Mira's Diary: Lost in Paris
By Barbara Schultz,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Ambitious time-travel tale covers edgy French history, art.
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What's the Story?
MIRA'S DIARY: LOST IN PARIS is a fantastical/historical novel by Marissa Moss, author of the popular Amelia's Notebook series. The intrigue begins when a mysterious postcard from Paris arrives, prompting Mira, her father, and her brother go there in hopes of finding Mira's missing mother. Once there, Mira discovers that she, like her mother, has a gift for time traveling, and she's transported to 1881 Paris around the time of the Dreyfus Affair (when a Jewish army captain was scapegoated and wrongly accused of treason). Mira befriends several artistic and literary luminaries of the time and tries to persuade author Emile Zola to use his influence to expose the conspiracy and injustice behind Dreyfus' conviction. Along the way, 14-year-old Mira learns a great deal about French history, art, politics, and geography.
Is It Any Good?
Moss succeeds in educating her target tween audience about very complex ideas surrounding the history of prejudice and scapegoatism, as well as illuminating an important French artistic period. Not only is she successful in these lofty goals, but she also creates an engaging plot involving a blend of real and fictional characters, all of whom are quite well-rendered. Readers may internalize this novel by degrees; some kids may find the Dreyfus plot difficult to follow. But all will learn quite a bit and will identify with Mira's predicament and feelings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what a scapegoat is. Why did Albert Dreyfus, who was Jewish, become one?
How does Mira's Diary: Lost in Paris compare with the Amelia's Notebook series? How are they alike, and how are they different?
What talents help Mira achieve her goals in 19th-century Paris?
Book Details
- Author: Marissa Moss
- Illustrator: Marissa Moss
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Sourcebooks
- Publication date: September 4, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 224
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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