Fatal Throne

March 1, 2018
First-person vignettes from each of the wives of King Henry VIII are included in this work of historical fiction.Beginning with a poignant portrayal of devout Katharine of Aragon by Candace Fleming (The Amazing Collection of Joey Cornell, 2017, etc.), this collection evocatively tells the stories of those unlucky enough to be married to the heir-obsessed Henry. Stephanie Hemphill (Hideous Love, 2013, etc.) pens doomed Anne Boleyn as passionate but still vulnerable, while Lisa Ann Sandell (A Map of the Known World, 2009, etc.) renders kind Jane Seymour as incredulous that she has drawn Henry's eye. Jennifer Donnelly (Beauty and the Beast, 2017, etc.) relays the deathbed remembrances of wise Anna of Cleves regarding her short, unhappy marriage to the king, and Linda Sue Park (Cavern of Secrets, 2017, etc.) details the experiences, both exploitative and bawdy, of Catherine Howard, still a teen when Henry took her as his fifth wife and later put her to death for adultery. Finally, Deborah Hopkinson (Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen, 2018, etc.) writes of clever, measured Kateryn Parr, who survived Henry. Each section is followed by a short musing from Henry's point of view by M.T. Anderson (Landscape with Invisible Hand, 2017, etc.) that adds nuance without mitigating his horrific abuses. He also writes a brief but triumphant entry for Queen Elizabeth I.Packing an emotional punch, this meditation on the agency of these women is heartbreaking and intricately layered. (timeline, character list, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-All too often, teenagers learn history through a sanitized account written in a textbook, or through decontextualized primary source documents that do not provide the flavor of a time and place. This volume is neither sanitized nor decontextualized, as six well-known authors of historical fiction take on the first-person persona of each of Henry VIII's six wives in chronological order. Candace Fleming's Katherine of Aragon is resolute in her attempts to live up to the model of the warrior queen manifested by her mother, Queen Isabella of Spain. Stephanie Hemphill's Anne Boleyn is a seductress, loving mother, and political victim. Lisa Sandell's Jane Seymour, who dies soon after giving birth to Henry's much-longed-for son, is penitent and introspective, while Jennifer Donnelly's Anna of Cleves, in sharp contrast, is outspoken and independent. Linda Sue Park's teenaged Catherine Howard is lusty, impulsive, and naïve. Deborah Hopkinson's Kateryn Parr is measured, academic, and patient. We see glimpses of each queen in the other queens' stories, punctuated by M.T. Anderson's musings as an aging Henry VIII. A "Who's Who in the Court" helps readers navigate the ever-changing power dynamics, and an extensive bibliography will send them off to do their own research and interpretation of the queens. VERDICT Tudor fans eager to know more about Henry's court, and historical fiction lovers searching for multiple perspectives on complex moments in history are certain to enjoy. A strong choice.-Mary Ann Cappiello, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 Henry VIII may be one of the most recognizable kings of all time, and the six women he wedded, most of whom met unhappy ends, brought social, political, and religious change to sixteenth-century England. But as this book's foreword reminds us, most are only shown in relation to Henry. Here six YA authors tell each queen's story, while Anderson, the seventh, provides interludes from the increasingly unpredictable king. Most recognizable is the doomed Anne Boleyn, whose imprisonment and execution is recreated by Stephanie Hemphill, but it's the lesser-known wives who make the biggest impact. In her last days, Jennifer Donnelly's Anna of Cleves reflects on Henry, her short time as his fourth wife, and his other wives, all of whom she outlived. Linda Sue Park's Catherine Howard is young, vivacious, and charming?qualities that made her a queen, and then damned her. And Deborah Hopkinson's clever, careful Kateryn Parr understands how to keep herself alive in a dangerous world. For history buffs, this feminist examination of a volatile time in England is unmissable.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)