History Darthwiki / MySecretRabbit

* PantyShot: Monica's preference for teeny-tiny sundresses and her tendency to twirl and prance about as she walks often results in these.

* Main/AdorablyPrecociousChild: Andre
* Main/Adorkable: Even shy Claude finds love- with a French prima ballerina.
* Main/AloofBigBrother: Martin was this to Claude, even while both still lived at home.
* Main/AmbiguouslyGay: Etienne Beliveau, though it goes right over Andre's head.
* Main/BeautyMark: Vanessa has one on her left cheek.
* Main/BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Claude (blonde,) Montserrat (redhead,) and Ramir or his son and daughters (brunettes.)
* Main/BrainyBrunette: Sal is an absolute linguistics genius, having produced translations of Horace and Seneca in middle school, while Monica is bookish and knows all there is to know about art and history. Andre is wise beyond his years and picked up music fairly quickly as well.

* Main/BrokenBird: Nothing gets to Vanessa until [[spoiler: Sal abuses the hell out of Andre.]]
* Main/BrotherSisterIncest: Implied between Sal and Vanessa once Monica moves out. They're going to have, ahem, urges, but they barely let anyone else inside their apartment beyond the front curb.
* Main/ChildhoodBrainDamage: Explains why Vanessa is mute.
* Main/ChildProdigy: Vanessa with her singing, Monica with her ballet, Sal with his ancient languages, Andre with his harp. It seems this trope runs in the family, though Montserrat and Ramir never had any special talents revealed, possibly because their childhoods were cut short by [[spoiler: her TeenagePregnancy and their forced marriage.]]
* Main/ChristianityIsCatholic: Not surprising, given that the Duval's are Atlantic Coast Americans of (typically Catholic) French/Swiss/Belgian stock, while the Rovira's have Catalan/Italian/Portuguese lineage and seem to be somewhat adherent despite their residency in an ever-secularizing France.

* Main/{{Curse}}: Madame Entwistle's deathly fear that Igor Stravinsky ballets are jinxed takes its toll upon her dancers.
* Main/CuteMute: Vanessa.
* Main/DaddysGirl: Monica to Ramir, who probably would not be above admitting that she is the favorite of his three children.
* Main/DrivenToSuicide: Nadia turned a shotgun on herself prior to the story and was implied to have suffered from depression. [[spoiler: Claude]] reveals that he made an attempt in high school out of mere despair.
* Main/EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Sal and Vanessa are certainly eerie, but Monica and Ramir, who are identical in complexion, are actually described as pleasant- not frightening at all. Personality may be key here.
* Main/ElegantClassicalMusician: Andre is a male example, reducing even professional musicians to tears with his harp.
* Main/EvilUncle: [[spoiler: Sal,]] oh-so-much. Danielle certainly qualifies as an Evil Aunt.
* Main/TheFifties: Most of the story spans the decade from 1952 onward, but ends in the early sixties. Divorce is unheard of, the Catholic Church still uses Latin, and Claude, TheAllAmericanBoy, grew up in a Maryland CutAndPasteSuburb outside of Washington, DC.
* Main/FosteringForProfit: [[spoiler: Sal and Vanessa, more so the former.]]
* Main/FreudianExcuse: Perhaps Martin's arrogance and Jean-Luc's neglect and workaholism can be attributed to the loss of their mother and wife.
* Main/GayParee: The story's setting, thriving in spite of the recent end of World War II. It's just what Claude needs (in many ways.)
* Main/GranolaGirl: Monica. She is a vegetarian and a pacifist but is not necessarily in-your-face about it.
* Main/GratuitousForeignLanguage: Given the characters' backgrounds (and one's particular talent with linguistics,) featured throughout with various languages: Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French, and of course, Catalan.
* Main/HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Claude and his late mother, Nadia have golden-blonde hair and are depicted as very kind.
* Main/HappilyAdopted: [[spoiler: Andre by Etienne]] in the end.
* Main/HappilyMarried: Claude and Monica.
* Main/HeartwarmingOrphan: Nobody can resist little Andre.
* Main/HenpeckedHusband: It's suggested that Martin eventually became one of these.
* Main/InnocentFlowerGirl: Nadia and Monica, both fans of gardening, [[spoiler: both of whom meet a TearJerker demise.]]
* Main/InnocentProdigy: The Rovira siblings initially come off as sweet and modest, particularly Monica, who later trains Andre to keep a sense of humility with regards to his musical talent. And then he [[spoiler: is exploited by ex-innocent prodigy Sal for just that.]]
* Main/IWantGrandkids: Montserrat and Ramir seem to be more excited about Claude and Monica's new arrival than the parents themselves. And just another reason why they're just a little disappointed with Sal and Vanessa's ways.
* Main/JerkassWithAHeartOfGold: Martin can be a bully to Claude, but deeply cares about him and later comes to admit his many mistakes.
* Main/JustAKid: Even though he's a musical genius who happens to be wise beyond his seven years and prefers to socialize with adults rather than other children, Andre still carries around a stuffed toy, stumbles over big words, feels lost without his parents, believes in Father Christmas, and can't wait to grow up.
* Main/ManicPixieDreamGirl: Spunky Monica is this to melancholic Claude. Nadia may have been this to uptight, bookish Jean-Luc as well.
* Main/NiceGuy: Claude is nothing but sweet and thoughtful, even to those who probably don't deserve it. He even used to nurse Danielle whenever she got drunk.
* Main/MissingMom: Martin and Claude were in elementary school when Nadia died, but both struggle and react to her loss in different ways.
* Main/OrphansOrdeal: [[spoiler: Andre. Poor, poor Andre.]]
* Main/PantyShot: Monica's preference for teeny-tiny sundresses and her tendency to twirl and prance about as she walks often results in these.
* Main/ParentalAbandonment: [[spoiler: Andre, following the loss of his parents.]] He spends the rest of the story bouncing from home-to-home (and boarding school), resulting in a heartbreaking IJustWantToBeLoved crisis.
* Main/PolarOppositeTwins: Danielle is callous, superficial, and greedy, but Nadia was described as kind, sporty, intelligent, sophisticated, and took pleasures in the simple things in life, such as nature and gardening.
* Main/PluckyGirl: Monica and Nadia. Claude seems to be attracted to this type.
* Main/RavenHairIvorySkin: All three of the Rovira siblings, as well as Ramir and Andre.
* Main/RichBitch: Martin's wife Gwen, the daughter of a DC-area politician, is extremely rude, even to her husband. She went as far as turning down his late mother's heirloom engagement ring when he proposed to her because it looked too timeworn.
* Main/SharpDressedMan: Even a teenage Sal prefers suits and high-end cigarettes. Ramir has his prized pocket watch. Andre will likely become one.
* Main/SpiritedYoungLady: Despite her background as a graceful ballerina, Monica is feisty, a bit pushy, and incredibly sharp. And although she does try to be polite, her table manners are appalling.
* Main/StepfordSmiler: [[spoiler: Martin,]] possibly a Type A. Coupled with an InferioritySuperiorityComplex, no less.
* Main/SurprisePregnancy: Nearly ended Monica's ballet career, but Madeleine saved the day.
* Main/TallDarkAndHandsome: Ramir.
* Main/TherapyIsForTheWeak: Martin felt he was too cool, Claude feared further advancing his image as a "depressed freak."
* Main/TinyTyrannicalGirl: Gwen is noted for her petite build- and even more for her violent tendencies.
* Main/TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Down-to-earth Madeleine is the tomboy to whimsical Monica's girly-girl. Danielle and her plucky twin, Nadia, may have been so as children.
* Main/TraumaCongaLine: Claude and Andre.
* Main/WhiteAngloSaxonProtestant: Subverted with the van der Pols, who are rich, white, Atlantic Coast residents but are neither Anglo-Saxon nor Protestant.
* Main/WickedStepmother: Danielle, also doubles (and originates) as an evil aunt (see above.)
* Main/WouldHurtAChild: Sal, in the worst sense. He comes close to killing Andre on a few occasions.
* Main/YouthfulFreckles: OutdoorsyGal Nadia had them. Madeleine has them as well, likely due to her very fair complexion.

* Main/DaddysGirl: SpoiledSweet Monica is this to Ramir, who probably would not be above admitting that she is the favorite of his three children.

* Main/GreenEyes: Claude, Nadia, and Danielle are known for their bright, peridot-green peepers. May represent new life in the first two, but envy in the last one.

* Main/Curse: Madame Entwistle's deathly fear that Igor Stravinsky ballets are jinxed takes its toll upon her dancers.

* Main/TallDarkandHandsome: Ramir.

* Main/WouldHurtAChild: Sal, in the worst sense. He comes close to killing Andre on a few occasions.

* Main/BrilliantButLazy: Sal. He even turned down an offer to graduate school at age fifteen.

* Main/GranolaGirl: Monica is a vegetarian but is not necessarily in-your-face about it.

* Main/HenpeckedHusband: It's suggested that Martin eventually becomes one of these.

* Main/TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Down-to-earth Madeleine is the tomboy to whimsical Monica's girly-girl. Danielle and her plucky twin, Nadia may have been so as children.

* Main/EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Sal and Vanessa are certainly eerie, but Monica and Ramir, who are identical in complexion, are actually described as pleasant. Personality may be key here.

* Main/EvilUncle: [[spoiler: Sal,]] oh-so-much. Danielle certainly qualifies as a female version.

* Main/FreudianExcuse: Perhaps Martin's arrogance and Jean-Luc's neglect and workahol-ism can be attributed to the loss of their mother and wife.

* Main/GreenEyes: Claude, Nadia, and Danielle are known for their bright, peridot-green peepers. May represent life in the first two, but envy in the last one.
* Main/HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Claude and his late mother, Nadia.

* Main/Nice Guy: Claude is nothing but sweet and thoughtful, even to those who probably don't deserve it. He even used to nurse Danielle whenever she got drunk.

* Main: CuteMute: Vanessa.

* Main/WickedStepmother: Danielle, also doubles (and originates) as an evil aunt (see above.)

* Main/ChildProdigy: Vanessa with her singing, Monica with her ballet, Sal with his ancient languages, Andre with his harp. It seems this trope runs in the family, though Montserrat and Ramir never had any special talents revealed, possibly because their childhoods were cut short by [[spoiler: her teenage pregnancy and their forced marriage.]]

* Main/RichBitch: Martin's wife Gwen, the daughter of a DC-area politician, is extremely rude, even to her husband. She went as far as turning down his late mother's heirloom engagement ring when he proposed to her.
* Main/StepfordSmiler: [[spoiler: Martin,]] possibly a Type A.

* Main/EvilUncle: Sal, oh-so-much.

* Main/FreudianExcuse: Perhaps Martin's perfectionism and Jean-Luc's workahol-ism can be attributed to the loss of their mother and wife.

* Main/OrphansOrdeal: Andre.

* Main/TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Down-to-earth Madeleine is the tomboy to whimsical Monica's girly-girl. Danielle and her plucky twin, Nadia.

* Main@/BrilliantButLazy: Sal
* Main@/HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Claude and his late mother, Nadia.
* Main@/RavenHairIvorySkin: All three of the Rovira siblings, as well as Ramir and Andre

* @/BrilliantButLazy: Sal
* @/HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Claude and his late mother, Nadia.
* @/RavenHairIvorySkin: All three of the Rovira siblings, as well as Ramir and Andre

* @/Main/BrilliantButLazy: Sal
* @/Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Claude and his late mother, Nadia.
* @/Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: All three of the Rovira siblings, as well as Ramir and Andre

* @/BrilliantButLazy: Sal

* Brilliant But Lazy: Sal
* Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Claude and his late mother, Nadia.
* Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: All three of the Rovira siblings, as well as Ramir and Andre

In the early 1950's, Claude Duval is preparing to graduate high school, go on to college- basically what any other fellow his age would do. Claude, however, is extremely timid, depressed, unmotivated, and is still struggling to overcome the death of his mother, Nadia, who committed suicide when Claude and his brother, Martin, were in elementary school. Martin is a perfectionist Stepford-smiler, while their father, Jean-Luc, is a neglectful workaholic and their step-mother/aunt Danielle is an arrogant, materialistic socialite intent on recreating her family's powerful image in the United States. On a whim, Claude decides to spend the summer before he leaves for school in Paris to study French, only to find his host family is an eccentric trio of teen prodigies- with no parents or guardians in sight. There's lazy ancients scholar Sal, beautiful and sweet prima ballerina Monica, and tragic eldest sister Vanessa, a former opera diva-wannabe who was left mute by an accident. Claude underestimates the hilarity that will ensue, in addition to the culture shock and ultimately, acceptance that the new family will bring.