Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey [Library Binding]

Ann Rinaldi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 18, 2005

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.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 6-8. Lady Jane Grey speaks from beyond the grave to tell her convoluted story, which Rinaldi does her best to simplify. Jane, related to the Tudors through her mother, becomes third in line to the throne following the death of her cousin, King Edward. Unfortunately, Jane is betrothed to the son of a nobleman who is determined to keep Mary, who is Catholic, from assuming the throne. Finagling puts Jane on the throne for nine days--after which she is beheaded. This well-known end to Jane's story takes up a small part of the book; a greater part recounts her life of privilege; her friendship with her cousins Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth; and happy times spent away from her cruel parents. Numerous details about food, clothing, and amusements decorate the story. Knowledge of English history will certainly be helpful to understand the politics, but this works well as the story of a young woman buffeted by events, whose few moments of happiness are her most valuable possession. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“Rinaldi introduces readers to a tragic figure in British history, bringing her to life in an approachable and readable format. … [A] captivating saga.” (VOYA )

“This novel is a must for history lovers but still relates to teenagers of today.” (Romantic Times BOOKclub )

“Powerfully written in the first person, this well-researched historical novel is extraordinary.” (Dallas Morning News )

“The combination of pageantry and maneuvering will likely appeal to fans of historical romance.” (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Library Binding: 192 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (January 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060549246
• ISBN-13: 978-0060549244
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,932,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent teen novel about Lady Jane Grey., November 13, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey (Hardcover)

Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for nine days at the age of fifteen before being executed for treason, narrates her story beginning at age nine. Unloved by her parents, young Jane had an unhappy and lonely childhood. Sent to court at age nine, she finally gained happiness as a maid of honor to Queen Katharine, wife of King Henry VIII. Even after the king dies, Jane remains a member of Katharine's household, but even that happiness is lost when Katharine dies in childbirth after remarrying. Returning home, Jane must once again endure her parents' cruelty, as they scheme to arrange a marriage for her that will bring them wealth and power. But when the young King Edward, Jane's beloved cousin, dies, Jane is unprepared for how far they will go. Staunch Protestants, Jane's parents are determined that Edward's Catholic half-sister Mary will not become queen -- and so they force their daughter to accept the crown of England in a plot that is doomed to failure.

This was an excellent historical novel for teens that tells the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey. I was really looking forward to reading this book, because I love historical novels about royalty, and Ann Rinaldi is one of my favorite authors. I am happy to say I am not disappointed at all. Ann Rinaldi brings Jane to life as an intelligent girl, observant and wise beyond her years, who against her will became a pawn in a power struggle she wanted no part in. This makes the inevitably sad ending even more tragic. Teen readers who are interested in historical fiction about royalty should definitely read this book.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but less than I'd hoped for, May 31, 2006

By 

Felicia Jordan (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey (Paperback)

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.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just For Teens!, June 4, 2006

By 

W. Zollo ""the queen"" (MA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nine Days a Queen: The Short Life and Reign of Lady Jane Grey (Paperback)

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.