A quick-paced foray into English history and one girl’s self-discovery.
The life of a butcher’s daughter is intertwined with those of the princes in the Tower of London.
Born during the tumultuous years of England’s Wars of the Roses, Nell, fictional daughter of John Gould, an actual historical royal butcher, grows up as a companion and dear friend to Prince Edward. Ned is the firstborn son of King Edward IV, but his uncle is Richard, Duke of Gloucester, portrayed here as grim and suspicious. When Ned is sent to the Welsh Marches to learn kingship, he writes to Nell in Latin and awakens in her a thirst for reading and writing. In short order, the king dies, Richard seizes the throne, and Nell and her little brother are given permission to visit Ned and his brother, who are being held in the Tower of London. The visit becomes a sojourn, and Nell acknowledges her love for Ned. Escaping to a nunnery after the royal murders, Nell finds sanctuary, witnesses the death of Richard in Bosworth Field, and finally understands that she can have a fulfilling, independent life. Characters both real and imaginary inhabit this multilayered, dramatic interpretation of royal intrigue. Nell has a keen eye for royal household details, adding depth and warmth to the tale. The afterword and timeline are essential reading for a full understanding of the story.
A quick-paced foray into English history and one girl’s self-discovery. (Historical fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4607-0
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
An outstanding new edition of this popular modern classic (Newbery Award, 1961), with an introduction by Zena Sutherland and...
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1990
ISBN: 0-395-53680-4
Page Count: -
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Navigating this stunning novel requires thought and concentration, but it’s well worth the effort.
Returning to themes she explored so affectingly in Moon Over Manifest (2011), Newbery Medalist Vanderpool delivers another winning picaresque about memories, personal journeys, interconnectedness—and the power of stories.
Thirteen-year-old Jack enters boarding school in Maine after his mother’s death at the end of World War II. He quickly befriends Early Auden, a savant whose extraordinary facility with numbers allows him to “read” a story about “Pi” from the infinite series of digits that follow 3.14. Jack accompanies Early in one of the school crew team’s rowing boats on what Jack believes is his friend’s fruitless quest to find a great bear allegedly roaming the wilderness—and Early’s brother, a legendary figure reportedly killed in battle. En route, Early spins out Pi’s evolving saga, and the boys encounter memorable individuals and adventures that uncannily parallel those in the stories. Vanderpool ties all these details, characters, and Jack’s growing maturity and self-awareness together masterfully and poignantly, though humor and excitement leaven the weighty issues the author and Jack frequently pose. Some exploits may strain credulity; Jack’s self-awareness often seems beyond his years, and there are coincidences that may seem too convenient. It’s all of a piece with Vanderpool’s craftsmanship. Her tapestry is woven and finished off seamlessly. The ending is very moving, and there’s a lovely, last-page surprise that Jack doesn’t know but that readers will have been tipped off about.
Navigating this stunning novel requires thought and concentration, but it’s well worth the effort. (author’s note, with questions and answers, list of resources) (Historical fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-385-74209-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Oct. 30, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
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