Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for nine days at the age of fifteen before being executed for treason, narrates her story beginning at age nine. Unloved by her parents, young Jane had an unhappy and lonely childhood. Sent to court at age nine, she finally gained happiness as a maid of honor to Queen Katharine, wife of King Henry VIII. After the king dies, Jane remains a member of Katharine's household, but even that happiness is lost when Katharine dies in childbirth after remarrying.

Returning home, Jane must once again endure her parents' cruelty, as they scheme to arrange a marriage for her that will bring them wealth and power. But when the young King Edward, Jane's beloved cousin, dies, Jane is unprepared for how far they will go. Staunch Protestants, Jane's parents are determined that Edward's Catholic half-sister Mary will not become queen -- and so they force their daughter to accept the crown of England in a plot that is doomed to failure.

This was an excellent historical novel for teens that tells the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey. I was really looking forward to reading this book, because I love historical novels about royalty, and Ann Rinaldi is one of my favorite authors. I am happy to say I am not disappointed at all. Ann Rinaldi brings Jane to life as an intelligent girl, observant and wise beyond her years, who against her will became a pawn in a power struggle she wanted no part in. This makes the inevitably sad ending even more tragic. Teen readers who are interested in the Tudor era, or who enjoy historical fiction, should definitley read this book. ( )

Cousin to the child King, Lady Jane Grey at a young age decided she would never want to be Queen. Watching her friends, her cousins, playing with them, she always knew she was fourth in line for the crown, but even with King Edward sick and dying she always thought Princess Mary would take the throne. Amazed to discover herself 15 years old, and left without anyone she could truly trust, her parents married her to Guildford Dudley and then thrust her on the throne and declared, after King Edwards death, Jane the Queen. Queen Jane had no idea what had happened to Princess Mary and why she was now the queen instead. Mary wanted to be queen, she fought for it and she finally claimed the throne nine days after Jane had been declared queen. Jane now found herself as well as her husband, Guildford, and his family all locked in the towers for treason. Lady Jane kept hope that Queen Mary would realize that she was yet a child, a pawn, and hopefully still her friend, she knew she would be pardoned.

Based in a terrible but true story about England’s royal show of force and deceptions. Historically fairly accurate for a fictional book, sometimes it is easier to learn history with a little story embellishments. This tragic story of a 15 year old who was forced to be Queen is a difficult story to believe and hard enough for scholars to follow all the plots, at times I felt this book had too much information that was not necessary for a young adult fiction, other times I felt there was some details missing that might have helped explain things a bit better. The ending was dramatically written, with the authors notes to complete the story. The addition of the references is great for anyone who has need to check facts of this story. ( )

This is a good introduction to the life of one of England's least-fortunate queens, Jane Grey. In all the biographies I've read of her, she is a sad heroine, and this book is no exception. Her parents abuse her, and it is against her peaceful nature to join the intrigue of the Tudor courts.

Rinaldi does a good job of bringing the poor girl to life. Jane is an innocent with great affection for her royal cousins Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. She is swept along by the will of her parents and scheming nobles, ultimately to her doom.

In Rinaldi's version of Grey's story, her marriage is never consumated and she never has a great passionate romance. I wonder if the choice was made because of Rinaldi's younger audience, since other versions of Grey's life have her head-over-heels for her cousin the King, or Edward son of Thomas' Seymour's brother. ( )

The brief life of Lady Jane Grey, who came to the English throne at 15 years old, and reigned for a mere 9 days.

Rinaldi creates an innocent, sympathetic character in Lady Jane. Lady Jane's life is a romantic tale of misery and woe. Even until the moment of her death, the former queen never gives up believing in the best of people, especially her cousin, Queen Mary. Lady Jane's innocence is both irksome and endearing, and creates a tragic heroine whose death I mourn. ( )

Related on her mother's side to the Tudors, Lady Jane Grey is nine years old when her parents begin using her to further their ambitions. She becomes lady-in-waiting and companion to Henry VIII's latest wife, Katherine Parr. When King Henry dies, Katherine marries the beau of the court and her long-time love, Sir Thomas Seymour - brother, and rival, of the Lord Protector of young Edward. They take her to live with them and to betroth her to a young nobleman. As the politics and powerplays change, Jane finds herself betrothed to different powerful families until she finally marries the spoiled Guildford Dudley.

Upon King Edward's early death, 16 year old Jane is once again subject to the machinations of her parents and her father-in-law who conspire to put her on the throne. She lasts a bare nine days before Queen Mary returns, and Jane suffers a traitor's fate in the Tower.

A good historical novel that focuses more on Jane's life of privilege, but as a pawn. Jane is in the thick of the politics and the important persons - friends to royals, ward of nobles, and related to royalty herself - of the time. She is a studious, intelligent girl who does not want the throne, but finds herself executed for the ambitions of others. It is simply told, and some prior knowledge of the history is necessary to really understand what's going on, but it is a good, relatable account of the life of a young girl caught up in the politics of the Tudors.

Good, though a little simple even for a young adult novel. It might be nice if the historical note set up the situation more and if there was some sort of explanation of how everyone was related. ( )