The Stolen One [Hardcover]

Suzanne Crowley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2009

No one wanted you. But I did.

Kat's true identity is a secret, even from her. All she has ever known are Grace and Anna and their small village. Kat wants more—more than hours spent embroidering finery for wealthy ladies and more than Christian, the gentle young farmer courting her.

But there are wolves outside, Grace warns. Waiting, with their eyes glowing in the dark . . . and Grace has given Kat safety and a home when no one else would.

Then a stranger appears in their cottage, bringing the mystery of Kat's birth with her. In one night, Kat's destiny finds her: She will leave. She will journey to London, and her skill with the needle will attract the notice of the magnificent Queen Elizabeth—and of the wolves of the court. She will discover what Grace would never tell her.

Everything will unravel.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—Intrigue, romance, and period details abound in this riveting story of Tudor England. While many novels about this time period focus on Queen Elizabeth I, Crowley has chosen to ponder a historical mystery—the fate of Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, about whom virtually nothing is known. Was the orphaned child spirited away somewhere? Did she die in the plague like so many others? Told from the point of view of Katherine Bab, a country girl of unknown parentage, this novel offers a plausible scenario. Kat has always wondered who her parents were, but could never get any answers from the woman who raised her. When her caretaker dies, she uncovers what looks like a royal necklace from among the items that supposedly came with her as a baby, and she decides to go to London to find some answers. Her talent as an embroiderer gives her entry into Queen Elizabeth's court, where, surprisingly, she is chosen to be one of the queen's maids of honor. Her quest for answers about her past brings her closer to the queen and closer to danger. Readers who are ready for something more complex than Grace Cavendish's "Lady Grace Mysteries" (Delacorte) or Carolyn Meyer's "Young Royals" series (Harcourt) won't be able to put this book down. The sophisticated writing flows well, and the author does a terrific job of integrating historical details, though some previous knowledge of the era would be helpful.—Cheri Dobbs, Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI
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From Booklist

Set in Elizabethan England, this novel tells of 16-year-old Kat, who has grown up in a country cottage under the care of a foster mother. After her death, Kat goes to London in hopes of learning her parents’ identities. There she is taken under the wing of Queen Elizabeth I, and soon a rumor swirls through court that Kat’s mother is the queen herself. The mystery of Kat’s past is intertwined with the always-involving question of whether her heart lies with one of the handsome rogues at court or with a young farmer back home. Interspersed with Kat’s first-person narration are passages from a secret journal, written years before. Though readers unfamiliar with Tudor history may find themselves lost at times, particularly in the journal entries, all becomes clear in the concluding chapters. An author’s note identifies historical details that inspired the novel. Historical-fiction fans will find Kat a strong, engaging heroine and her story a compelling one. Grades 8-12. --Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1 edition (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061232009
• ISBN-13: 978-0061232008
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Suzanne Crowley was born in a small west Texas town, not unlike Jumbo, the setting of her first novel, "The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous." She was raised in Houston and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Journalism. She worked briefly at an interior design magazine before staying home to raise her three children and write freelance articles for magazines. Suzanne is a well-known miniaturist, her recreation of historical and designer rooms have been featured on the covers of American and international magazines. After living all across the United States with her husband's job, they moved back to Texas in 2005. Suzanne grew up with the family legend that she is distantly related to Lady Jane Grey, the tragic queen of nine days, leading to a life long love of the Tudor era, and eventually "The Stolen One."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, July 1, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: The Stolen One (Hardcover)

Katherine Bab takes her one chance to get out of her country village to go to London when her adoptive mother passes away. She wants, no, needs, to find out who she really is. Soon, Kat becomes a favorite of Queen Elizabeth herself. Rumors are everywhere, since they have matching hair - could she be the Virgin Queen's secret daughter?

She stitches for hours, creating a masterpiece of a dress for the Queen. Two men at court, Rafael and Nicholas, are trying to win her heart, but Kat can't help but think of Christian, her childhood best friend, and the man at her village that wants to marry her.

Who will she choose? And will she find out who her mother is?

I was so impressed by this novel. I loved all of the characters. It was mysterious, and it made me want to find out who Kat's mother was. I was just as curious as she was! I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially during the time of Elizabeth as Queen. And here is another one that I really enjoyed. There was nothing I was disappointed in during the novel, except a little at the end, only because I didn't want the story to end!

When THE STOLEN ONE hits bookshelves, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Or read it if it just sounds interesting!

Reviewed by: Ashley B

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Although written for teens, adults may also enjoy this Tudor-related novel..., May 7, 2010

By 

S. Gammill "stacie74" (Sulphur Springs, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Stolen One (Hardcover)

I was very impressed overall with this book! After a couple of slow chapters, the plot takes off abruptly and doesn't let up until the last page, where it is all tied up in a satisfying ending. The heroine of the story, Katherine Bab, is a headstrong teenage girl who is raised in the English countryside during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Kat knows she has a mysterious past and is determined to discover exactly who she is. Because of her extraordinary skill as a seamstress, she is called to court to make a dress for the Queen. There is a mysterious connection between Queen Bess and Kat, one that makes Kat even more determined to discover her past. Kat's journey of self-discovery is full of mystery, romance and tragedies - all of which engaged this reader and made it hard to put this book down. A great read and very engrossing!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful 16th Century Teen Journey, September 29, 2009

By 

Erika (Jawas Read, Too) (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stolen One (Hardcover)

I was lucky enough to win a signed copy of Suzanne Crowley's The Stolen One through a GoodReads Giveaway. The cover is gorgeous (I love her hair), and the synopsis made me really curious. It's not just YA, it's YA historical fiction--a good combination.

Kat has been raised by Grace Bab as a sister to Grace's daughter, Anna. Anna is a quiet beauty, with hair as pale as her mother's, speaking only to Grace and Kat in a voice otherwise unintelligible to strangers. Kat is curious and outspoken with blazing red hair and a vibrant personality ill-suited to a young girl coming of age in 16th Century England. Despite all thoughts to the contrary, her confidence and strong-will has attracted the attentions of the young pear farmer Christian Bab, nephew to Grace and cousin to Anna. Of course, Kat is supposed to believe Christian is her cousin, too, but she knows better. She knows Grace has been keeping secrets and lying to her about the real world and her real heritage.

When a mysterious omen appears in the woods outside of their cottage as the ladies prepare for the local festival, Kat is sure death is near. An evening of revelry ensues in which there is a proposal, a death, and a revelation. It doesn't take much to inspire Kat's motivation for the truth and the next morning she packs her bags and takes Anna with her to London in search of her birth mother, leaving the country and Christian behind indefinitely.

The Stolen One is a romantic tale of intrigue at the court of Queen Elizabeth I in which Crowley explores the life of a royal child forever thought lost to the world to fates unknown. There's mystery surrounding Kat's past, gorgeous gowns, lavish dishes, scandal, and, of course, romance. The women of Crowley's imagined Elizabethan court are as flirtatious as they are wicked and cunning. They are quick to jealousy, as hot-tempered as their Queen and as dangerous. Contrast this against Kat's keen eye for embroidery, a talent so strong it wins her a prime spot in Elizabeth's retinue, and the combination eludes to an atmosphere of a 16th Century "Project Runway." There's a lot of focus on dresses and materials, embroidery detail and embellishments, patterns and stitches, techniques and draperies. It's enough to either exhaust the reader into yearning for an accompanying full color pattern book or inspire frequent trips to the local Renaissance Faire to drool at the dress vendors.

There's no argument from me that Crowley has written an alluring book. Kat is at times a bit unsympathetic and selfish in her determination to unearth the secrets of her past. Her adventures and accomplishments come at the expense of poor Anna whom I wished the world for. I was very disappointed with happened to her. But Kat does seem to redeem herself at the end of the book which surprised me as I realized the beauty of the story was in the journey Kat took to bring her where she ended up. The lessons she learns are invaluable, albeit costly.

There are a few characters I would have liked to know more about, like Rafael and his mother; the suspense led me to believe there really was something menacing in Rafael, something to add to his dark physical appearance, but if I was disappointed in this regard, I wasn't disappointed with Rafael overall. That's not to say I liked how his character was treated, I just think the added dimension came too late for Kat to appreciate in any real sense for a girl who'd been stand offish and suspicious of him for the majority of the book.

The Stolen One is filled with characters that are as varied and vibrant as Kat's embroideries; some that are shallow and mean-spirited; some that are benevolent and unambitious. In the end, the people of the court were no more than props to remind us (and Kat) that in Elizabeth's court, "it's all about illusions" (p. 191). Against the beautiful and enchanting backdrop of masques, idle time spent in luxury, sumptuous clothing, and delicacies fit for royalty, Kat comes to realize the truth of her life as she's come to know is more important than anything she could ever have yearned for in the past.

I could have done with fewer uses of the word "aye," but would recommend this book to anyone who wants an overall satisfying read that takes you there and back again through the eyes of an angry, confused, but determined teenage girl. And, it's a colorful, rich journey. Did I mention the dresses?