Disclosure: I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Amanda in Paris is perfect for the tween reader who is about to embark upon a trip to Paris or is fascinated by other places. The book is a scavenger hunt of Paris monuments and would be the perfect activity to prepare for a family vacation to Paris with kids.

Amanda in Paris follows the adventures of Amanda, her friend Leah, and her Aunt Jenny. They are checked into Shakespeare & Company on the Left Bank and spend their days sightseeing and working in the bookstore for their room and board. While in Paris, Amanda noticed some suspicious things happening, which culminates with the fire at Notre Dame. We follow the trio through Paris as Amanda tries to make sense of the strange circumstances surrounding their trip.

The mystery to the story is a little cheesy for adults, and perhaps could be further developed for tweens, but this book stands out for its imagery and the dichotomy of attitudes between the characters: Amanda, ever the excited optimist ready for sightseeing, and Leah, the slightly pessimistic friend who would rather be cool. It lends itself to facilitating a discussion about character, choices, and embracing opportunities.

As someone who travels to Paris frequently, I think this is the perfect primer for a trip to Paris, though perhaps it would be important to talk about safety and not talking to every stranger you encounter on the street!

5 stars – an exciting mystery set in Paris

Amanda in Paris is the ninth book in the Amanda Travels series, and it is an exciting way for children aged about 8-12 to learn about Paris. In this instalment, Amanda travels to Paris with her best friend, Leah, and Leah’s eccentric Aunt Jenny. Their accommodation is a hostel above the well-known Shakespeare and Company Bookshop, where writers can stay for free in return for helping in the bookshop. That puts them right across the street from the Notre Dame Cathedral.

It doesn’t take long for them to fall in love with Paris, as they explore all the highlights, and venture further afield to the Palace of Versailles and Monet’s glorious garden in Giverny. But they soon face danger and become drawn into a mystery, and it is always tied in with the places they visit. There’s a bomb threat when they attend the Paris Opera House, and later they see the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. Amanda is determined to solve the mystery surrounding the fire and the strange characters who seem to be involved. She’s never been afraid to face danger, but she’ll need all her courage this time.

This book is the perfect way to introduce young people to Paris, and the mystery and adventure will have them turning the pages right to the end. I love the concept of this series, and will be giving it to my grandchildren when they’re a couple of years older. It would also be excellent for anyone who is learning English and wants to try a very easy-to-read novel.

I give Amanda in Paris a well-deserved 5 stars. Thank you very much to the publishers for an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a charming story of a little Canadian girl,Amanda, who visits Paris with Aunt Jenny and cousin Leah. Throughout their stay they visit many famous landmarks ,both in and out of the city and stay in the famous Shakespeare and Co bookshop. Amanda is intrigued by the elusive Philippe Lawrence and begins to wonder about any connection with young Jerome, who is attracting unwelcome attention.Add in a bomb scare, fire and kidnap and there are the elements of a compelling mystery here.Unfortunately I found too much of the language a little trite with far too many stereotypes.As an ex French teacher I applaud the description of the many landmarks with some historical comment attached to each but this did often create a didactic tone which made the mystery element more superficial than was perhaps intended.
I’m sure younger readers wanting to learn about Paris will enjoy this however.
Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC.

Amanda is back and is in one of my favorite destinations—-Paris! Author Darlene Foster proves, once again, that her Amanda series can reach adults as well as her targeted middle school audience.

In true Amanda style, this book which is ninth in the series, finds her involved in travel and a bit of mystery. I loved reading about all the famous places that have made Paris so interesting to the world for so many years. The Eiffel Tower, Versailles, The Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, the Opera House all had . Important places in the story and with Foster’s skilled writing they came to life on the pages.

Fire in the Cathedral obviously refers to the devastating fire at Notre Dame and Amanda and her friend Leah actually help and are part of the human chain to help relay items out of the burning cathedral.

And before I forget to mention—- the girls are staying at Shakespeare and Company Bookstore while doing some volunteer work under the watchful guidance of Aunt Jenny. What could be better than a bookstore theme?

I love this series and the author does a great job of introducing the right amount of background information without being boring. I always learn a thing or two from each book and I know that middle school students will love the story as well.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for a free copy for my honest review. I honestly loved it!

A fun mystery for middle grade kids and one I will definitely encourage my daughter to read when she’s older. It was fun to explore PARIS and the writing will resonate well with youth!

Thank you Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This series of books set in different countries is a fun and clever way to introduce youngsters to different cultures.

Darlene Foster's entertaining style draws the reader in and keeps their attention throughout. In this latest adventure, Amanda in France, we are treated to the wonders of Paris with mention of many famous places.

Amanda and her friend Leah are staying at Shakespeare and Company Bookstore whilst doing volunteer work there, accompanied by Amanda's aunt. Jenny. The two girls are treated to wonderful sights such as Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, The Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Monet's Garden and unexpected panic at the Opera House! There is a topical focus on the destructive fire at Notre-Dame with Amanda, Jenny, Leah, and Philippe becoming part of the human chain to help.

Amanda becomes embroiled in a mystery… who's behind the fire at Notre-Dame? And who are this gang of youngsters ? And what part do Jerome and Philippe have to play in this mystery?

Great fun for kids and adults too. It whisked me away to Paris for a short while and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A fun easy and enjoyable read, with educational elements. I particularly enjoyed the ending with the advice about terrorism, and bombs. That was a nice touch and wraps up nicely from the earlier discussions in the book about terrorism and the French Revolution. .

Many thanks to Central Avenue Publishing, the author Darlene Foster and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own..

Amanda in France is a new story from the ninth book in the series! Amanda and her friend amde an arrangemenet to work at my dream library to visit aka Shakespeare and Co. Actually it’s my first book i read in the series, but as i walk thru the stories that reveal travelogue, prob i’ll continue to read the rest of the books!!

A fast paced story revealed from the very first page, they get to see every beautiful scene in Paris with Darlene visualize the story as it is the very bestbest wordbuilding! I think the way Darlene explaining what’s going on in Notre Dame was a good retelling to unveil. It’s suit for the middle grade reader out there to entertain and to travel thru the worlds im these books! Thank you for Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the E-arc <3!

Amanda is invited to Paris with her best friend Leah, and Leah’s Aunt Jenny while she does some research. They stay in the famous Shakespeare & Company Bookstore in trade for a few hours of volunteer work (called tumbleweeds), and visit many of the city’s famous sites.

Amanda meets a young man who offers tickets to see a play at the Notre Dame Theatre, but a fire breaks out endangering lives and priceless artifacts. Scared and horrified at the destruction, Amanda, Leah, and Aunt Jenny help the locals by joining a relay line to remove what they can before it burns.

Is the fire caused by arson, or is it accidental? Amanda is drawn into the mystery when a man they met briefly at the bookstore keeps showing up at odd moments, and Leah is drawn to a rough-looking teen with a shadowy past.

The tension rises as the girls step out of the city to visit the golden Versailles Palace and run afoul of a rough group of boys.

This is a fast-paced mystery with plenty of wow moments- I loved it!

I received an ARC of, Amanda in France, by Darlene Foster. Amanda is quite the little traveler. I have read other books about her traveling adventures. It is never a dull day with Amanda. I liked seeing France through Amanda's eyes.

Amanda in France is the 9th book in Darlene Fosters Amanda Series. If you haven’t read any of Darlene Fosters books before, I would recommend grabbing one of the titles in the series. You do not need to read them in a particular order, as they all can be read as a stand -a -lone adventure. Although, after reading one, you might want to work your way through the catalogue!

If you enjoy travelling, adventure and mystery then you will really enjoy this book. Amanda in France is extremely well researched. There are many tourists sites that you will recognise. They are described in such a visual way, that you almost feel that you are there.

Amanda is a very likeable character, and I really enjoyed having this adventure with her. The mysterious plot meant that I wanted to keep on reading, and try and solve the mystery myself. I loved this aspect of the book.

The description of the fire in Notre Dame was very heartfelt and dramatic. I remember watching the fire on the news, and so having a real event turn up in a fiction story was very interesting. There is also a discussion about terrorism which I found very interesting. The topic is discussed very sensitively and provides a great opportunity for further discussion with older children and adults reading the book.

The book is nicely balanced, there is plenty of intrigue and interest in the plot balanced well with descriptions of the places that Amanda, Leah and Aunt Jenny visit.

A great feel good read for cosy evenings. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for this e-arc for my unbiased review.

This is another exciting travel adventure/mystery in the Amanda Travels series. It can be read as a standalone. This time, Amanda travels to one of my favorite countries to visit–France! As always, we are transported to this country and we experience it through Amanda’s eyes. With Amanda, we gaze at the city of Paris from the Eiffel Tower and stay in the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore. We visit The Palace of Versailles. And we watch with devastation as Notre Dame Cathedral begins to burn.

This book takes on tough topics as Amanda searches for clues as to what caused the fire at Notre Dame, and explores these topics with wisdom and tact. There are so many interesting facts about each place in France that Amanda visits, and they are presented in an engaging way that will fascinate readers, young and old alike. The mystery is compelling and engaging. Amanda is easy to connect with. Kids will see her as a friend. Adults will view her as a child, grandchild, or niece, and the bookish of all ages will recognize Amanda as a member of their community.

The descriptions of the famous sites of France paint vivid word pictures. This scene where Amanda approaches the Palace of Versailles entrance definitely transports you there…”In front stood a majestic statue of the Sun King, Louis XIV, on a horse. The huge entrance gate, covered in gold and topped with a golden crown on top of a large smiling sun, opened into an immense cobblestone courtyard. “I can see why they called him the Sun King,” remarked Amanda as she looked up at the grey slate roof covered in gold filigree and more smiling gold suns. Even the balconies and window frames were trimmed in gold.” This book is filled with more “gold” in the form of interesting nuggets of French history throughout.

There is a set of discussion questions at the end of this book which will start great conversations between kids and adults and encourage reading comprehension. Readers of all ages who long to travel to France should take a trip with Amanda. It’s an enjoyable, fact-filled excursion, with a mystery to boot.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Amanda in France is the ninth book in a series for kids but the first that I read. In this title, Amanda, her best friend, Leah, and Leah’s Aunt Jenny travel to Paris and its environs. They have made an arrangement to work at Shakespeare and Co. for a few hours each day in return for a dorm room in which to stay.

It happens that the fire at Notre Dame happens in the course of the story and there is a plot about what might have caused this. There are other strange goings on as well including a rather mysterious gentleman who is omnipresent. What is happening? Amanda wants to know and so will readers.

In addition to telling a story about the characters, this novel serves as a travelogue. Many of the major Parisian sites are visited, everything from the Louvre to Musee d’Orsay, to Notre Dame, the Opera, Versailles and many more well known venues. I enjoyed the armchair travel and now know a good place to go for a sweet snack with a view of Notre Dame and that I want to see the ceiling of Galleries Lafayette on my next trip.

Children who are fascinated by travel or those whose worlds an adult wants to open up, could do well to pick up this title as well as others in the series. Just a few of the other places which Amanda visits are Malta, England and Holland. When I was about ten, I think that I would have adored this series.

Many thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy of Darlene Foster's Amanda in France. What a treat!!!!! Paris is my favorite city in the world and rediscovering it with Amanda was lovely and great fun.

I am a big fan of Darlene Foster's writing. I recently discovered that her not-yet-released, Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral, is currently available on NetGallery. I immediately signed up.

Shortly after requesting an advanced copy of Darlene's book, I received a note from her publisher thanking me for my interest and sharing the review copy process. I was impressed by this welcoming touch. Amanda and I were off to Paris!

I loved revisiting Paris's iconic places and seeing them through Amanda's (and Darlene's) eyes. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Monet's Garden, The Arc de Triomphe, the Palace of Versailles and more were all vividly brought to life.

Being one to habitually slide down reading rabbit holes, I found myself re-researching the title event of the fire of Notre Dame Cathedral. Did investigators ever discover precisely how that fire began? I also learned about Tumbleweeds, book lovers who volunteer and stay short-term in Paris's iconic Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. Woosh! Down another rabbit hole I went. Revered writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Henry Miller, Anaïs Nin, Ray Bradbury, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, Zadie Smith (and umpteen people like you and me) have served as Tumbleweeds in this very store. Thanks to Darlene, I now have a new dream item for the top of my Bucket List.

Part travel story, part mystery, Amanda in France reminds us that not everything (nor everyone) is as it first appears. Points of view take in so many different factors, even amongst family and close friends.

Amanda in France is the 9th book in Darlene Foster's Travel-Adventure series. Although this series primarily targets middle-grade readers, it can be equally enjoyed by readers of any age.

Thank you, NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing and Darlene Foster, for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I eagerly await Amanda's next escapade!

J'adore ce livre!

Precocious 12 year old Amanda is off on another globetrotting adventure, this time to the City of Light. Together with her best friend Leah and Leah's aunt, they will work as "Tumbleweeds", short-term volunteers at Shakespeare & Company, Paris' most iconic bookstore. A top pick for any bibliophile's bucket list!

During their stay, the trio curiously ventures out to see Paris and its environs. While at the Opera House, there is a bomb scare, lights flicker at the Louvre and then, on one fateful evening, a savage fire rips through the Notre Dame cathedral. Locals lock arms to form a human chain to rescue relics and ancient artifacts. People sob. "Ave Maria" is being sung lowly against the crackle of the violent flames.

As the they continue their travels, the girls venture further afield to see the Sun King's stately Versailles Palace, Monet's beloved Giverny, artsy Montmarte, and the hauntingly spectacular Père Lachaise cemetery. At each and every turn, they continue to encounter two very familiar strangers. It's eerily uncanny.

Could these two strangers be tied to the fire and the previous events at The Louvre and The Opera House, or is it just bizarre coincidence? Amanda and her friends are determined to get to the bottom of this.

Part of the Amanda Travels series, I can't wait to see where Amanda and her friends are headed next!

Highly recommended for readers and travel enthusiasts of any age!

As someone who has always had a love for Paris and fell in love with Netflix’s Emily in Paris I’m very excited to dive into this book. A full review will be on my blog in the upcoming weeks. Very excited for this one and also very pleased to know their are other titles in this series.

Amanda explores the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, while being drawn into the mystery surrounding the destructive fire of Notre Dame cathedral.

Amanda is in love! With Paris – the city of love. She’s in awe of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. While there, she gets to work as a volunteer and stay in a famous book store, along with her bestie, Leah, and Leah’s eccentric Aunt Jenny. A dream come true for a book lover like Amanda.

Except, while she’s at the Paris Opera House there is a bomb threat. Then the lights go out during their visit to the Louvre. Worst of all, a devastating fire blazes in Notre Dame. Why does a mysterious man, who claims to be a busker, writer and artist, show up every time something bad happens?

Join Amanda as she explores the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, all the time looking for clues as to who would want to destroy such a beautiful, historic cathedral.