Shakespeare's Secret

Book Description

Hero changed into a T-shirt, grabbed a book, and padded barefoot into her sister's room. The large windows overlooked the backyard. She could see the moonlight streaming over the trees and bushes, making long, crazy shadows across the grass. Was there a diamond hidden out there somewhere? She looked at Beatrice, already settled under the covers. She wanted to tell her about the Murphys, but at the same time, she didn't. She wanted to keep the secret. To have something that belonged only to her.A missing diamond, a mysterious neighbor, a link to Shakespeare-can Hero uncover the connections?When Hero starts sixth grade at a new school, she's less concerned about the literary origins of her Shakespearean name than about the teasing she's sure to suffer because of it. So she has the same name as a girl in a book by a dusty old author. Hero is simply not interested in the connections. But that's just the thing; suddenly connections are cropping up all over, and odd characters and uncertain pasts are exactly what do fascinate Hero. There's a mysterious diamond hidden in her new house, a curious woman next door who seems to know an awful lot about it, and then, well, then there's Shakespeare. Not to mention Danny Cordova, only the most popular boy in school. Is it all in keeping with her namesake's origin-just much ado about nothing? Hero, being Hero, is determined to figure it out. In this fast-paced novel, Elise Broach weaves an intriguing literary mystery full of historical insights and discoveries.A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

Customer Reviews:

I loved this book!!.......2007-08-31

Hero is just like me. She deals with teasing and even has a little bit of a crush going on. I love the fact that Danny and Hero team up together to find the diamond hidden somwhere in Hero's house.
People should read this book because it grabs your attention. If you like mystery, read this! If you like action, read this! If you like romance, read this!

Is this a new detective series?.......2007-06-04

I thought this book was a great read, I think Hero is a lot like the "Sammy Keys" mysteries, I'd like to see more of Hero mysteries because our family loves Hero Netherfield.
Enjoy

Misfit and mystery.......2007-05-07

Hero has a difficult life. Her family keeps moving from one town to the other, and she finds it hard to keep making new friends, unlike her older sister, Beatrice, who seems to fit in instantly wherever she goes. It doesn't help that her father, a noted Shakespearian scholar, has gotten them both named after characters from "Much Ado About Nothing." Of course, her older sister gets a halfway sensible name, while she gets a name that, she finds this time, is the same as one of her classmate's dog.

Things get a little better, though. The elderly woman next door has some interesting tales to tell, most notably about a million-dollar diamond that may still be hidden in the house that Hero's family has just moved into. And somehow Hero befriends Danny Cordova, the most popular guy at school. To top it all off, somehow everything ties into Shakespeare.

Broach is at her best with the characters, who are very believable. We certainly can sympathize with Hero (well, I certainly can) and her woes at school. The plot, while interesting, relies on a couple of unlikely twists. And the setting, ostensibly in my neck of the words, is fairly generic suburbia. But perhaps that's just as well. It's a very comfortable read and while not outstanding, I definitely enjoyed it.

Book well written, good ideas, but Cheezy.......2007-03-22

This book was a really good read, and I liked it alot. It was fast moving, and would be a good bedtime story. I really liked how well this book was written, and I also liked the general ideas of the story. On the other hand, it was really cheezy, in that you could tell a paragraph ahead what the next character was going to say, as well as the book was a bit too predictable

A awesome Book!!!!!!!.......2007-02-11

I just finished this book! It was the bomb!! I checked it out from my school library one day and finished it the next. Then i decided to buy 3 copies of the book here on amazon. And i read it over and over again. If could i would give it 100000000000 stars!!! BUY THIS BOOK!~!~

Average customer rating:

She did it again
The first of many more!
Fantastic Follow-up to Six Wives
Super
slightly disappointing

The Children of Henry VIII
Alison Weir
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345407865
Release Date: 1997-07-08

Amazon.com

The royal family may have its problems these days, but as Alison Weir reminds us in this cohesive and impeccably researched book, the nobility of old England could be both loveless and ruthless. Weir, an expert in the period and author of a book on Henry's VIII wives, focuses on the children of Henry VIII who reigned successively after his death in 1547: Edward VI, Mary I ("Bloody Mary") and Elizabeth I. The three shared little--living in separate homes--except for a familial legacy of blood and terror. This is exciting history and fascinating reading about a family of mythic proportions.

Book Description

"Fascinating . . . Alison Weir does full justice to the subject."
--The Philadelphia Inquirer

At his death in 1547, King Henry VIII left four heirs to the English throne: his only son, the nine-year-old Prince Edward; the Lady Mary, the adult daughter of his first wife Katherine of Aragon; the Lady Elizabeth, the teenage daughter of his second wife Anne Boleyn; and his young great-niece, the Lady Jane Grey. In this riveting account Alison Weir paints a unique portrait of these extraordinary rulers, examining their intricate relationships to each other and to history. She traces the tumult that followed Henry's death, from the brief intrigue-filled reigns of the boy king Edward VI and the fragile Lady Jane Grey, to the savagery of "Bloody Mary," and finally the accession of the politically adroit Elizabeth I.

As always, Weir offers a fresh perspective on a period that has spawned many of the most enduring myths in English history, combining the best of the historian's and the biographer's art.

"Like anthropology, history and biography can demonstrate unfamiliar ways of feeling and being. Alison Weir's sympathetic collective biography, The Children of Henry VIII does just that, reminding us that human nature has changed--and for the better. . . . Weir imparts movement and coherence while re-creating the suspense her characters endured and the suffering they inflicted."
--The New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

She did it again.......2007-04-11

As usual Alison Weir has written a great non-fiction. The research that she does makes her my number one author.

The first of many more!.......2007-01-18

This was my first voluntary non fiction historical read. I am impressed! This story was very easy reading. I don't think I really had any idea what was going on back then, the English "subjects" must have been completely at a loss as to what religion to practice. I was disappointed that the book didn't go more into Elizabeth's reign but I now understand that there is another book out there ready to explain it. The only advice I could offer someone who is about to read it is: keep up with people's names/titles. As they are given (and taken away) titles they are from then on referred to as their new title. If you miss the transition or don't make a metal note, you get lost as to who the author is talking about.

I think my biggest shock was when Mary took over, after complaining and moaning about being able to practice her own religion (Catholic), and how she shouldn't have to give up her beliefs...moan...moan...moan (she did a lot of that). She takes over and forces her own religion onto everyone else, I had no idea "Bloody Mary" was a real name, I just thought it was something you scared the crap out of your friend with in the girls bathroom back in middle school. I just dated myself didn't I?

Final thought: I enjoy fiction for the most part, I actually recommended this book to friends.

Fantastic Follow-up to Six Wives .......2007-01-02

Alison Weir has done it again. I love historical fiction, including such as The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, and wanted to expand my reading to nonfiction. I started with Weir's Six Wives of King Henry VIII and was not at all disappointed! I just finished Children of Henry VIII and could not be happier with it. (though it is misleading to think that she discusses Elizabeth's actual reign because she does not) By this did not prevent me from giving it a well deserved 5 stars. She made historical nonfiction exciting! I am now looking for more of her books. She is fair, unbaised, and I truly appreciated how she would present ideas and clearly state what evidence did or did not support certain perspectives. I learned much and am thrilled to add it to my library.

Super.......2006-11-04

Very well written, quite engaging. Alison Weir makes the Tudor family and their problems come alive. Great for anyone who enjoys history.

slightly disappointing.......2006-09-24

In her forward, Ms. Weir states that this novel would be the first to look into the personal lives of the heirs of Henry the Eight and their relationships to one another.....well if that was PERSONAL then the heirs of Henry the Eighth must have known each other only as competition to the throne rather than siblings in the vaguest sense. I was disappointed by the book. While it was factually accurate it failed to hold my attention or provide me with a passionate look inside the lives of the characters. I suggest picking it up on a bargain table or borrowing it from a friend.

Average customer rating:

A Book for aficionados of the Tudor period
Interesting topic, but the writing didn't grab me
The Lost Son
Passably Competent Account of a Little Known Bastard
The man who was allmost Henry The Ninth of England

Bastard Prince: Henry VIII's Lost Son
Beverley Murphy
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0750926848

Book Description

The first book to examine the life of Henry Fitzroy, the only illegitimate child ever publicly acknowledged by Henry VIII.

Customer Reviews:

A Book for aficionados of the Tudor period.......2006-07-08

Dying at the age of 18, Henry Fitzroy is, in the end, a person of little or no historical significance. There was the potential that he could have become historically significant, but he didn't; this may make him a little interest to general history readers. On the other hand, as the king's acknowledged son, there is also considerable documentation about his life, and it did intersect with some of the flashpoints of history. For the reader interested in the period, his story fleshes out the life and upbringing of a high-ranking male. Murphy also checks upon some of the minor, disputed details of the question of the succession.

What is very interesting about biographies like this is that they bring out the details of the period better than biographies of the famous. The latter are so filled with political and social events that very often the subject isn't developed as a person, even when there is copious information. In a way, that is a shame. It would be nice to have "personal" biographies of such people where the already heavily documented major historical events are a background to their daily life. I had read a great deal of information about the Tudors before I learned that Henry played cards with (and lost to!) his cellarer, or that Anne Boleyn, obviously a woman after my own heart, insisted that he move his fighting cocks so that she could sleep in in the morning.

One problem that I do have with Murphy is that she struggles so hard to make him seem more important. If his neighbors were bringing him gifts when he was 12, I think it is more likely to ingratiate themselves with him and his father, not because he was personally doing a fabulous job of managing his estates. His life wasn't one that was eccentric or fascinating or wittily told that I would recommend it to everyone, but I think that people really interested in the period will find it improves their general understanding.

Interesting topic, but the writing didn't grab me.......2006-02-15

I love Henry...love any book about him, his wives, his children, I have all of them. This one caught my eye because it was written about one of his children you rarely hear anything about other than his mother's name and that he died relatively young. I was excited to start reading, but found the presentation wasn't grabbing my attention, and I found myself not being as interested in the information presented as I thought I would be. I suppose you could call the presentation as text-bookish. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy non-fiction, especially historical non-fiction, but this one just didn't keep me interested.

The Lost Son.......2005-06-16

Among the more grandiose plans amongst the ministers of Henry VIII's administration was to legitimize Henry FitzRoy and marry him to his legitimate half-sister Mary (i.e. Bloody Mary). It has been rumored amongst historians that this idea was in fact direct from the King's mouth. According to 16th century standards, siblings who shared the same father (but perhaps not the same mother) were considered 'full-blood' siblings. Siblings who shared the same mother but different fathers were those considered "half". Just a little tidbit of historical nonsense.

Passably Competent Account of a Little Known Bastard.......2004-09-02

Henry VIII while famous for his six wives, did not stop there: among his many extracurriculars was Elizabeth Blount, a young lady who bore him a son, Henry FitzRoy, who was later made Duke of Richmond. The Bastard Price was born well before Ann Boleyn had come on the scene, was publicly acknowledged as the "natural son" of the King and showered with titles and offices. As such, it would not have taken much - or at least it would have taken less trouble than it might have seemed, certainly less trouble than Boleyn marriage brought - to "legitimize" Richmond and thereby solve the most pressing crisis of the late 1520s and early 1530s, namely, Henry's failure to sire a male heir. Murphy does a reasonable job of walking us through the permutations and combination of this would-be scenario, and one is left pondering the possibilities: could the English Reformation have been averted through a bit of subtle intrigue and a quick marriage to Blount? Though the story is interesting, the book itself is a bit slow and assumes quite a deal of background knowledge.

The man who was allmost Henry The Ninth of England.......2002-07-22

This book is a must read for those interested in Tudor Royalty.It reveals an entirely different view of Henry VIII and the problems[real and imagined]he faced concerning his desire for a legitimate male heir to the Throne of England.The politics surrounding Henry VIII and his Court are well researched and presented in a clear way which involves the reader with the Duke of Norfolk and Anne Boleyn's backers and Family[Seymour] as they fought for power and the favor of the King.

Patience, Princess Catherine: A Young Royals Book (Young Royals)

Average customer rating:

Great Series
Book Review
Patience,Princess Catherine
Excellent
Patience and You Will Win

Patience, Princess Catherine: A Young Royals Book (Young Royals)
Carolyn Meyer
Manufacturer: Gulliver Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152165444

Book Description

England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur's betrothed--the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon's fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine's parents arrange a marriage with Arthur's brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess's resolve remains unshaken. She will one day be England's queen . . . no matter how long it takes.

Customer Reviews:

Great Series.......2006-11-14

Carolyn Meyer once again does a wonderful job in telling the story this time Catherine of Aragon's as she goes from Spain to England marries Arthur and becomes a widow. It truly shows how a lady's life was completely in control in that era as Catherine patiently awaits the next step. She's in a tug of war between her father and Henry VII over her dowry. When the king dies Catherine thinks she's getting her happily ever after by marrying Henry VIII but that isn't to be when she's cast assided for another and heartbroken. She's got a real fighting spirit and very admirable.

Book Review.......2006-03-13

Princess Catherine of Aragon was one the first love of the infamous King Henry VIII during the early 1500's. She was originally betrothed at the elderly age of 17 at the time to his older brother Arthur, who died young, but since Catherine couldn't produce an heir, the rest of the royal family did not pay any attention to the foreigner who hadn't paid all her dowry in the first place. Before he became heir to the throne, the young, sweet Henry had been her only guide in the cold, dreary country, which was nothing like her Spain. Since the first day of her visit, he had talked and laughed with her, as well as teach her bits of French and English, and to Catherine was the best person possible to help her out. Though, years after Arthur's death, conditions at the castle had rapidly changed: the queen had passed away due to child birth illnesses, King Henry VII had grown older and became more violent, and gradually, the members of Princess Catalina's court had deserted her and returned to Spain, which was currently at war as a result of Queen Isabella's unexpected death. Through all of those life-rattling events, the Spanish royal was determined to marry Henry. His father noticed and because she had not completely paid the marriage dowry, he cut her allowance, which forced Catherine and her assistance workers to starve, but the foreigner still fought for what she wanted. Carolyn Meyer unmasks the true hardships of being a royal in her novel Patience, Princess Catherine.
Like other great historical fictions, Meyer blends a bit of history with love, betrayal, and greed to create a perfect teen novel that is both entertaining and educational. For example, in the beginning when Princess Catalina of Aragon arrives in her new homeland, she immediately noticed disturbing differences between the culture of Spain and England. The first women that crossed the path of her and the royal court proudly wore their make-up and hair without veils. Dona Elvira, the princess's duenna, or guardian, was astounded and tried her best to persuade Catalina to maintain the customs of home, for the sakes of her parents. Eventually, her duenna gives up when the king and Prince Henry surprisingly request that they meet before Catalina sees face to face the man she is betrothed to.
The story also works in many examples of real historical customs. Catalina and her court were used to drinking pure crystal-clear water all the time, but at a banquet celebrating the royal betrothal, they found out that the English drink more ale than water at the time. They were given around twenty glasses of ale one after another and out of politeness they finished every glass, but inside their stomachs were churning and aching. One custom that really frightened the new Princess Catherine of Whales was the waltz, a dance which all of the royals appeared to know. At home, the traditional music was based on the music presented and moving to the beat, but there every couple was stiff, yet kept a mysterious elegance
After Catherine marries Arthur, terrible events happened so quickly, the new bride was overwhelmed. First, she and her husband become seriously ill and when Catherine recovered and goes to see her husband at his chambers, his royal staff sent her away. Then one cold, windy morning in the garden, a servant told the princess that her husband was taking his last breaths of life. Minutes later the graceful young lady screamed into the air as the sun rose when the doctor announced the death of the prince. When the funeral begins, the queen tells the widow in confidence that she may be pregnant at the age of 37. Her suspicions were right, but the birth of the girl who lived for only days gave her a birth illness that killed her. Later, the king, confused and alone, asked Catherine to be his new queen. However, since she said she wanted to marry Henry VII, he cut her allowance, hoping she would return to Spain.
Life was as tough and cruel in the past for both royal and real people, but now even the hungry of today's world live better than they did. In this book, the many hardships remind us of that we take for granted.

R. Turner

Patience,Princess Catherine.......2005-11-07

this could very easily be great book but drags. The author never really gets to the great part until the very end!!!!! Good book hough.

Excellent.......2005-10-17

This book was great! I loved how you saw Catherine and Henry. They were both fun to watch and see how they interacted with each other and with the people around them. It was great to see how much historically accurate information was included. It took me about 20 pages to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. This is a GREAT book for people of all ages.

Patience and You Will Win.......2004-05-01

This is the 3rd book in the Young Royals series. This historical novel is based on Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. This opens in 1533, as Catherine refuses to release King Henry VIII from their marriage, renounce her title, or recognize Anne Boleyn as queen. She is imprisoned in a "moldering castle" and allowed no visitors and no contact with her daughter, Mary. This book shows Catherine reflecting on her experiences, beginning with her voyage to England at age 15 to marry Prince Arthur. Their marriage, in name only, lasted 6 months until his death in 1502. Over the next 7 years, Catherine lives with increasing poverty and decreasing prospects of marrying England's new crown prince, Henry. It shows how she hard her life was. It gives you new insight into her life. I think this book is better from 12 years and up.

Doomed Queen Anne: A Young Royals Book (Young Royals)

Average customer rating:

Royal Praise for Doomed Queen Anne
My review of doomed Queen Anne
Doomed Queen Anne
Amazing Queen Anne
Great to have for Medieval Unit study

Doomed Queen Anne: A Young Royals Book (Young Royals)
Carolyn Meyer
Manufacturer: Gulliver Books Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152050868

Book Description

Though born without great beauty, wealth, or title, Anne Boleyn blossomed into a captivating woman. She used her wiles to win the heart of England's most powerful man, King Henry VIII, and to persuade him to defy everyone--including his own wife--to make her his new queen. But Anne's ambition proved to be her fatal flaw.

Customer Reviews:

Royal Praise for Doomed Queen Anne.......2007-05-21

Royal Praise for Doomed Queen Anne

The trite love story of a princess meeting her true prince is not as glamorous as it may seem. Usually, during the 16th century in England, love in a monarchy was significantly complex. Queen Anne, however, showed that with an ambitious attitude, one can achieve anything, even marrying a king. At the young age of 13, Anne declared her future that she will become the queen, which came true. The end of her story as wife to Henry VIII, however, did not conclude as a fantasy tale. Through her tale, author Carolyn Meyer writes with intense emotion in a first person point of view that draws in the readers to the dramatic, interesting, and adventurous rise and fall of Anne Boleyn.
Meyers employs an appealing style that grabs the audience. Her text is mostly informal and simple to simulate the story as a normal conversation or that a story is being casually told. Emotions and Anne's consciousness all play the part, such as when Anne is still engaged in a hot pursuit to marry King Henry: "I lay awake tormented by doubt: Why does he not simply declare himself the head of the Church, dissolve his marriage to Catherine, and marry me- before it's too late? Does he love me ENOUGH?" (Meyers 162-163). She also italicizes words to emphasize Anne's thoughts or emotions, for instance when Anne began to notice King Henry's eyes looking at her: "Time and again the King's roving glance halted and lingered upon me. What can he be thinking?" (Meyers 73). Since the readers become entranced with Anne herself, the plot also develops into a spell-binding story.
The plot that begins with Anne in her pre-teen years to her final death allows the audience to become fully involved in an adventure that so happens to be her life. Despite the change in time, Anne's obsession to lose her stereotype as the "odd" one and a bad reputation remained constant. Ever since youth, here long, black hair, black eyes, and dark clothes made her regarded as a "witch." Her disgraceful relationship with Lord Hal, and a secret marriage, almost ruined her chances of ever catching the king's eyes. Yet, the readers could see that Anne's ambition did not fail her when she was banished from court and told never to see Lord Hal again: "When I was drained of tears, my heart filled with bitterness. Someday I shall have my revenge" (Meyer 61). She eventually proved her family and the nosey ears of the court when she caught the kings heart and eventually manipulated him into having her as his wife, instead of a temporary mistress similar to most of his lovers. This ultimate shocker and revenge made everyone aware that Anne is not the average person but also proved to the readers that her ambition made her win. Once she became queen, one can imagine the sounds of "OHHHHH!!!!" that usually high-schoolers yell out when someone is "burned," in slang terms. Later, unfortunately, Anne's cause for her rise doomed her into her fall because once she couldn't give birth to a son, the tables turned on her. King Henry VIII became influenced to think that she was a which that put a spell on him and that she was having an affair with a musician. Eventually, Anne was beheaded, causing a sense of "wow" at the end.
The journey of Anne's obsession to make the king fall in love with her proved to be hectic and mind-blowing. The connection to the readers permitted the audience to become considerably engaged in her wild ambition. Carolyn Meyers successfully told Anne Boleyn's tale with a technique and plot to capture everyone. Doomed Queen Anne is not the common fairytale princess story, which is why this book is strongly recommended for anyone desiring for a ride.

My review of doomed Queen Anne.......2007-03-21

Anne Boylen was determined to get to the top, Henry the 8th's wife. Anne, with her dark black hair and jet blck eyes would draw in men. She had always admired the king, but Henry was already married with a daughter and a misstress. She had always been jealous of her sister with her long lovely blonde hair and blue eyes and being the king's mistress. But when her sister(mary) had gotten married and had a child, it was her turn to be the king's lover.

This was an exellent book, and I think everybody would enjoy it. the end was kind of sad but still I loved the whole story!

Doomed Queen Anne.......2007-03-21

If you are into semi-romance novels, "Doomed Queen Anne" is the book for you. Anne is a townsperson in the beginning. She juggles around a few relationships, and then sets her goals high. She wants to marry the king. She refuses to be his misstress she wants to be queen. But when she does become queen, she gets framed for treason against the king. In the end, she gets executed, and leaves her daughter, Elizebeth, out of her hands.
This is an awesome semi-romance novel as I said before. In the beginning, it was a bit confusing, but you'll catch on. This book wont let you put it down!

Amazing Queen Anne.......2007-03-15

I think that the book, Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer, is a wonderful and amazing book. Doomed Queen Anne is about a teenage girl with some really big dreams. She starts out trying to be better than her older sister, Mary, but ends up getting more than what she ever dreamed of having. Will she ever get the biggest of her dreams? Will live a wonderful life?

-A.N.

Great to have for Medieval Unit study.......2006-12-19

We read this book aloud for our homeschool unit study. There are some graphic details that I can't see why they didn't leave out but is really good from historic point of view.

Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey

Average customer rating:

Ann Rinaldi has done it again...
Not Just For Teens!
Not bad, but less than I'd hoped for
Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi
Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi

Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey
Ann Rinaldi
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060549254
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Book Description

I had freckles.

I had sandy hair. I was too short.

Would my feet even touch the ground if I sat on the throne?

These are the words of lady Jane Grey, as imagined by celebrated author Ann Rinaldi. Jane would become Queen of England for only nine days before being beheaded at the age of sixteen.

Here is a breathtaking story of English royalty with its pageantry, privilege, and surprising cruelty. As she did in her previous novel Mutiny's Daughter, Ms. Rinaldi uses powerful, evocative writing to bring to life a teenage girl caught in the grip of stirring times.

Ages 12+

Customer Reviews:

Ann Rinaldi has done it again..........2006-06-12

Ann Rinaldi never disappoints--Nine Days a Queen was another excellent novel.
An interesting aspect is that it was written in the first person, as if Lady Jane Grey's ghost is telling the story. This point of view makes the reader sympathize more with Lady Jane.
Through this book, I learned some less-known facts about the Tudor period. I could relate to Lady Jane, and found myself in tears at many parts of the book.
This is a must for Ann Rinaldi fans, and fans of the Tudor period.

Not Just For Teens!.......2006-06-04

NINE DAYS A QUEEN, perfectly reveals the compelling story of Lady Jane Grey. Her story, which is told in a first person narrative, begins at the age of nine when she is sent to the Court of Henry VIII by her manipulative and ambitious parents. Here she meets her future guardians, Katherine Parr (the sixth of Henry's wives) and Thomas Seymour; she reconnects with her cousins, the future King Edward VI, Princess Mary (later Queen Mary I) and the Princess Elizabeth (Elizabeth I). Her happiness at escaping the harsh, unpleasant world of her parents is charmingly evident though almost fleeting when one considers her short life. Soon enough upon Katherine's death, Jane is back home as her parents continue to scheme to make the most advantagous marriage and future for her. Maneuvered into accepting the crown after Edward's death in a ploy filled with both religious and political overtones, she is abandoned and left to falter by those who should be closest to her.

This is a lovely and lovingly researched historical novel which I am confident will lead its readership to futher delve into the lives of its main and secondary characters. It is obvious Rinaldi, who is so brilliant in the YA genre, knows her readers and enthusiastically writes *for* them...and quite happily takes those willing adults along for an intelligent ride too.

Not bad, but less than I'd hoped for.......2006-06-01

I should preface my review by saying Ann Rinaldi wrote this book for teens, and I read it when I was 35, after reading several other books on the Tudors.

Rinaldi's novel tells the story of Jane Gray, who was the victim of a plot to place her on England's throne in order to keep the Catholic Queen Mary I off of it. After the scheme failed, Jane was beheaded at age 16.

The first and last third of the book were great, but it sagged in the middle. I may know too much about Tudor history to have enjoyed it thoroughly. In simplifying the story, Rinaldi omitted some things I thought were essential to understanding Jane's short, tragic life. For example, Rinaldi barely mentioned the role religion played in politics at the time. And she let Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral, off the hook for his treasonous activities. In the book, Jane believes he is executed for nothing more than rumors. In fact, Thomas tried to kidnap Edward VI and displace the Lord Protector, Edward Seymour, his own brother.

In the middle of the book, Jane became annoying, wringing her hands and acting helpless far too much. In the beginning, she was a bewildered child who just wanted a peaceful life. In the end, she showed dignity and strength as the nobles who placed her on the throne turned their coats and left her to her unhappy fate.

Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi.......2006-05-20

Nine Days A Queen
By: Ann Rinaldi

Nine Days A Queen is about the nine day reign of Lady Jane Grey over England. She was royalty through her mother, the Duchess of Suffolk and only fifteen years old when she died. Because of harsh life at home on Bradgate Manor Sir Thomas Seymour adopted Jane and took her to live with her relatives in London. Jane's life in London took drastic changes. In the time she was there King Henry VIII had died. After his death his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, married Sir Thomas Seymour and they had a child together. But sadly through childbirth Katherine died. Many rumors went around after this saying that Sir Thomas had committed murder and treason. He was later arrested and beheaded. Jane was strictly told to return home because her parents feared for her safety. On returning home Jane was to get married. Although she didn't want to it was required that she get married to success her mother. Jane got married to a man named, Guildford Dudley.
Soon after she got married something amazingly wonderful happened. Lady Jane Grey became Jane Grey, Queen of England! Jane was very nervous about becoming Queen because she knew her cousin Mary would dispose of her and her kingdom. And that is exactly what happened. After nine days of Jane's rule over England, Mary came to power. She was Catholic and by her fathers laws only Protestant was acceptable.
Soon Jane, Guildford, and some of her maids were led away to the tower. This was where prisoners stayed and waited until they were released or even killed. Sadly, Jane and Guildford's fate was that they were to be beheaded. But Jane strongly doubted this. Her own cousin wouldn't kill her because she was afraid of loosing power. Jane believed that right before she were to be beheaded that a reprieve would come and she would be able to go home. After about a year in prison the time came for Jane and Guildford to be executed. On the day of her execution, Jane seemed to be fairly happy but frightened. She knew her cousin loved drama and would probably send the reprieve just when the executioner was raising his axe. But she always had the thought in the back of her mind, "What if the reprieve never comes, what will become of me?" That very morning in the flicker of an eyelash Jane's husband, Guildford, was beheaded. Jane knew she was next. Jane solemnly walked outside to the execution block, still in hope of a reprieve. Jane was bound with ropes and blindfolded. Everything around her was still and quiet, except for the low beating of drums. And then on that day in 1554, Lady Jane Grey was beheaded.
I really liked this book because of its historical background and the life of a simple teenage girl who becomes Queen at 15. It was also interesting to think that she was cousins with some of the most famous historical figures in history. That would be very cool. I learned a lot about history through this book because I never knew of a Lady Jane Grey or of Henry VIII last wife and how after he died was remarried and had a child. This book was very interesting.

Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi.......2006-05-20

Nine Days A Queen
By: Ann Rinaldi

Nine Days A Queen is about the nine day reign of Lady Jane Grey over England. She was royalty through her mother, the Duchess of Suffolk and only fifteen years old when she died. Because of harsh life at home on Bradgate Manor Sir Thomas Seymour adopted Jane and took her to live with her relatives in London. Jane's life in London took drastic changes. In the time she was there King Henry VIII had died. After his death his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, married Sir Thomas Seymour and they had a child together. But sadly through childbirth Katherine died. Many rumors went around after this saying that Sir Thomas had committed murder and treason. He was later arrested and beheaded. Jane was strictly told to return home because her parents feared for her safety. On returning home Jane was to get married. Although she didn't want to it was required that she get married to success her mother. Jane got married to a man named, Guildford Dudley.
Soon after she got married something amazingly wonderful happened. Lady Jane Grey became Jane Grey, Queen of England! Jane was very nervous about becoming Queen because she knew her cousin Mary would dispose of her and her kingdom. And that is exactly what happened. After nine days of Jane's rule over England, Mary came to power. She was Catholic and by her fathers laws only Protestant was acceptable.
Soon Jane, Guildford, and some of her maids were led away to the tower. This was where prisoners stayed and waited until they were released or even killed. Sadly, Jane and Guildford's fate was that they were to be beheaded. But Jane strongly doubted this. Her own cousin wouldn't kill her because she was afraid of loosing power. Jane believed that right before she were to be beheaded that a reprieve would come and she would be able to go home. After about a year in prison the time came for Jane and Guildford to be executed. On the day of her execution, Jane seemed to be fairly happy but frightened. She knew her cousin loved drama and would probably send the reprieve just when the executioner was raising his axe. But she always had the thought in the back of her mind, "What if the reprieve never comes, what will become of me?" That very morning in the flicker of an eyelash Jane's husband, Guildford, was beheaded. Jane knew she was next. Jane solemnly walked outside to the execution lock, still in hope of a reprieve. Jane was bound with ropes and blindfolded. Everything around her was still and quiet, except for the low beating of drums. And then on that day in 1554, Lady Jane Grey was beheaded.
I really liked this book because of its historical background and the life of a simple teenage girl who becomes Queen at 15. It was also interesting to think that she was cousins with some of the most famous historical figures in history. That would be very cool. I learned a lot about history through this book because I never knew of a Lady Jane Grey or of Henry VIII last wife and how after he died was remarried and had a child. This book was very interesting.

The Secret Life of Henry VIII (Secret Life of)

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The Secret Life of Henry VIII (Secret Life of)
Bob Fowke
Manufacturer: Hodder Headline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0340884215

Henry VIII and His Wives (Coloring Book)

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Splendid and challenging
Where was this when I was studying history in school?
Henry VIII Coloring Book

Henry VIII and His Wives (Coloring Book)
Bellerophon Books
Manufacturer: Bellerophon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0883880091

Customer Reviews:

Splendid and challenging.......2007-02-16

This book is great, I love it!

In fact it contains 9 paper dolls, since King Henry VIII is shown in different ages. All other queens than Catherine Parr have at least one extra gown. There are several armours for the King. Garments are really detailed, clear and well drawn. Some of the details are actually so tiny, that it would be almost impossible to color them.

Since I want to enjoy this lovely book for many coming years, I have taken copies. If you zoom each page 135% and copy it on A3 sheet you will easily have even more magnificient paperdolls and your pencils can reach the exquisite details of gowns and jewels.

I recommend this coloring book highly for every fashion history enthusiast, recreator, renaissance lover or advanced colorist. I guess it will become one of your treasures!

Where was this when I was studying history in school?.......2000-03-30

When I saw the paintings of the various Tudors in history books, most of the time the color jobs were so poor you could not see any detail of the clothing. Now, with these wonderful line drawings, you can not only get an idea of what the clothing looked like, but you can color them yourself. Plus, the synopsis of each person's life history sums up the most interesting aspects of that person's life without getting judgemental or too risque for children.

Henry VIII Coloring Book.......2000-02-01

I found the book witty and informative and so many levels. THere are very few instances in which I can extrapolate so much from a coloring expeirience. I would highly recoomend this book to anyone with a masters or higher in the areas of coloring or bookdrawing genres.

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Henry VIII and His Wives
Henry VIII and his Wives
Lovely Book Paper Dolls!
Tom Tierney - the modern Holbein
Another fun paper doll set from Dover

Henry VIII and His Wives Paper Dolls
Tom Tierney
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486405753

Book Description

Colorful depictions of the famous monarch and all 6 of his queens include 9 dolls — one of each of the 6 wives, plus 3 of the king in early, middle, and later years. The 16 lavish costumes include royal armor and elegant gowns, all accurately rendered and with informative notes.

Customer Reviews:

Henry VIII and His Wives.......2005-05-06

If you enjoy paper dolls and are interested in English history, you'll love this book. Tom Tierney has captured the period with beautifully rendered portraits of Henry VIII and his wives.
I did feel however, that the doll of Anne Boleyn didn't resemble any of her extant portraits, and some of the costumes were not based on paintings of the time, but were instead invented by the artist (eg Anne of Cleves's German costume, Catherine Parr's green gown).

Henry VIII and his Wives.......2004-05-05

this paper doll book is a must for fans of the king and his wives or for people who are in terested in the time period. With short biographies for all six wives and notes for all there outfits this is a perfect set. In this book there are three versions of the king, the beginning of his reign, his middle age, and in his later days. For each doll there are outfits that are very detailed and the dolls look magnificent. This is a MUST and i HIGHLY recommend this book.

Lovely Book Paper Dolls!.......2002-12-03

This is a beautiful book of paper dolls of Henry VIII and his Wives. It's full of nice little details but in the front page Jane Seymour have one of the dress of Catherine of Aragon and Catherine got one of the costume of Jane and Catherine Howard got one of the dress of Jane.

Tom Tierney - the modern Holbein.......2000-03-30

I have other books by Mr. Tierney, but this is one that I recommend most highly... Mr. Tierney does an exquisite job of rendering one of my all time favorite historical periods with his usual flair, and yet each figure is easily recognizable. Like Hans Holbein, the court painter for Henry VIII, he delivers ART!

Another fun paper doll set from Dover.......2000-02-02

This is an enjoyable paper doll book containing standard size paper dolls (about the same general size as other paper doll books made by Dover). This set depicts Henry VII in three dolls; two with two sets of clothing, one with only one, and his six wives (Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr) with two sets of clothing each. It also includes historical information that I found very interesting.

The Queens Smuggler: William Tyndale (Trailblazer Books #2)

Average customer rating:

A gripping tale of courage and faith!

The Queens Smuggler: William Tyndale (Trailblazer Books #2)
Dave and Neta Jackson
Manufacturer: Bethany House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1556612214
Release Date: 1991-09-01

Book Description

Sarah's father invites William Tyndale into their home for hiding and protection as he works on translating the Bible into English. Ages 8-12.

Customer Reviews:

A gripping tale of courage and faith!.......2000-04-18

I love this book! I have read it at least three times. In the early 1500s, Sarah Poyntz, the daughter of a merchant in Antwerp, Belgium, is caught up in the life of William Tyndale. Because of his work in translating the Bible into English, he is a wanted man. Although it puts them in deadly peril, Sarah's family shelters him from his enemies. Sarah Poyntz, the heroine of the book, risks her life to take an English Bible to the court of Henry VIII. Although the king is hostile to letting the Bible be printed in English, eventually he relents. This book is excellent story of a young girl's courage, and it is based on truth as well.

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