First published 2006
Jackie Bouvier steps off the ocean liner in Europe with her younger sister Lee, ready to show her the continent that captivated her during her Sorbonne year. The twenty-two-year-old guides eighteen-year-old Lee through a whirlwind summer of Parisian salons with counts and ambassadors, art instruction in Venice, and afternoon social calls requiring white gloves. As they navigate the sophisticated European social scene, both sisters face the universal challenges of young womanhood. Jackie watches Lee struggle with oversized hors d'oeuvres at elegant parties, suffer the mortification of slipping undergarments, and learn to deflect persistent suitors. Through sketches and diary entries, they capture each moment of their grand tour, creating a visual record of their travels. The sisters bond over shared mishaps and discoveries, turning their European summer into a treasure they can preserve forever. Their illustrated chronicle becomes both a gift for their parents and a testament to the transformative power of sisterhood and adventure.
Genres: family, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, coming-of-age, biographical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, sisters
Setting: Europe, Paris, Venice
Period: 1950s
72 pages · Hardcover · Rizzoli