Marie-Grace Gardner

"Marie-Grace" redirects here. For the doll, see Marie-Grace Gardner (doll).

This article is about the Historical Character. For the similarly-named 2015 Girl of the Year character, see Grace Thomas.

Marie-Grace Gardner was the twelfth Historical Character, representing 1850s New Orleans. Marie-Grace was released in 2011 along with Cécile Rey.

In May 2014 American Girl announced that they would archive Marie-Grace's entire collection; she, Cécile Rey, and their collections were archived prior to the BeForever relaunch. Their books remain available for purchase.

Personality and Facts

Marie-Grace was born in New Orleans, but left after her mother and younger brother's deaths. She was brave as a young child, as told in backstory. However, years of moving and not having a stable home has changed her. She is now quite shy. She feels out of place after many moves on the East coast, as her father couldn't find the right place for them in the Northeast. Marie-Grace can be apprehensive, and at first she found it hard to stand up for herself. Later on, encouraged by her friend Cecile, she becomes more confident in herself.

Marie-Grace was described as more of a loner than Cecile in the personality quiz on American Girl.com, and considers one of her best friends to be her loyal dog, Argos. Argos usually follows Marie-Grace around everywhere.

She takes music lessons with Cecile and enjoys singing. She also enjoys parades.

Marie-Grace is not as good at French as she once was, but shopping for the household alone have made her excellent in mathematics.

Marie-Grace is characterized as shy but caring, and is very good with babies and children. Marie-Grace often helps her father who is a doctor, and has shown herself to be very good at healing others.

From Cecile's observations, Marie-Grace hides an adventurous spirit behind a shy demeanor, similar to Cecile's own spirit.

She is more practical and sensible than Cecile is.

Her nickname, Ti-Marie, was a pet name only her mother and Luc Rousseau used with her. "Ti" is a diminutive of "petite", thus translating to "Little Marie." Her father often calls her Grace.

Family and Friends

Family

Thaddeus Gardner: Father
Mama Gardner: Late mother
Daniel Gardner: Late younger brother
Luc Rousseau: Uncle
Océane Rousseau: Aunt

Friends and Other Characters

Cécile Rey: Marie-Grace's best friend
Mrs. Curtis: The Gardners' housekeeper
Lavinia Halsworth: Marie-Grace's bossy classmate

Books

See: List of Marie-Grace and Cécile's Books

Doll

Main Article: Marie-Grace Gardner (doll)

Face Mold: Marie-Grace Mold
Skin: Light
Hair: Light brown
Eyes: Light blue

Collection

See: Marie-Grace's Collection

Trivia

Marie-Grace is the first Historical Character to share her collection with another Historical Character, Cécile Rey, including the book series.
Prior to Marie-Grace's reveal, she was referred under the code name "Sarah" for her author, Sarah Masters Buckey.
With the archival of her collection in 2014, she and Cécile Rey had the shortest availability of any Historical character at approximately three years; the only other character with such short availability was Caroline Abbott.

References

↑ Meet Marie-Grace, pg. 18: [...] Uncle Luc said, "Mademoiselle Océane, I would like to introduce my niece, Marie-Grace Rousseau Gardner."
↑ Meet Marie-Grace, pg. 83: "Hello, Grace," [Dr. Gardner] greeted [Marie-Grace].
↑ Marie-Grace Makes a Difference, pg. 3: "Look at me, Marie-the-Great," [Katy] cried, calling Marie-Grace by the nickname that many of the orphans thought was her real name.
↑ American Girl, see Cécile's discussion page.
↑ Both Meet Cécile and Meet Marie-Grace are set in January 1853.
↑ The Cameo Necklace starts in November 1854.

American Girl Historical Characters
1760s Kaya'aton'my ♦	1770s Felicity Merriman ♦ ★	1810s Caroline Abbott ♦ ★	1820s Josefina Montoya ♦
1850s Cécile Rey ★ and Marie-Grace Gardner ★	1850s Kirsten Larson ★	1860s Addy Walker ♦	1900s Samantha Parkington ♦
1910s Rebecca Rubin ♦	1920s Claudie Wells	1930s Kit Kittredge ♦	1940s Nanea Mitchell ♦
1940s Molly McIntire ♦	1950s Maryellen Larkin ♦	1960s Melody Ellison ♦	1970s Julie Albright ♦
1980s Courtney Moore	2000s Nicki Hoffman and Isabel Hoffman
★ Archived / ♦ Part of the BeForever Collection

[1] Meet Marie-Grace, pg. 18: [...] Uncle Luc said, "Mademoiselle Océane, I would like to introduce my niece, Marie-Grace Rousseau Gardner."

[2] Meet Marie-Grace, pg. 83: "Hello, Grace," [Dr. Gardner] greeted [Marie-Grace].

[3] Marie-Grace Makes a Difference, pg. 3: "Look at me, Marie-the-Great," [Katy] cried, calling Marie-Grace by the nickname that many of the orphans thought was her real name.

[4] American Girl, see Cécile's discussion page.

[5] Both Meet Cécile and Meet Marie-Grace are set in January 1853.

[6] The Cameo Necklace starts in November 1854.

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