Released on April 5th, 2011
Source- Book from publisher for review
5 stars- I loved it
When Louise Lambert receives a mysterious invitation to a traveling vintage fashion sale in the mail, her normal life in suburban Connecticut is magically transformed into a time traveling adventure.
After a brief encounter with two witchy salesladies and donning an evening gown that once belonged to a beautiful silent film star, Louise suddenly finds herself onboard a luxurious cruise ship in 1912. As Alice Baxter, the silent film star, Louise enjoys her access to an extensive closet of gorgeous vintage gowns and begins to get a feel for the challenges and the glamour of life during this decadent era. Until she realizes that she's not just on any ship-- she's on the Titanic!
Will Louise be able to save herself and change the course of history, or are she and her film star alter ego, destined to go down with a sinking ship in the most infamous sea disaster of the 20th century? (quoted from Goodreads).
This wonderful debut ties together fashion, vintage clothing and traveling back in time fabulously. It makes me want to run out to my nearest vintage clothing store and look for each of the dresses that are so visually appealing with the books beautifully illustrated pictures. Although I've come to realize with in the first few sentences of the book that twelve year old Fashionista, Louise has way more fashion appeal than I do, and ever will.
I love that this spunky seventh grader is not a slave to the latest trend, but has an eye for fashion. I admire this empowering trait, as Louise is so secure with who she is and what she likes, that she embraces it. I think that in itself is a wonderful message for readers of all ages. I would love to go shopping with her. This lovable character shops vintage, scouring her local thrift shop in search of the perfect dress, and clothing. Something happens when she goes to try on a gorgeous pink vintage dress. Louise finds herself back in 1912, on an elegant cruise ship bound for NY, the Titanic. If that isn't fancy enough, she goes back in time as Miss Baxter, a beautiful silent movie start from England.
It was amazing reading about Louise's adventures and seeing through her eyes what it was like being there. From mingling with some of society's most elite members, to the descriptions of her suite and the ship to the way society was then, all of the descriptions brought the story and the time period to life. Louise and her maid Anna became unlikely heroines when tragedy strikes the Titanic. The way Bianca ties together fashion & history and centers it around the adventures of a twelve year old girl was captivating. I loved the vintage feel of the story and how it was brought to life with it's gorgeous illustrations! It was like looking at drawings from the early 1900's. I love this quote from Louise's invitation to the elite group of women called Fashionista.
"It takes a special kind of person to realize that when you wear vintage you are carrying a bit of the past on your body, and the possibility that vintage can have an impact on your modern life. But there's also the responsibility that comes with this privilege of owning a piece of the past."
I think that sums up what Louise learned on her adventure on the Titanic. There are a lot of things I really enjoyed about this story. It's a wonderfully written, clean cut book that readers from middle grade on up will enjoy. I am really looking forward to reading Louise's next adventure. I highly recommend picking this book up.
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I've seen this at the bookstore and now I have to pick it up. Thank you for a detailed review.
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