Patience, Princess Catherine: A Young Royals Book [Hardcover]

Carolyn Meyer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Young Royals | Publication Date: May 1, 2004

England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur's betrothed--the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon's fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine's parents arrange a marriage with Arthur's brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess's resolve remains unshaken. She will one day be England's queen . . . no matter how long it takes.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up–Meyer gives voice to Catherine of Aragon as she recounts the story of her betrothals and marriages. The political and economic gains and machinations upon which these unions were based are clearly chronicled in this carefully researched offering. Catherine's dramatic narrative begins as she embarks, at the age of 15, on the arduous journey from Spain to England to become the wife of Prince Arthur, a match made for her when she was only three. She tells of her life in England, moving from the enviable position of a future queen to that of a young girl far from home who is beholden to the generosity of the king of England. After six months of an unconsummated marriage, Catherine is widowed. Diplomatic negotiations rule her life as she is betrothed to his younger brother, the future King Henry VIII, but the path to that marriage is strewn with international agreements that are made and revoked. Once Prince Henry becomes king, he marries Catherine and this union lasts some 24 years until he turns to Ann Boleyn. Through it all, Catherine is a pawn. Meyer seamlessly provides details about customs and beliefs in bringing history to life. Her Catherine develops from a callow young girl into a woman who fights for her rights as much as the times permitted. As in Mary, Bloody Mary (Harcourt, 1999), the author's rich prose style draws readers in as her skill at characterization creates a protagonist who evokes compassion.–Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. This rewarding historical novel opens in 1533, as Catherine of Aragon once again refuses to release King Henry VIII from their marriage, renounce her title, or recognize Anne Boleyn as queen. Imprisoned in a "moldering castle" and allowed no visitors and no contact with her daughter, Mary, Catherine reflects on her experiences, beginning with her voyage to England at age 15 to marry young Prince Arthur. Their unconsummated marriage lasts six months until his death in 1502. Over the next seven years, Catherine lives with increasing poverty and decreasing prospects of marrying England's new crown prince, Henry. Though younger readers may be puzzled or disturbed by Catherine's reference to sprinkling sheep's blood onto the sheets of her first marriage bed, this is a small part of the larger story. The novel creates a vivid portrayal of Catherine, her difficult life, and her brief periods of happiness with Arthur and Henry. Catherine's sympathetic narrative mentions two figures, her daughter, Mary, and rival, Anne Boleyn, who told their stories in Mary, Bloody Mary (1999) and Doomed Queen Anne (2002). Catherine's account enlarges the intricate tapestry of Meyers' Young Royals series. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152165444
• ISBN-13: 978-0152165444
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,917,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My first book, MISS PATCH'S LEARN-TO-SEW BOOK, published more than forty years ago, was intended to teach young girls how to knot thread, make a neat stitch, and sew simple items. The main character of my next book, CLEOPATRA CONFESSES, coming in June 2011, is a far cry from the roundish, gray-haired lady with a needle in her hand and spectacles on her nose. Since the thrill of seeing that first book in print, I've written over fifty more books, non-fiction and novels (most recently, historical fiction). In the process I've learned more about writing and a lot about history, a subject that was not my favorite when I was a young student but has become my passion--a passion I love to share with readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful addition to the Young Royals series., April 25, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Patience, Princess Catherine: A Young Royals Book (Hardcover)

Catherine of Aragon was a young Spanish princess known as Catalina when she left her home in the summer of 1501 to sail to England. Catherine had known since childhood that she was betrothed to Prince Arthur, heir to the throne of England, and that one day she would have to leave Spain to marry him. Now that she is fifteen, that day has come. Arriving in England, Catherine has hope for her future. Arthur appears kind, and it seems they will at least be friends. But due to Arthur's poor health, their marriage is in name only. And just six months after the wedding, Arthur suddenly dies. Now Catherine finds her once-certain future in question. As a woman she is utterly powerless to make decisions about her own life, and can only wait while those in power determine her fate. Will she be returned to Spain so that her parents can negotiate a new marriage for her elsewhere -- or will she be married to Arthur's younger brother Prince Henry, the new heir to the throne of England?

Carolyn Meyer brought the world of Tudor England to life in this novel. Catherine is portrayed as a real young woman with hopes and dreams, making her ultimate fate seem all the more tragic. Readers who enjoyed the author's other books in the Young Royals series won't want to miss this one. It will also appeal to readers of the Royal Diaries series, and teens who enjoy historical fiction about royalty.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 16, 2005

By 

S. Roth (Bothell, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Patience, Princess Catherine: A Young Royals Book (Hardcover)

This book was great! I loved how you saw Catherine and Henry. They were both fun to watch and see how they interacted with each other and with the people around them. It was great to see how much historically accurate information was included. It took me about 20 pages to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. This is a GREAT book for people of all ages.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Boring History!, June 24, 2011

By 

emily "FunSchoolingAtHome" (Las Vegas, Nevada, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Patience, Princess Catherine (Paperback)

This series has turned out to be a pleasant surprise! We have been studying the Middle Ages this year, and while looking for additional reading material I found these books. Told from the perspective of a young person, these stories captivate young minds(and old ones). My kids, 12 and 9, have enjoyed reading these. We have all learned so much more about these individuals, and of the time and world they lived in than we ever did from a dry textbook. History came to life between the pages of this Young Royals Series. I cannot recommend them enough. Now, if only they were available for Kindle and Audible!!! :)