Kathryn's Reviews > The Sound of Applause: A Rebecca Classic Volume 1

Being the avid doll collector that I am, I decided recently to wade into the world of American Girl's historical line. The dolls are beautiful, and each one comes with a book featuring three stories about her, her family and friends and her time period. I'm not big on historical fiction unless it also falls into the category of mystery. I am also well beyond the age group that these stories are intended for. But I already owned it anyway, so I figured I may as well read it. I had fun.

Rebecca Rubin is an engaging character. She's fun-loving, shrewd and oh-so-theatrical. Unlike some other characters that I have read (*cough*Flavia de Luce*cough*) Rebecca is a believable child and not a grown woman crammed into a child's body. We get to see her childish problems set against a backdrop ridden with uncertainty and calamity. It's surprisingly interesting.

I won't be buying any of the other books in the series. Again, I only read it because it came with the doll. But as far as children's historical fiction goes, this book is not half bad.