WANNA GET EVEN MORE
FLUENT in FRENCH?
"These books prove to masterfully stimulate the language-learning part of my brain AND allow me to enjoy doing it!"
-Cali Assaf
The Novice Mid "SORCIÈRES" Trilogy
WHEN ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS GET WORD THAT THEIR BEST FRIEND LUCÍA IS MOVING,
THEY MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER.
WHAT BEGINS AS AN INNOCENT TRIP SOON BECOMES A DANGEROUS QUEST,
AS THE NINE-YEAR-OLDS REALIZE THAT THE HOLY SPANISH INQUISITION MIGHT NOT BE SO HOLY AFTER ALL.
ALL BOOKS in the ENTIRE SERIES are fully illustrated, have comprehensive glossaries and are suitable for middle school, high school and adult learners.
Unique Word Counts: ~320 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~3,000 words per book
NOTE: Antonia, the main character, often chooses to refer to "us" as "nosotras" (in Spanish) when females are in equal or greater amount in a group.
When referring to multiple others, she often uses "ellas" (Spanish) or "elles" (French), when females are in equal or greater amount in the group being described.
The Novice High "CAMAQUEN" Trilogy
ALL IS WELL AT L'ÉCOLE DON QUICHOTTE DE LA MANCHA, WHERE ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS HAVE STUDIED SINCE THEY WERE SEVEN.
THAT IS, UNTIL BLASCO BREAKS THE RULES AND TOUCHES A HUACA, ONE OF THE SACRED INCAN OBJECTS THAT DON QUIXOTE SAFEGUARDS.
BUT HUACAS HAVE CAMAQUEN—LIFE ENERGY—AND STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN ONE TOUCHES THEM.
UH-OH. TO SOLVE BLASCO’S LITTLE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THEY MUST GO TO PERU, AND GET THERE IN TIME FOR THE INTI RAYMI, THE INCAN FESTIVAL TO THE SUN GOD.
Unique Word Counts: ~400 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~4500 words per book
The Intermediate Low "PACTES" Trilogy
ANOTHER GREAT DAY IAT L'ÉCOLE DON QUICHOTTE DE LA MANCHA, WHERE THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS HAVE STUDIED SINCE THEY WERE SEVEN. THAT IS, UNTIL A YELLOW-EYED WOMAN DELIVERS A LETTER FROM THE DUCHESS OF ALBA. SHE INVITES THEM TO THE INAUGURATION OF A MUSEUM AT HER PALACE, AND “ASKS” DON QUIXOTE TO “DONATE” ALL THE SACRED INCAN OBJECTS THEY SAFEGUARD TO HER VENTURE. THAT HURTS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY SAFEGUARD A PAINTING THAT HOLDS THE LAST HOPE FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE INCAN EMPIRE.
IN 1571 TÚPAC AMARU BECAME THE LAST INCA OF VILCABAMBA, GOT A PORTRAIT OF HIMSELF PAINTED AND MADE A PACT WITH THEIR SUN GOD, INTI, VIA A GOLDEN DISC MADE IN HIS IMAGE.
IF A PERSON IN THE FUTURE CAME ALONG WORTHY OF RESTORING THE EMPIRE, THEY COULD UNLOCK THE SPELL INTI PUT ON THE PAINTING, BECOME YOUNGER, AND SPEARHEAD THE RESTORATION. BUT THE SPELL OF YOUTH CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED IN THE PRESENCE OF BOTH THE PAINTING AND THE DISC, WHICH WAS STOLEN RIGHT AFTER THE PACT AND HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN AGAIN.
IT’S 1597 NOW, AND OFF THEY GO TO THE PALACE. WHAT AWAITS THEM? THEY FEEL HOPE WHEN THEY MEET A POTENTIAL CONTENDER FOR THE INCAN EMPIRE RESTORATION, BUT DREAD TAKES OVER AS THEY UNCOVER THE DUCHESS’ OWN BLOOD-CURDLING PACT THAT COULD GET THEM ALL KILLED AND RUIN THE INCAS’ ONLY CHANCE. WILL MAGIC BE ENOUGH TO SAVE THEM AND HELP RESTORE THE INCAN EMPIRE? WHAT ABOUT TRICKERY? HOW ABOUT A PROPHECY?
Unique Word Counts: ~550 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~8500 words per book
The Intermediate Mid "MEURTRIÈRES" Trilogy
LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL AT L'ÉCOLE DON QUICHOTTE DE LA MANCHA, WHERE FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS HAVE STUDIED SINCE THEY WERE SEVEN. OH NO! DON QUIXOTE GIVES THEM A CLEAR CHOICE: THEY CAN KEEP LEARNING IN HIS LIVING ROOM, OR THEY CAN TRAVEL.
IT’S THE HARSH WINTER OF 1599, AND LUCÍA ISN’T KEEN ON FREEZING, BLASCO RAN AWAY FROM HOME TWO YEARS AGO, SO THEIR QUARTET IS RUINED, AND THEY KNOW THAT TRAVELLING WITH DON QUIXOTE EQUALS TROUBLE EVERY TIME. SO, THE CHOICE IS CLEAR.
FIRST STOP: TOLEDO. SANSÓN’S PENCHANT FOR ART IS ABOUT TO GET SATISFIED! OFF THEY GALLOP TO AN EXHIBITION FEATURING THREE PAINTERS WHO AREN’T SPANISH YET HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE COUNTRY. THEY’RE EAGER TO SEE PAINTINGS BY EL GRECO, SOFONISBA ANGUISSOLA AND LAVINIA FONTANA, BUT NO SOONER DO THEY ARRIVE THAN PEOPLE START DROPPING LIKE WOUNDED BULLFIGHTERS.
THEY COULD MOVE ON TO ITALY TO QUENCH LUCÍA’S THIRST FOR SCIENCE—OR ENGLAND, SO ANTONIA CAN GET HER LITERATURE FIX—BUT THIS BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE AS THEY MAKE AN UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIP THAT BOTH COMPLETES THEIR QUARTET AGAIN AND PUTS THEM ALL IN MORTAL DANGER.
TO TOP IT OFF, THEY REALIZE A LEGEND ASSOCIATED TO ONE OF EL GRECO’S PAINTINGS IS PUTTING QUIXOTE AT FATAL RISK—NOW THEY REALLY MUST SOLVE THE CASE. WHAT STARTED OUT AS THEIR LAST SCHOOL TRIP SOON BECOMES A LETHAL MASQUERADE INVOLVING ROYALTY, THE POPE, DISTINCTIVE GENETICS, LOVE AND BETRAYAL, MAKING THEM QUESTION JUST WHAT EXACTLY IS ON EXHIBITION, AND WHETHER ANY NUMBER OF MASKS CAN HIDE ONE’S GREATEST FEARS.
Genre: Murder Mystery, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction
Unique Word Counts: ~700 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~17,300 words per book
