The Stolen One
Grade 8 Up&mdash;Intrigue, romance, and period details abound in this riveting story of Tudor England. While many novels about this time period focus on Queen Elizabeth I, Crowley has chosen to ponder a historical mystery&mdash;the fate of Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour, about whom virtually nothing is known. Was the orphaned child spirited away somewhere? Did she die in the plague like so many others? Told from the point of view of Katherine Bab, a country girl of unknown parentage, this novel offers a plausible scenario. Kat has always wondered who her parents were, but could never get any answers from the woman who raised her. When her caretaker dies, she uncovers what looks like a royal necklace from among the items that supposedly came with her as a baby, and she decides to go to London to find some answers. Her talent as an embroiderer gives her entry into Queen Elizabeth's court, where, surprisingly, she is chosen to be one of the queen's maids of honor. Her quest for answers about her past brings her closer to the queen and closer to danger. Readers who are ready for something more complex than Grace Cavendish's "Lady Grace Mysteries" (Delacorte) or Carolyn Meyer's "Young Royals" series (Harcourt) won't be able to put this book down. The sophisticated writing flows well, and the author does a terrific job of integrating historical details, though some previous knowledge of the era would be helpful.&mdash;Cheri Dobbs, Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills, MICopyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.