Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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, 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.

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.

This is the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey, placed on the throne of England by her manipulative parents in an effort for them to seize power from Mary Tudor. Rinaldi brings this tale to life by having Jane herself narrate; Jane at times says things that seem a bit anachronistic but overall her sense of wisdom and life comes through admirably. Jane's life was so incredibly tragic and I'm indebted to Rinaldi for getting it out to YA readers. My only quibbles with the book were the lack of overwhelming Christian structure that reportedly followed Jane throughout her short life, and a couple of questions about the timeline (which might have been changed for dramatic effect). Rinaldi does a wonderful job of bringing history to life once again! Recommended.

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.

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.

I have this book in my classroom library, and the girls absolutely love it. It's so exciting to see them plow through it and turn around and push it onto their friends. Studying the Tudor line recently as upperschoolers, the girls remembered studying them in middle school and had a lively discussion remembering Nine Days a Queen.

Lady Jane Grey is one of the most fascinating footnotes of history. By all accounts a sweet-natured and scholarly young lady, she had the misfortune to be born to parents who valued her only as a sociopolitical pawn. At the age of fifteen she was forced into a sham marriage of convenience to the son of the regent of young King Edward VI, the only son of Henry VIII. Her scheming father-in-law convinced Edward to name Jane as his successor, rather than either of his half-sisters, Mary or Elizabeth, and when Edward died, Jane found herself forced against her will into a position of nominal authority by those who hoped to control the young queen behind the scenes. Popular support, however, was with Mary (whom history was to remember as "Bloody"), and Jane's supporters were quickly defeated. After only nine days on the throne, Jane found herself imprisoned, and eventually tried for treason and sentenced to death. She was beheaded at the age of sixteen.

In "Nine Days a Queen," Ann Rinaldi, the doyenne of young adult historical fiction, brings Lady Jane back to life on the printed page. Her Jane is a virtuous innocent, but powerless to save herself from the political machinations of her extended family. While adhering to the historical record, Rinaldi uses the wealth of her imagination to recreate historical figures as complex, nuanced characters. Without glossing over the complexity of Tudor-era English politics, she tells the story in a way young readers should have little difficulty in following. Best of all, she achieves what is surely the supreme accomplishment for any writer of historical fiction, especially one writing about actual personages: she manages to get us so caught up in the story that we forget we already know how it ends.

When i picked this book up I knew very little about the Tudor period of England and absolutly nothing about Lady Jane Grey. Though i put off reading it because I knew that the charator dies when I finally did read it was astonished at the cruelty that filled these people inculding Jane's parents and Elizabeth and "Bloody" Mary. I recommend this to anyone especially people like me who don't stray far from American history.