Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Summary:(from book jacket). Brooklyn: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She's angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she's about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights' most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break. Paris: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn't want- and couldn't escape. Two girls,two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine's diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There's comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal's antique pages- until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs fo Paris, Alexandrine's words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly terrifyingly present.
Review: This book is really good. I had heard a few things about this book and thought it sounded interesting. I didn't really have any expectations for it but it was so great. When an almost five hundred page historical fiction novel can grab my attention and not be boring or slow then thats when you have something special and this book definitly was. I don't read very much historical fiction but I think now i'm going to read more.
One thing that realy made this book stand out was the difference between the two perspectives. These two characters were living in different centuries and leading totally different lives. However, Donnelly puts these two girls togehter and creates an amazing story. On one hand there is the girl who is depressed at the loss of her brother and flunking high school. On the other, a girl living during the French revolution and doing everything she can to survive. There were also some small simalraties between the charcters that made it even more exciting to read. The plot wasn't all that fast paced but I never thought it was slow. My only problem was that I thought the whole last part of the book was kind of unnecessary and needed a stronger explanation.
  Another thing I really loved were the characters. they were all so unique. Andi, Alex, Vijay, Virgil and some others. All the characters in the book were really great which is not something I usually think. Andi and Alex were both awesome. Vijay and his mom were also really funny. Overall, I think anyone who wants to read and awesome book that tells an amazing story should read this.