There's high drama--and more than a little melodrama--in the first 25 years of the life of Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded; her father, Henry VIII, who was busy with serial marriages, alternately indulged and ignored her; and Henry's death opened the way for a host of intrigues. There were people who cared for her, and she received both good counsel and a good education. But the broken pattern of her teenage relationships with adults (among them, her stepmother, Catherine; the flirtatious, duplicitous Thomas Seymour; and especially in this story, Catherine's Catholic half-sister, Queen Mary) forged an adult persona that was ruthless, canny, and entirely self-absorbed. For all its color, the fictionalized, first-person narrative, part of the Young Royals series, tells rather than shows the story, but the elements of Elizabeth's life remain irresistible.

While this fictionalized first-person account of Elizabeth I's treacherous road to the throne at times veers away from historical accuracy, it provides an engaging introduction to one of history's most compelling figures. This Elizabeth perhaps has more knowledge of behind-the-scenes dealings of court and council than the real Elizabeth was likely to have had, providing readers with necessary background information.

This second title in the series of historical novels based on prominent women of the United Kingdom, begun with <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Mary, Bloody Mary, chronicles the first 25 years in the life of Queen Elizabeth I. Ages 12-up. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

Gr 5-8-As the title suggests, this gripping historical drama tells of the danger Elizabeth Tudor faced on her way to the throne of England. The novel is not meant to portray Elizabeth's whole life; rather, set within a story frame of her coronation, the narrative relays the hardships, ill treatment, and tragedies that occurred between the death of King Henry VIII and the death of Elizabeth's half sister, Queen Mary. Because the story is told in first person, readers have a sense of being with Elizabeth and feeling the uncertainty, apprehension, and determination she feels. The author does not pull any punches when it comes to telling about Elizabeth's feelings for Tom Seymour, her religious convictions, or the bloodshed caused at the behest of Queen Mary. The political intrigue and changing alliances could be confusing, but a family tree at the front of the book helps readers keep most of the relatives straight. If only there were a chart of court advisors, foreign dignitaries, and servants! Reading Jane Yolen's The Queen's Own Fool (Philomel, 2000), about Elizabeth's cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, would be an interesting comparison/contrast study with this novel because both women faced similar types of opposition. Elizabeth was a unique person in her own time, and her intelligence, drive, and independence will appeal to today's readers.-Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day School Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.