Mary, Bloody Mary

This was the book the started it all for me! The book that began my great love of Tudor history. It set from the point of view of young Princess Mary Tudor prior to her father, King Henry VIII's "Great Matter", during the divorce of her mother, Queen Catherine of Aragon and the aftermath. How these events not only shaped Mary but England and the world itself. It paints a very sympathic portrayal of Mary who would later become queen in her own right. I was so delighted with my copy. It was a hardback cover. Even the copy I read all the years ago in 2000 was a paperback. I felt mighty fancy with this rendition.

This book is incredible! It gives the startling background of a girl, Mary Tudor, who suffered unimaginable pains as she grew up. I have been especially interested in the history of Elizabeth I and her family. Before I read this book, I pictured Mary as a mean and rude older half-sister to Elizabeth. Afterwards, though, I really connected with Mary and the way she felt towards Elizabeth. This was because it was Elizabeth and her mother who stripped her of her title. At first she was this beautiful princess with a title to be the next queen, but then Anne Boleyn turned her into a lowly servant girl. I believe the way Mary used her power of deception as a servant girl to spy was unique and clever. She also had friends who helped her all along the way. At times these friends had to be rude to literally keep their heads, but they told Mary why they had to treat her like this. Mary is extremely understanding with these people and this causes you to care about her. This book gives a wonderful, but fictionalized historical point of view. It really turns your mind around. I think that anyone who is interested in history, or that is just looking for a good read, should buy this book!

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer was like a window to me, showing me the difficult and complex world of Mary, Princess of Wales. When you think "Bloody Mary" you may think of some cruel, heartless, and unfeeling queen who lead a bloody rein of terror and persecution. But what about when she was a child or even a teenager. What do you think of her then? Well, that's what I thought and found out. Carolyn Meyer brilliantly sets the mood and setting of the Tudor rein by writing the book in Mary's, King Henry the VIII's first daughter, point of view. Mary shares with you her deepest feelings about her father, the royal court, her mother, and even the "witch" Anne Boleyn. You travel with Mary though her life of fear, anger, betrayal, torture, and death. And as you read on, you notice that is wasn't such an easy life living as a princess at all, especially Princess Mary Tudor. You soon come to realize why she became so bitter, cold, and maybe even mad. But, like most people, she did have some soft spots. Such as her mother, whom she loved deeply and was separated from by the order of the king, and surprisingly the baby Princess Elizabeth, whom she had to change the royal linen for (Elizabeth's diapers). This book will keep you on your feet until the very end and even have you feeling for the Princess Mary and definitely change your point of view about the misunderstood Queen. It definitely changed my vision of the Queen and left me almost in tears on how her life was pushed around without her to have any say in it. I love this book and even lent it out to my friends, whom fell in love with it as well. So run to your closest library and pick it up. It's definitely worth the trip.

This book was an excellent hisorical fiction novel. It tells about Mary Tudor from when she was about 10 - 20, when her life as a princess is awful. Her father, Henry the eighth, takes a mistress, Anne, and she pretty much ruins Mary's life. When Henry marries Anne, Mary becomes illegitimate, and she becomes a servant to their child, after being banished for years. Once you read this book you can tell why Mary became who she did in her later life. Plus this book made this bit of history very interesting! This was a great book, and I'd recommend it for ages 12 and up. If you liked this, you'd probably like to read "Elizabeth, Red Rose of the House of Tudor" a Royal Diary that tells about Mary's half sister.

Mary, Bloody Mary is a wonderful find for a history teacher. It is historical fiction that is exciting and full of vivid detail. Kids will not have to be nagged to read this riveting story of Henry VIII's eldest daughter whose life was a rags-to-riches story in reverse. From being her father's precious jewel to living in worn-out clothes, forbidden to see her mother, and pressured to sign documents stating that her own birth and birthright were illegitimate, Mary's story is told in a compelling and sympathetic manner by author Carolyn Meyer. This meticulously researched book adds detail that brings the era to life. We are pulled into Mary's universe: her studies, her daily life, her friendships, and, of course, the intrigue of court life under Henry VIII all are vividly recounted in this book. Mary emerges as a complex character who kids will find fascinating and relatable. I'm so pleased to see such high quality writing targetted for young adults. I plan to use it in my seventh grade history classes and know the kids will love reading and discussing it.

I highly reccomend this excellant novel. Young Mary Tudor narrates the story of her difficult childhood. The first few years of her life were filled with every privilage imaginable - until her father had an affair with the bewitching Anne Boleyn and tossed aside his first wife, Mary's mother, forbidding her to ever see her again. When at last Mary is allowed to live in the palace again, it is as her infant half-sister Elizabeth's servant. This is a powerful moving novel about a young girl who faces so much loss and tragedy in her life - seperated from her mother, stripped of her title, turned into a servant - that it's no wonder she grew up to become the person she became.