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magnetarmadda's review against another edition
5.0
I love love LOVE this book. It was my favorite of the Royal Diaries/Dear America books when I was a kid, and I’m so glad I started with this one as I reread these. This book started my lifelong obsession with Elizabeth I, the Tudors, and medieval history in general. Having now read many, many books about those topics, it was great to see this held up pretty well under historical scrutiny and, because the intended audience is children, what’s left out is absolutely understandable
hmalagisi's review against another edition
3.0
What was the first book you read that excited you so much about the historical figure that you wanted to continue studying history? You would read any text you could get ahold of that mentioned their name, including encyclopedia entries. You have fond memories of that book and wish to reread it as an adult to see if it is still a great book with all its charms. I have noted numerous times that the book series that enticed me to study history was The Royal Diaries Series. The book that started my fascination with the Tudors was "The Royal Diaries- Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor" by Kathryn Lasky.
I first read this book and the Royal Diaries series in 6th grade/ middle school. I remember being utterly enraptured with the invisible princess Elizabeth and her struggle to be noticed by her family, especially her father, Henry VIII. Elizabeth was a strong and very intellectual princess; she became my historical heroine as a child. I would read anything about her and the Tudors, which fueled my desire to study history in college. When I started Adventures of a Tudor Nerd, I knew I wanted to get a copy of this novel to reread and review as a nod to my past.
This fictitious diary of Elizabeth I begins in 1544 and ends in 1547, covering a lot of changes in young Elizabeth's life and the Tudor court. Her governess, Kat Champernowne (soon to be Ashley), gave Elizabeth the diary to record her thoughts after Queen Catherine Parr convinced her father, King Henry VIII, to allow Elizabeth to return to court. Elizabeth's life has been rocky since her mother's execution at her father's command because, as this version of the tale goes, she was a witch.
Since this is a children's book, the diary entries, as are the characterizations of the people around Princess Elizabeth at court, are very generic. Kat is paranoid about poisons, Henry VIII is old, fat, and has dramatic mood changes. Anne of Cleves is a kind soul with a thick accent and an unpleasant appearance. Mary is a manipulative person who treats Elizabeth horribly because she is the daughter of Anne Boleyn. Edward is a sickly child destined to become the next King of England, but many wonders if he will last that long. Robin Dudley is Elizabeth's best friend who would rather have fun than study like his friend.
While rereading this novel, I found numerous historical inaccuracies I overlooked when I was younger because it was the first Tudor novel I had ever read. Of course, the target audience for this book and the series are children the author hopes will get interested in the story and start studying history. Still, it deserves a rewrite to incorporate correct historical facts.
Even though there were errors, I still am very fond of this book and The Royal Diaries series. Overall, this is a decent book and series for young readers who want to study history, especially royal history. If you have a young history lover who wants to learn more about Elizabeth I and her childhood in a fun way, you should have them read "The Royal Diaries- Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor" by Kathryn Lasky.
I first read this book and the Royal Diaries series in 6th grade/ middle school. I remember being utterly enraptured with the invisible princess Elizabeth and her struggle to be noticed by her family, especially her father, Henry VIII. Elizabeth was a strong and very intellectual princess; she became my historical heroine as a child. I would read anything about her and the Tudors, which fueled my desire to study history in college. When I started Adventures of a Tudor Nerd, I knew I wanted to get a copy of this novel to reread and review as a nod to my past.
This fictitious diary of Elizabeth I begins in 1544 and ends in 1547, covering a lot of changes in young Elizabeth's life and the Tudor court. Her governess, Kat Champernowne (soon to be Ashley), gave Elizabeth the diary to record her thoughts after Queen Catherine Parr convinced her father, King Henry VIII, to allow Elizabeth to return to court. Elizabeth's life has been rocky since her mother's execution at her father's command because, as this version of the tale goes, she was a witch.
Since this is a children's book, the diary entries, as are the characterizations of the people around Princess Elizabeth at court, are very generic. Kat is paranoid about poisons, Henry VIII is old, fat, and has dramatic mood changes. Anne of Cleves is a kind soul with a thick accent and an unpleasant appearance. Mary is a manipulative person who treats Elizabeth horribly because she is the daughter of Anne Boleyn. Edward is a sickly child destined to become the next King of England, but many wonders if he will last that long. Robin Dudley is Elizabeth's best friend who would rather have fun than study like his friend.
While rereading this novel, I found numerous historical inaccuracies I overlooked when I was younger because it was the first Tudor novel I had ever read. Of course, the target audience for this book and the series are children the author hopes will get interested in the story and start studying history. Still, it deserves a rewrite to incorporate correct historical facts.
Even though there were errors, I still am very fond of this book and The Royal Diaries series. Overall, this is a decent book and series for young readers who want to study history, especially royal history. If you have a young history lover who wants to learn more about Elizabeth I and her childhood in a fun way, you should have them read "The Royal Diaries- Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor" by Kathryn Lasky.
bookishbrooke's review against another edition
4.0
It’s really interesting reading this again after reading it as a child! However, it makes me even more interested in the Tudors and now I want to find further nonfiction/historical fiction literature about them!
mdpbernal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.0
elleneam's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful account of the young Elizabeth growing up, craving her father's attention. She has to learn to grow to be strong and bold, and you never know, she might just be Queen of England one day...
ladyladyloveme's review against another edition
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
laileanah's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Appropriate for all ages.
Not historically accurate but an easy read.
Not historically accurate but an easy read.
naomi41's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really good book- it is the fictionalized diary of Elizabeth I while she was in her early teen years. I thought it was a quick read because I had no other book to read. This book is just about what Elizabeth would have been doing as a Princess in the Royal Court of her father King Henry VIII and his 6th wife Queen Catherine Parr. She lived with her dear brother Prince Edward (at the end of the book, he becomes King Edward IV when their father passes), and her loathesome sister Princess Mary (aka Queen Mary I or Bloody Mary). She pours her heart out about being an "invisible" daughter and her troubles of entering and exiting exile every other year. Even though the story is mainly fictional, you still learned historical events such as the accomplishments of her father King Henry VIII, his six wives starting with Catherine of Aragon until his death with wife Catherine Parr. You learn about Renaissance England a little bit and how it was a Protestant community that Mary I later tried to turn Catholic (in honour of her Spanish Blood). Elizabeth I was probably one of the greatest monarchs of English history "The Elizabethan Age" named after her 45 year ruling as a single Queen. Her many accomplishments showed a strong willed woman, and we got to see her in a different light and how she may have been as a child.
bookshelfmystic's review against another edition
4.0
When I was in middle school, I was assigned a biographical report on any historical person. I chose Elizabeth I, and there were several years where she was high on my list of most interesting people. I wish I'd read this book then, because I would have absolutely loved it. Even now, I enjoyed it quite a bit. This fictional diary was a fun read and left me considering court politics and 16th-century living at random moments at work.
I wish this diary would have spanned more years. I'd have loved to read about Elizabeth's experiences during Mary's rule. As is, this whole diary feels a lot like a prequel. One can read real biographies of Elizabeth, I suppose, to hear the rest of the story.
I wish this diary would have spanned more years. I'd have loved to read about Elizabeth's experiences during Mary's rule. As is, this whole diary feels a lot like a prequel. One can read real biographies of Elizabeth, I suppose, to hear the rest of the story.