School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-In this addition to the series of fictional diaries focusing on royalty by Kathryn Lasky (Scholastic, 1999), Elizabeth, the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, shares her day-to-day life from the ages of 11 to 14. She feels herself the "forgotten" or "invisible" princess, being exiled from court life to a country estate due to an unfortunate turn of phrase which earns her father's displeasure. She swings from melancholy to exhilaration as she is finally allowed back at court. Her longing for her father's approval, along with the typical pastimes of an upper-class child in mid-16th century England and her friendships with Robin Dudley and Lady Jane Gray are Elizabeth's main concerns. Her father, his many wives, including the current Queen, Catherine Parr, and other members of the Tudor household are superficially developed. History is conveyed, accurately for the most part, in an entertaining fashion. Narrator Josephine Bailey's light British accent is perfect for a young Elizabeth's first person point-of-view set in diary format. A good choice for libraries where the series is popular.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
The fictionalized diary follows Elizabeth from the age of eleven until the death of her father, Henry VIII, when she is almost thirteen. The first-person voice sounds too contemporary to be convincing, but the details of sixteenth-century family and political intrigue, holiday festivities, and hygiene practices are interesting. Historical information and black-and-white photos are appended. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4^-7. This fictional diary, part of the Royal Diary series, concerns some of the happiest years of Elizabeth's youth, when she lives with her father, King Henry VIII, and Catherine Parr, who tries to establish a sense of normalcy for the royal children. It's plain, however, that Elizabeth exists with the knowledge of the executions of her mother and stepmother and the awareness that she may be exiled at any moment. Lasky uncovers the nitty-gritty details of daily living and achieves a reasonably believable tone without using much unfamiliar language. Although it's illogical for a diarist to incorporate explanations of terms into a journal presumably written only for the author's eyes ("marzipan [almond paste]"), the definitions provided will enable contemporary children to read without the interruption of a glossary. The book is handsomely designed, with an epilogue, a historical note, a family tree, photographs, and a word from the author. For a more flattering depiction of Elizabeth's older sister, Queen Mary I, see Carolyn Meyer's Mary, Bloody Mary reviewed elsewhere in this issue. --Susan Dove Lempke