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Chronicles From Chateau Moines

October 24, 2014 Claire Annette Noland 4 Comments

chateau cover 2One of the best things about books is that they allow you to visit new places as well as other periods of time. I recently traveled to 1970’s Normandy, France through the pages of Chronicles From Chateau Moines by Evelyne Holingue.

Set in a small French village, we meet seventh grader Sylvie, who no longer wants to wear the handmade clothes tailored by her dressmaker mother. She wants a pair of Levis. The school is abuzz with the arrival of Scott and his family from Santa Monica, California. Scott represents everything that seems cool to Sylvie, with his American accent and wardrobe. But, why has Scott come to this village with his father and younger sister? What are their plans for the small boutique in town and why does Sylvie’s mother seem so resentful of the newcomers?

 Chronicles From Chateau Moines is written in alternating first person chapters from the viewpoints of Sylvie and Scott. Sylvie is a singer-song writer and Scott is a musician who is grieving the death of his mother and determined to protest the Vietnam War.

Throughout the insights of Sylvie and Scott, the turbulence of the early 70’s becomes real. The Vietnam War protests, jealousy, death of a parent, the struggles of immigrant families, lingering memories of World War II, and the difficulties of growing up and expressing independence provide a rich background for this book. The music of this era is beautifully woven into this novel.

I particularly like the way the author has shown the struggles of Annie, a foster child living with the town bakers and Ibrahim, an immigrant from Algeria. They struggle with self-doubts and prejudice but are able to rise above their problems and become a part of the community.

Students in junior high school will enjoy Chronicles From Chateau Moines with its themes of young love and friendship. I haven’t read many novels for this age group set in the 1970’s or in France so readers will get a fascinating view of this time and place. The book includes a glossary of French terms used as well as a wonderful list of the songs and bands intertwined in the story.

chateau moines libraryThe library in Chateau Moines is an important part of this novel. The librarian becomes a welcoming friend to the newcomers and the library provides a place of refuge. This library actually exists. I hope to get there one day in see it in person but for now I am satisfied to have visited the library through this novel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Books, Places Tagged With: Algerian immigrants historical fiction, Chateau de Moines library, Chronicles From Chateau Moines, Evelyne Holingue, young adult historical fiction set in 1970's

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. evelyneholingue says

    October 27, 2014 at 1:09 am

    Thank you so much, Claire, for featuring my novel on your blog. I’m glad to read that you’ve enjoyed the story. The castle, pictured above, used to house the library where I spent a lot of time as a kid and teen. It is no longer there but certainly inspired the setting of my novel. There was no drawbridge though! Thank you again for opening your home to my novel.

    Reply
    • claireannette1 says

      November 6, 2014 at 6:07 pm

      So sorry to hear the castle is no longer there. Where did it go? I’d love to know the story of the castle.

      Reply
  2. PammyPam says

    October 28, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    awww that sounds like such a cute book!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Post Publication Feelings – Evelyne Holingue says:
    October 28, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    […] invited me on her blog, that many friends congratulated me through e-mail and texts, and that Claire and Trinity posted reviews on their blogs, two new feelings replaced […]

    Reply

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Hello. I’m Claire Annette - reader, writer, teacher, and field trip planner extraordinaire. Here at A Field Trip Life you will find ideas for adventures large and small and the kids’ books that inspire them. Sign your permission slip. Let's go!

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claireannettenolandbooks

Author | teacher | Field Trip Planner
books that take you places
Raven’s Gift
Nancy Bess Had a Dress
Evie’s Field Day
Out and About w George series

Instagram post 18050455565169935 Instagram post 18050455565169935
Today’s the day! I’m the featured author on to Today’s the day! I’m the featured author on today’s Summer of Stories! Take a look and let me know what you think. The link is in my bio.

And then check out all the other great stories!

#summerofstories #floursackdresses #floursack #makedo #picturebookreadaloud 

@angelac.hawkins @gnomeroadpublishing @eringreneaux
I'm excited to share that the Crystal Kite Award v I'm excited to share that the Crystal Kite Award voting continues until July 18th for members of SCBWI. Our book, Nancy Bess Had a Dress, is in the Southwest Division (where illustrator @angelac.hawkins lives)

Members, you can vote for books in all of the regions.
Cast your vote at this link: 

https://www.scbwi.org/crystal-kite/CK8

I will be sharing Nancy Bess July 11th online for the Summer of Stories https://summerofstories.substack.com/

and I'll be doing story time and craft at the Three River Public Library on July 11th at 10:30

@gnomeroadpublishing @pbspree @eringreneaux @tularecountylib 
@scbwicencal #crystalkiteaward
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We are enjoying a lovely summer’s day with CARL’S SLEEPY AFTERNOON thanks to our friends @laughingelephantbooks who sent us a copy signed by Alexandra Day and Carl!
Happy 40th Anniversary, Carl! You are such a good dog 🐾❤️
Carl has an opportunity to have a quiet and sleepy afternoon but does he rest? Not our Carl!
We’re on our 3rd generation loving this noble good dog and look forward to reading about his adventures for many more years!

#gooddogcarl #picturebookdogs #summerreading @mrernierecommends @christinabeeghly @laurennolandhajik @roxannenoland @gn705
Summer is the best time to beat the heat by taking Summer is the best time to beat the heat by taking your young ones to a museum. And I suggest, before you go, you share the delightful picture book, MousterWorks, written and illustrated by @angelac.hawkins
Young mice, Cosette and Pépin, join Grand-mère on a splendid adventure through a mouse hole into a museum. They gaze at brilliant interpretations of well-known painting by famous artists such as Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt, and Edward Banister. Cosette excitedly engages with the art while her brother, Pépin, searches for cheese in the art and eventually realizes that he can be an artist and paint his favorite things.

The final photo is 2.5 year old Alice at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. She was captivated by "Home Sweet Home" (after Seurat, Manet, and Pippin) painted by Wangari Mathenge

Art is for all ages.

To read my full review, visit my blog https://afieldtriplife.com/mousterworks-lets-go-to-a-museum/

@gnomeroadpublishing #mousterworks #artmuseumswithkids
@laurennolandhajik
Looking forward to simple unscheduled days! #july Looking forward to simple unscheduled days!
#july #afieldtriplife #summer
Look what we found featured at the library! #nancy Look what we found featured at the library! #nancybesshadadress 
Thank you @tularecountylib 
#summerreading #picturebooks #librarylove 
@angelac.hawkins @gnomeroadpublishing
Happy Summer! At the top of our summer "to do" lis Happy Summer! At the top of our summer "to do" list is visiting libraries where I love to see staff recommendations. SUMMER: A Solstice Story written by @kelseyegross and illustrated by @renataliwska is such a lovely picture book.
Owl, Squirrel, Raccoon, Bear, Sparrow, Rabbit, Woodpecker, and Deer gather to celebrate the arrival of summer with its gifts of light and new life. The friends share sprouts, fresh water, flowers, and fruit each accompanied by special wishes for the little ones to shine, glow, shimmer, gleam, and blaze bright with solstice light. They spend the day with festivities as they dance, splash, hop, and savor a forest feast.
I shared this with a group of children the night before the Solstice so that they understood how special this date is. Then, we read it again as the sun set on the longest day of the year after partaking of many of the same activities done by the woodland animals. They really enjoyed the center pages that fold out.
This is a soft, gentle, and breathtakingly beautiful picture book that should be enjoyed all summer long. @pbspree #summersolstice #summerasolsticestory
We have been Good Dog Carl fans for almost 4 decad We have been Good Dog Carl fans for almost 4 decades so we are excited to celebrate 40 years of our favorite picture book series! I love the book mom and Carl’s adventures are the best!
So let’s raise a toast to Carl, the very good dog, and to  @laughingelephantbooks Here’s to many more wonderful years of ❤️ filled stories.
#wewon #gooddogcarl #afieldtriplife #picturebookdogs @laurennolandhajik @christinabeeghly @roxannenoland
Military families are made up of heroes, those who Military families are made up of heroes, those who leave home to serve and those who stay behind. It isn’t easy to find books featuring military families, so I was excited to discover when AS MUCH as the STARS: A Story of Love Across the. Miles – A Child’s Goodbye/ AS MUCH AS THE STARS: A Story of love across The Miles: A Mother’s Farewell. I love flip books because they are clever and provide a fun way to read two stories told from different perspectives. AS MUCH AS THE STARS does an exceptional job of showing the love and emotions surrounding a deployment and then a joyous return. In this authentic, well-written story, one half follows a young girl and her relationship with her military father. The other half features the viewpoint of that girl, now grown, whose son leaves home to serve. warm and colorful illustrations add to the text showing the love that is shared even when they are separated by great distances.
This is a wonderful book for all families and will help everyone understand the sacrifices that our brave service members make. I just wish this book had been available when I was teaching children in military families.
Written by Forrest Zenone, Skyler Zenone, and Tricia Stone-Shumaker
Illustrations by Penny Weber
@poppysadventures1 @pennyweberart @laurennolandhajik #militaryfamilies #asmuchasthestars
#mrernierecommends
FYI… sweet peas are blooming on Old Creek Road a FYI… sweet peas are blooming on Old Creek Road around Whale Rock Reservoir
The story of how they got there reminds me of Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney “You must do something to make the world more beautiful.” 
Read how these delicate blossoms came to grace the highways in San Luis Obispo County: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/johnny-appleseed-sweet-peas-planted-120000196.html

Lupine, poppies, and wild mustard are also blooming.

#sweetpeas #jackcreekfarms #roadtrip #afieldtriplife #missrumphius
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