Vive La Paris

Written by Esmé Raji Codell

Narrated by Tichina Arnold

Paris has just come for piano lessons, not chopped-liver sandwiches or French lessons or free advice. But when old Mrs. Rosen gives her a little bit more than she can handle, it might be just what Paris needs in order to understand the bully in her brother’s life . . . and the bullies of the world.  

This companion novel to the award-winning Sahara Special is an affecting look at what it means to be your brother’s keeper, and at how we hold on to hope when the world is more than we can handle. (Rose-colored glasses optional.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Mar 11, 2008
• ISBN: 9780739364284

Reviews for Vive La Paris

[robertalea-223265 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very good companion to "Sahara Special" I loved the characters in this book.

[chazzifrazz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Looking for a little light reading and picked this off my shelf. I read it in one sitting. Not because it was a kids' book of only 210 pages, but because of the characters and the story.

Paris McCray, a fifth-grade African-American living in Chicago and the youngest of five. Her brothers are Louis, Django, Debergerac and Michael. All are named for people in the music world. Paris is named for the City of Lights. All the children are expected to learn an instrument. You see, Daddy is a drummer who does studio sit-ins and night gigs.

Paris has been sent to Mrs. Rosen's for piano lessons. She was taking them at church, but the church burnt down and now Mrs. Rosen was to be her teacher. Michael is to walk to and from the lessons and sit and wait for her. Possibly he would pick a little music education up?

What the children picked up wasn't just music. Mrs. Rosen introduced them to French, to jazz tunes of the 30s and 40s, to chopped liver sandwiches, to the history of the 30s and 40s and to the importance of family and caring about family and others and to dealing with bullies.

This may have been 'light' reading, but it contained some deep thoughts. Good for kids to read, but also very good for adults. Makes you stop and think about people, history -past and current - and the importance of caring.

[sabdelaz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This audio CD is good in that a girl named Paris is not just learning piano lessons. She learns a different language, wisdom, and gets to eat different types of food. The Audio Cd is a creative way of learning about Paris. I would recommend keeping it in my future classroom as a different means to enjoy a good story.

[dms02 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was such a good read - it spun together better then I imagined and has such a nice message to tell.

[adriennewood · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Paris is a young girl that plays the piano. Her parents set her up with a teacher that she sees as a whacky old lady. She learns so much more from her piano teacher than she bargained for. Paris's eyes are opened to a whole new level of humanity as she takes a thorough look at the Holocaust. It helps her to better understand her brother's bully and teaches her, on some level, to be a better person.

[jeannez_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a wonderful sequel to Sahara Special. The author used to be a teacher in Chicago writes about fifth grade girls and how they cope with the
trials that come with growing up. A beautiful, touching book.