The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Gardner, Sally. The Red Necklace. Dial Books, 2007. 378 pages. $16.99. ISBN 0803731004

Readers Annotation: Suddenly reunited with her estranged father, Sido becomes entangled with a gypsy boy named Yann. In the midst of murder, deceit and love they realize how important they are to one another over the next few years.

Plot Summary: Twelve-year-old Sido was never loved by her father, Marquis de Villeduval. After being away in a convent for years, her father suddenly calls her back to him. This is no kind gesture, however, as his intentions of marrying her off to the evil Count Kalliovski as soon as she is old enough. Also invited to the marquis estate are three magicians, Topelain, Tetu and Fifteen-year-old Yann. While exploring the estate, Yann meets Sido and the two feel drawn to each other. After Count Kalliovski murders Topelain, Yann and Tetu must flee. Yann must make his journey to London alone when his beloved Tetu is killed. After having his palm read by a fellow Romany, Yann rejects his heritage and learns to live as a proper Englishman. Meanwhile, Sido and her father face much danger as aristocracy during the revolution in France. Later, when Yann is seventeen he is called back to Paris to save Sido, and reclaims his Romany heritage. But will the palm reader’s prophecy come true? Is a bullet waiting for Yann back in Paris, or will his love for Sido keep him alive?

Critical Evaluation: The Red Necklace was an exciting read that I could not put down. Although the characters are introduced at a young age, the events that surround Sido and Yann are not those that average twelve and fourteen year olds will grasp. Sido’s imprisonment and forced engagement to such an evil man at twelve, at least in today’s standards, is unheard of. Yann, who never knew his real parents, lives the life of a magician and is forced to flee and deal with the loss of the only family he knew. The French Revolution in general is a difficult period to discuss without feeling nauseous at the thought of the living conditions of the average Frenchman, and how many people met with the Guillotine. Gardner, while she does not gloss over these realities, seems to dilute them a little instead focusing on the maturity of Sido and Yann. While The Red Necklace may be considered a Historical Fantasy with Yann’s ability to read minds and move objects, but I felt that this story was more focused on history than the fantastical. There have always been those with special gifts, and always been magician seeking their newest biggest trick. It was interesting to read a different kind of story of the revolution.

Reading Level: The reading level of the novel is definitely that of twelve to fifteen year olds, but the subject matter would be suitable for fourteen to eighteen.

Book talk ideas: Read a selection from the book, like the scene in the marquis’ library in which the antagonist murders Yann’s magician employer. Discuss the difference between stage magic and fantasy magic and why this wouldn’t necessarily be a fantasy novel. Many people have special gifts, such as being able to read palms. Is it fair to say that people who say they can read minds are lying just because we may not be able to do it ourselves?

Why it is included: I chose The Red Necklace because of the range of characters in the story. I knew if involved a Romany boy, and found this to be an interesting plotline for a book about the French Revolution. It is on the YALSA 2009 Best Books for Young Adults list, as well as four others. It was also a 2008 Cybils nominee for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Challenge issues: Some controversial topics could include the engagement of Sido at such a young age to a much older man. In defense of this I would argue that girls often got married, or engaged at a young age and it wasn’t until the 20th century that this practice became looked down upon, especially once women were able to get a higher education.