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Summary
Summary
England, 1544. In her diary entries, Princess Elizabeth, the eleven-year-old daughter of King Henry VIII, celebrates holidays and birthdays, relives her mother's execution, revels in her studies and agonises over her father's death.
Author Notes
Kathryn Lasky was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 24, 1944, and knew she wanted to be a writer from the time she was ten. She majored in English in college and after graduation wrote for various magazines and taught. Her first book, I Have Four Names for My Grandfather, was published while she was teaching.
She has written more than seventy books for children and young adults on everything from historical fiction to picture books and nonfiction books including the Dear America books and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. Many of her books are illustrated with photographs by her husband, Christopher Knight. She has received many awards for her titles including Sugaring Time which was a Newberry Honor Book; The Night Journey which won the National Jewish Book Award for Children; Pageant which was an ALA Notable Children's book; and Beyond the Burning Time which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. She has also received the Washington Post's Children's Book Guild Award for her contribution to children's nonfiction. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
Horn Book Review
The fictionalized diary follows Elizabeth from the age of eleven until the death of her father, Henry VIII, when she is almost thirteen. The first-person voice sounds too contemporary to be convincing, but the details of sixteenth-century family and political intrigue, holiday festivities, and hygiene practices are interesting. Historical information and black-and-white photos are appended. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4^-7. This fictional diary, part of the Royal Diary series, concerns some of the happiest years of Elizabeth's youth, when she lives with her father, King Henry VIII, and Catherine Parr, who tries to establish a sense of normalcy for the royal children. It's plain, however, that Elizabeth exists with the knowledge of the executions of her mother and stepmother and the awareness that she may be exiled at any moment. Lasky uncovers the nitty-gritty details of daily living and achieves a reasonably believable tone without using much unfamiliar language. Although it's illogical for a diarist to incorporate explanations of terms into a journal presumably written only for the author's eyes ("marzipan [almond paste]"), the definitions provided will enable contemporary children to read without the interruption of a glossary. The book is handsomely designed, with an epilogue, a historical note, a family tree, photographs, and a word from the author. For a more flattering depiction of Elizabeth's older sister, Queen Mary I, see Carolyn Meyer's Mary, Bloody Mary reviewed elsewhere in this issue. --Susan Dove Lempke
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-In this addition to the series of fictional diaries focusing on royalty by Kathryn Lasky (Scholastic, 1999), Elizabeth, the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, shares her day-to-day life from the ages of 11 to 14. She feels herself the "forgotten" or "invisible" princess, being exiled from court life to a country estate due to an unfortunate turn of phrase which earns her father's displeasure. She swings from melancholy to exhilaration as she is finally allowed back at court. Her longing for her father's approval, along with the typical pastimes of an upper-class child in mid-16th century England and her friendships with Robin Dudley and Lady Jane Gray are Elizabeth's main concerns. Her father, his many wives, including the current Queen, Catherine Parr, and other members of the Tudor household are superficially developed. History is conveyed, accurately for the most part, in an entertaining fashion. Narrator Josephine Bailey's light British accent is perfect for a young Elizabeth's first person point-of-view set in diary format. A good choice for libraries where the series is popular.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Excerpts
November 10, 1544 "I have been living with this constant fear of exile now for two days. So far I have heard nothing. Plans seem to proceed as normal for our move to Ashridge. This palace, too, is becoming quite filthy, what with all the banqueting and people and gaming between Michaelmas Feast and the feast of All Saints' Day. The roses bloom in our garden with such vigor, but the stench from the courtyard over the wall outside the kitchens is unbearable. Excerpted from Elizabeth I: The Royal Diaries by Kathryn Lasky All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
