Families who loved Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles by Kathryn Lasky often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition, like moving to a new city or starting a daunting new school year, and feels the crushing weight of others' expectations. It provides a safe space to explore the anxiety of leaving the familiar behind for an uncertain future. Through the intimate diary format, young readers follow Antonia, the future Marie Antoinette, as she navigates the transition from a playful Austrian archduchess to the poised Dauphine of France. The story focuses on her internal struggle to maintain her identity while conforming to rigid social protocols. It is a gentle yet poignant look at growing up too fast, the loneliness of being the 'new person,' and the courage required to say goodbye to one's childhood home. While historical in setting, the emotional core is deeply relatable for any pre-teen grappling with a changing sense of self.
