My Name Is Victoria

March 19, 2018
This suspenseful, entertaining tale presents a view of the young Queen Victoria as seen through the eyes of Victoria Conroy, the shy, unobtrusive daughter of Sir John Conroy, advisor and keeper of the purse strings for Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent. Known to everybody as Miss V, she is brought to Kensington Palace at the age of 11 to serve as companion to the temperamental princess and, as she soon learns, to be the eyes and ears of her powerful, plotting father. As a bond grows between the girls, Miss V becomes ever more uneasy about her father’s true motives and his role in the household. Is the “Kensington System,” which prohibits the princess from having contact with the outside world, truly meant to protect her? Worlsey (Maid of the King’s Court) is a curator for England’s historic royal palaces, and she makes good use of her expertise and her imagination to bring historical figures to life and draw readers into the novel’s mid-19th-century royal world. Miss V’s seven-year tenure with Victoria is marked by suspicions, tensions, revelations, and unexpected alliances; the girls’ physical similarity to each other develops alongside their friendship, making for a deliciously surprising and satisfying ending. Ages 12–up. Agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Assoc.

March 1, 2018

Gr 8 Up-An interesting twist on the early life of Queen Victoria. Miss V. Conroy joins the household of the Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria at Kensington Palace. Miss V is to be Victoria's companion, but also secretly spy for Sir John Conroy, the comptroller of the household and Victoria's nemesis. Miss V learns about the Kensington System, a set of rules created by Sir John to keep Victoria safe, which the princess finds oppressive. Torn between loyalty to her father and her deep bond with Victoria; Miss V learns, over time, to balance the needs of the System with that of her friend. However, Prince Albert's arrival to Kensington Palace forces Miss V to take control of her life. The fascinating turn of events creates an engaging alternate history for fans of historical fiction and Queen Victoria. Worsley's expertise in the subject creates an intimate story accurate enough to feel plausible. However, readers unfamiliar with the British royal family may find the story overwhelming in detail, especially as Part One tends to drag. However, those intrigued by Queen Victoria or historical fiction will find this volume moving. Give to teens who are ready to graduate from the "Royal Diary" series. VERDICT A rich and moving historical fiction about one of England's best-known monarchs; recommended for fans of Carolyn Meyer and Michaela MacColl.-Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 1, 2018
Historian Worsley's (Jane Austen at Home, 2017, etc.) second novel for young adults puts a unique spin on Queen Victoria's childhood and path to the throne.Miss Victoria Conroy, daughter of Sir John Conroy, the royal comptroller, is going to London to be a companion for Her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria. The 11-year-old "Miss V" finds the prospect of meeting the princess and living at Kensington Palace both thrilling and terrifying. However, the quiet, obedient, and shy Miss V is surprised to find that the possible future queen of England is dirty, boisterous, and prone to tantrums. Claiming he has Victoria's best interests at heart, Miss V's father has devised the oppressive Kensington System ostensibly to protect the princess from would-be assassins. As the years pass, the girls grow closer, and Miss V discovers her father is using the System to feed his own hunger for power. Miss V's duty is to the princess, and it's up to her to beat the System and help ensure that Victoria takes her rightful place on the throne at 18. Contemporary customs and royal politics round out the narrative to provide an intriguing glimpse into the girlhood of one of the most powerful women in European history as imagined by one of Britain's most popular historians.A brilliant blend of historical fact and artistic license. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-adult)

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