Amanda in France - Darlene Foster

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Author: Darlene Foster

Series: Amanda #9
Genre: Children's Fiction, Travel,
Rating: 3.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: A nice children’s book that is part travelogue and part mystery. Works fairly well.


Amanda has arrived in Paris with her friend Leah and Leah’s Aunt Jenny, where they are volunteers at a famous bookstore. As the bookstore job hardly take as a few hours, they use the rest of the time to explore Paris. However, there are some strange occurrences during their trips: a bomb threat at the Opera House, flickering lights at the Louvre, and, worst of all, a devastating fire at the Notre Dame. Each time something bad happens, a mysterious man pops up at the scene. Who is this person and how is he involved in the mysterious proceedings?

This is the ninth title in the Amanda series, but the books are standalone reads.

On the pro side, the book is a very quick and easy read. It is aimed at middle graders and suits that audience well. Amanda’s trips to the famous locations in Paris reveal amazing details about the city and its monuments. These were a treat to read. The fire at Notre Dame is one of the worst tragedies of recent times – reading about it created a lump in my throat.

At the same time, though middle-grade fiction is one of my favourite genres, this book felt just about okay because of its writing style. As this is part of a series, it presumes familiarity with Amanda and her friends. I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters at all. (One thing I always like knowing is the age of the protagonist, just so I can understand their thinking and their motives. Amanda’s age isn’t revealed in the book.) Amanda’s understanding of French seems to be inconsistent; she comprehends tough words but struggles with easy ones. I didn’t like the mystery; it involved too many coincidences to be convincing. Also, I feel this story would have worked better with illustrations.

This is a children’s fiction that will work mainly for its audience. It is a great way to learn about Parisian landmarks and culture, and would serve as an especially wonderful accompaniment during a vacation to Paris. I enjoyed the connection of historical facts with contemporary locations, though I wish the mystery had gripped me better.

My thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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