The Redheaded Princess: A Novel (Hardcover)

by Ann Rinaldi (Author)
Key Phrases: pussy cat, Cat Ashley, Sir Tom, Lady Jane (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Believably depicted...Rinaldi’s writing style is accessible...enjoyable." -- School Library Journal

"Fans of Rinaldi’s work will be happy with this book...the book is a treat." -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"Fascinating...compelling and engaging." -- Detroit Free Press

"Rinaldi knows how to tell a good story...entertaining." -- KLIATT

"The rich scene-setting and believable, appealing heroine will satisfy Rinaldi’s many fans" -- Booklist (starred review)

Review
"The rich scene-setting and believable, appealing heroine will satisfy Rinaldi's many fans" (Booklist (starred review) )

"Fascinating...compelling and engaging." (Detroit Free Press )

"Believably depicted...Rinaldi's writing style is accessible...enjoyable." (School Library Journal )

"Rinaldi knows how to tell a good story...entertaining." (KLIATT )

"Fans of Rinaldi's work will be happy with this book...the book is a treat." (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060733748
• ISBN-13: 978-0060733742
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #138,891 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 18, 2008

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

In Rinaldi's spectacular new book for young adults, she's moved beyond American history to British, and the tale of a young redheaded girl who yearned to be queen.

Despised by her father and sister, shoved aside by the nation's leaders, and motherless, young Elizabeth I grows up at her country estate where she learns from a young age the dangers of crossing paths with monarchs. She realizes that even though her sister and her brother stand between her and the Crown, she will one day be queen.

THE REDHEADED PRINCESS is her sharp, fast-paced, and beautifully wrought story of how that came to be.

Wonderfully detailed and breathtakingly accurate, this is perhaps the most engaging book that tells of Elizabeth's plights and triumphs.

Reviewed by: The Compulsive Reader

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Redheaded Princess worth the effort, February 9, 2008

By	yankeerat - See all my reviews

It took me about forty pages to warm to this historical novel about a teenage Elizabeth Tudor, mainly because author Ann Rinaldi did such a poor job of establishing the narrator's voice. Elizabeth is old beyond her years, and not just because children were forced to grow up faster. At eight years of age she is expressing love for an admired member of her father's court, and it is as if Rinaldi has lost track of her narrator's age. Dialogue between Elizabeth and her younger brother Edward sounds as if it is exchanged between grown-ups, rather than tweenies (which they are at the start of the story--forsooth!)The book vacilates between juvenile and young adult suitability. But once it becomes clear that this is a YA book, both in content and style (again, it took about 40 pages, so be patient,) this is an engrossing story of political machinations, love affairs, and family dysfunction. Despite the fact that we know Elizabeth will go on to become one of England's most influential monarchs, it is fascinating watching her walk the tightrope between familial sentiment and survival.

Elizabeth is portrayed as a wise and wily young woman, mindful of her place while out of favor, but never forgetful that she could very well be queen one day. She watches her rivals get their turn at the throne, and then fall through one means or another (some natural, others, as in the case of the unfortunate Lady Jane Grey, unnatural.) Supporting characters in the book, of which there are many, are well-rounded. Rinaldi manages to avoid caricature when portraying larger than life figures like Henry VIII. In the end, The Redheaded Princess is worth the effort and will reward readers with a fresh look at one of the most fascinating political dynasties in history.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced historical fiction, July 15, 2008

By	EssieGee (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This story begins in England in the year 1542, when Elizabeth is nine years old. Although she is the daughter of King Henry VIII, she is not officially recognized as a princess because she, along with her other half-siblings Edward and Mary have fallen out of their father's favor. Instead, she lives as Lady Elizabeth, head of the household at Hatfield with her nanny. Throughout her childhood she rarely visits her father at the palace.

Many people say that she is very much like her father; this pleases her, but also makes her uneasy. After all, King Henry beheaded her mother! Watching her father's relationships with so many women, Elizabeth learns that marriage while on the throne only seems to complicate things and vows to remain single when she eventually becomes queen.

However, this is easier said than done. From the age of eleven she begins receiving requests from men for her hand in marriage...and we must remember that Elizabeth is third--not first--in line for the crown behind her siblings. Not only must she cope with that, she must also stay in her family's favor as time goes on. She gets along fine with Edward when he is king, but she and Mary but heads over religion when Mary is queen. Mary gets so angry that she sends Elizabeth to the Tower because she won't bend to her will. How is Elizabeth able to survive until 1558, the year she is finally able to accept the crown as her own?

This is a good, fast-paced story told from Elizabeth's point of view. Ann Rinaldi does admit at the end that this is indeed her own interpretation of Elizabeth's story and that there are probably more accurate accounts out there, but that her goal was to make a fun book about an interesting historical figure based on historical events.