Mary, Bloody Mary

Author: Carolyn Meyer
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2001
Pages: 240
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: The story of Mary Tudor's childhood is a classic fairy tale: A princess who is to inherit the throne of England is separated from her mother; abused by an evil stepmother who has enchanted her father; stripped of her title; and forced to care for her baby stepsister, who inherits Mary's right to the throne. Believe it or not, it's all true.

Told in the voice of the young Mary, this novel explores the history and intrigue of the dramatic rule of Henry VIII, his outrageous affair with and marriage to the bewitching Anne Boleyn, and the consequences of that relationship for his firstborn daughter.

Review: I just love this author for historical biographies. My mother was fascinated with the history of the royal family, and so on principle, I was not ☺However, as it turns out my husband has this same interest and he talks about his novels enough that I found myself sort of interesting. I liked Mary, Bloody Mary because it was "Tudor-lite." It's a crazy family, and because this novel is written for the middle to high school set, it wasn't a deep dive into the family. Perfect for someone who wants to dapple and not know too much.

Other Carolyn Meyer Novels:
In Mozart's Shadow: His Sister's Story
Diary of a Waitress: The Not-So-Glamorous Life of a Harvey Girl