Patience, Princess Catherine

May 1, 2004
Patience, Princess Catherine by Carolyn Meyer is the fourth title in the Young Royals series. Opening with the musings of the displaced Catherine of Aragon, imprisoned by her husband Henry VIII and supplanted by Anne Boleyn, the story flashes back to Catherine's betrothal and marriage first to Arthur, then to Arthur's brother Henry. Catherine's joy in finally marrying Henry stands in striking contrast to her eventual fate when she cannot produce a male heir.

July 1, 2004
Gr 6 Up-Meyer gives voice to Catherine of Aragon as she recounts the story of her betrothals and marriages. The political and economic gains and machinations upon which these unions were based are clearly chronicled in this carefully researched offering. Catherine's dramatic narrative begins as she embarks, at the age of 15, on the arduous journey from Spain to England to become the wife of Prince Arthur, a match made for her when she was only three. She tells of her life in England, moving from the enviable position of a future queen to that of a young girl far from home who is beholden to the generosity of the king of England. After six months of an unconsummated marriage, Catherine is widowed. Diplomatic negotiations rule her life as she is betrothed to his younger brother, the future King Henry VIII, but the path to that marriage is strewn with international agreements that are made and revoked. Once Prince Henry becomes king, he marries Catherine and this union lasts some 24 years until he turns to Ann Boleyn. Through it all, Catherine is a pawn. Meyer seamlessly provides details about customs and beliefs in bringing history to life. Her Catherine develops from a callow young girl into a woman who fights for her rights as much as the times permitted. As in Mary, Bloody Mary (Harcourt, 1999), the author's rich prose style draws readers in as her skill at characterization creates a protagonist who evokes compassion.-Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2004
Gr. 6-9. This rewarding historical novel opens in 1533, as Catherine of Aragon once again refuses to release King Henry VIII from their marriage, renounce her title, or recognize Anne Boleyn as queen. Imprisoned in a "moldering castle" and allowed no visitors and no contact with her daughter, Mary, Catherine reflects on her experiences, beginning with her voyage to England at age 15 to marry young Prince Arthur. Their unconsummated marriage lasts six months until his death in 1502. Over the next seven years, Catherine lives with increasing poverty and decreasing prospects of marrying England's new crown prince, Henry. Though younger readers may be puzzled or disturbed by Catherine's reference to sprinkling sheep's blood onto the sheets of her first marriage bed, this is a small part of the larger story. The novel creates a vivid portrayal of Catherine, her difficult life, and her brief periods of happiness with Arthur and Henry. Catherine's sympathetic narrative mentions two figures, her daughter, Mary, and rival, Anne Boleyn, who told their stories in " Mary, Bloody Mary " (1999) and " Doomed Queen Anne" (2002). Catherine's account enlarges the intricate tapestry of Meyers' Young Royals series. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)