Meet Cécile

Meet Cécile
The cover of Meet Cécile.
Published	2011
Author	Denise Lewis Patrick
Illustrator	Christine Kornacki
ISBN	1593696612
Setting	January - May 21, 1853
Previous in Series	Meet Marie-Grace
Next in Series	Marie-Grace and the Orphans

Meet Cécile: An American Girl is the second book in the Marie-Grace and Cécile series. It was included with the Cécile doll when purchased; with the collection's archival, it could be purchased separately.

Characters

• Cécile Rey
• Marie-Grace Gardner
• Océane Michel
• Luc Rousseau
• Lavinia Halsworth

Introduced

• Armand Rey
• Aurélia Rey
• Simon Rey
• Jean-Claude Rey
• Octavia Tay
• René Tay
• Ellen
• Agnès Metoyer
• Fanny Metoyer
• Monette Bruiller

Only in Meet Cécile

• Madame Zulime

Chapter by Chapter Summary

Looking Back: New Orleans in 1853

Discusses the history of free people of color in New Orleans. Topics covered:

• New Orleans in the 1850s and how it differed from other cities in America
• Educated slaves and free people of color who owned businesses
• Daily life, education, and expectations of children from wealthy families
• French and Spanish laws that allowed slaves to earn money and buy their own freedom when Louisiana was under European rule
• How gens de couleur libres from both America and Saint-Domingue influenced New Orleans culture
• Prejudice faced by gens de couleur libres of New Orleans from Américains following the Louisiana Purchase, due to cultural and religious differences
• Laws enacted by the American government to limit the rights of gens de couleur libres in New Orleans
• How European immigration changed New Orleans, such as the use of the English language at schools, businesses, and government
• The role gens de couleur libres played in the development and culture of New Orleans
• Segregated areas for white people and gens de couleur libres at entertainment venues such as concerts and balls
• The unique identity among New Orleans' gens de couleur libres, working together to help the less fortunate and pressing for greater equality in government, despite being forbidden to vote

Glossary of French Words/Preview

A glossary of the French words Cécile's family uses and a preview of Marie-Grace and the Orphans.

Items associated with Meet Cécile

• Cécile Rey
• Cécile's Accessories
• Marie-Grace Gardner (doll)
• Cécile's Parlor Outfit
• Fancy Dress
• Fairy Costume Accessories

See Also

• Meet Marie-Grace

Trivia

Promotional video still of the Fancy Dress and Fairy Costume Accessories.

• Although the Fancy Dress and the Fairy Costume Accessories are associated with the book, there are no illustrations showing either outfit or accessory set in the book. The ensemble can be seen in a promotional video.