Meyer, Carolyn The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 420p 18.00
978-0-15-206376-4 jr/sr Historical VG
This is the story of a young Austrian princess who leaves home at the age of fourteen to marry the dauphin of France. Her life is not easy as she tries to please her mother and the endless Rules of Etiquette at Versailles.
This is a story where the reader will gain a great deal if insight into the world of the notorious Marie Antoinette. There are many stories in history books about her escapades throughout her time at Versailles. However, readers will gain a better understanding of how a fun loving young girl had to deal with the stuffy domineering world of the French court. Readers will also be astounded how she was stripped of all of her Austrian clothes and possessions at the French border when she arrived to marry the dauphin. Pair this with the fact that the dauphin ignores her in favor of his hobbies even after their marriage. This brought about stress because their was no heir to the throne for several years. During this time it seemed that Marie could not please anyone. She had to adapt to the rigid rules of etiquette in France while constantly getting scolding letters from her Austrian mother concerning her lack of demeanor. Marie escaped those restrictions with her dress extravagances and wild parties.
Readers will get an insight in a slice of history that has always been popular. Marie was a young lady living in a world that hated her because she was an Austrian and a renegade royal who went her own way and ignored the rigid rules of etiquette at Versailles. In each of the 69 chapters the reader will get a glimpse of a rule and its reaction. This is a well written book that would be recommended for any already established middle school or high school library. McNeil, Linda
Showing posts with label Kings anad Queens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kings anad Queens. Show all posts
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Coventry, Susan The Queen’s Daughter
Coventry, Susan The Queen’s Daughter
Henry Holt/Macmillan children's pub group 2010 373p 16.99
978-0-8050-8992-9 hs Historical VG
This is the fictionalized biography of Joan, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, King of England. Joan of England is the youngest daughter of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Growing up as a child she listened to her mother when she said that a queen must always know everything about her kingdom’s enemies, resources, and to make her husband “welcome in her bed, give him heirs, but not be fool enough to love him”.
Most of her life was full of discord. Her mother and father fought constantly. Her brothers, Henry, Richard (The Lionhearted), Geoffrey, and John were constantly at war with their father as they switched their loyalties between France and England. The practicalities of war did not mean a calm life for Joan. She spent her time divided between her father’s anger and being imprisoned with her mother.
At a very young age she was married of to be the Queen Consort of Sicily, which lasted only a short time before her husband died. During this time she once again saw the anger and difficulties of court politics. Her favorite brother, Richard, took her with him on a Crusade to the Holy Lands. Later he married her off to Lord Raymond, The Count of Toulouse.
The author has written an easy to read novel that could be enjoyed by young readers. The reason that I am not recommending it for Books of Note is because there are some glaring omissions for a historical novel. Readers of historical novels want to have some insight into the time period. They rely upon the author to provide the following: diagrams and maps, photos or wood block prints, glossaries, bibliographies, genealogical table, epilogues, and author notes which explains to the reader what the author did or did not do with the facts in the story. I would suggest that she get a copy of Gillespie, John T. Historical Fiction For Young Readers (Grades 4-8).Westport,Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2008. "Introduction and Criteria of Historical Fiction".
This is a very written book that would make an excellent addition to any secondary school library. McNeil, Linda
Kings and Queens-fction
Henry Holt/Macmillan children's pub group 2010 373p 16.99
978-0-8050-8992-9 hs Historical VG
This is the fictionalized biography of Joan, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, King of England. Joan of England is the youngest daughter of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Growing up as a child she listened to her mother when she said that a queen must always know everything about her kingdom’s enemies, resources, and to make her husband “welcome in her bed, give him heirs, but not be fool enough to love him”.
Most of her life was full of discord. Her mother and father fought constantly. Her brothers, Henry, Richard (The Lionhearted), Geoffrey, and John were constantly at war with their father as they switched their loyalties between France and England. The practicalities of war did not mean a calm life for Joan. She spent her time divided between her father’s anger and being imprisoned with her mother.
At a very young age she was married of to be the Queen Consort of Sicily, which lasted only a short time before her husband died. During this time she once again saw the anger and difficulties of court politics. Her favorite brother, Richard, took her with him on a Crusade to the Holy Lands. Later he married her off to Lord Raymond, The Count of Toulouse.
The author has written an easy to read novel that could be enjoyed by young readers. The reason that I am not recommending it for Books of Note is because there are some glaring omissions for a historical novel. Readers of historical novels want to have some insight into the time period. They rely upon the author to provide the following: diagrams and maps, photos or wood block prints, glossaries, bibliographies, genealogical table, epilogues, and author notes which explains to the reader what the author did or did not do with the facts in the story. I would suggest that she get a copy of Gillespie, John T. Historical Fiction For Young Readers (Grades 4-8).Westport,Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2008. "Introduction and Criteria of Historical Fiction".
This is a very written book that would make an excellent addition to any secondary school library. McNeil, Linda
Kings and Queens-fction
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