, such as the fact that court etiquette demanded that Marie Antoinette bathe with `no fewer than eight women` present, a ritual presided over by a countess wearing `a full hooped gown,` jewels and a wig, are intricately rendered and astonishing to behold. It's hard to imagine that the sweet, down-to-earth Marie Antoinette whom Lasky portrays will turn into the frivolous materialist of history, and readers will have to make their peace with this issue. Still, a royal read that manages to both entrance and instruct. (Historical fiction. 10-14)