Tarnish

May 15, 2013
Following on Gilt (2012), which told the tale of Henry VIII's doomed fifth wife, Catherine Howard, is another beheaded wife's story. The oft-rehearsed tale of King Henry VIII's second and best-known wife, Anne Boleyn, is recounted in this mostly factual reconstruction of the years before Henry's divorce from Queen Katherine and marriage to Anne, an event that is said to have changed the course of English history, since Henry broke with the Roman Catholic Church in order to secure a divorce. Anne's confident, present-tense narration conveys her tempestuous personality, her feelings of alienation from the ladies of the court and her desperate ambition to secure a position there. Flirtations with figures of history, including the poet Sir Thomas Wyatt and noble Sir Henry Percy, as well as Anne's strong attraction to the king himself, a deeply charismatic individual, propel the narrative. They add spice to a complex tale that occasionally gets bogged down in historical detail and is sometimes marred by linguistic anachronisms. However the raw emotions and unflinching honesty of a young girl caught in a whirlwind of history shine through, keeping readers engaged to the end of this sizable novel, which ends before her marriage to the king and subsequent beheading. Teens with a love of history will not be able to resist this skillful retelling of the remarkable achievement of Anne Boleyn, who rose from tarnished foreign outcast to the king's bride. (Historical fiction. 13-17)

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June 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-In this companion novel to Gilt (Viking, 2012), Anne Boleyn arrives in King Henry VIII's court amid whispers and stares from the courtiers. She knows her position is precarious; that she is talked about because of what she's done in the past and for the fact that her sister, Mary, is mistress to the king. Yet she is determined to be held in high esteem at court. Her brother, George, tells her she is too different to obtain that goal. She speaks her mind and gets into trouble. Enter renowned ladies' man Thomas Wyatt. He bets Anne that he can turn court favor to her side if she does as he asks. If the plan succeeds, he will have her in his bed because she will want to be there. After some thought she concedes and their game of courtly love begins. He pursues her and she encourages it. Soon she realizes that Wyatt's plan is working. People-especially men-are beginning to notice her. More importantly, the king has turned his attention to her. These developments excite her, but what she doesn't count on is Wyatt falling in love with her, and realizing that she loves him as well. She comes to understand the importance of love, but in the end rejects Wyatt in favor of the king. An un-put-downable historical romance.-Wendy M. Scalfaro, G. Ray Bodley High School, Fulton, NY

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Grades 9-12 The court of Henry VIII flares back into life in this follow-up to Gilt (2012). Anne Boleyn collides with Thomas Wyatt, a poet and an important man of the court who might be a wise match for her, but Anne's heart has been captured by her sister's lover, the king. Torn between two very different men, Anne finds cold comfort in the other women at court, who consider her too French and unacceptably sharp-witted. Longshore captures the ensuing volley of emotions beautifully in dialogue that blends modern sensibilities with the cadence of Tudor English, creating a timeless setting for these ill-fated love stories. Anne's situation is painted realistically, complete with rejected suitors and broken promises that underscore her value to the Boleyn family as merely a marriageable woman. Serious history students may object to Longshore's tendency to experiment with the historical record, but this sweeping romance will encourage most readers to surrender gladly to the page.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)