Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2018 Henry VIII may be one of the most recognizable kings of all time, and the six women he wedded, most of whom met unhappy ends, brought social, political, and religious change to sixteenth-century England. But as this book’s foreword reminds us, most are only shown in relation to Henry. Here six YA authors tell each queen’s story, while Anderson, the seventh, provides interludes from the increasingly unpredictable king. Most recognizable is the doomed Anne Boleyn, whose imprisonment and execution is recreated by Stephanie Hemphill, but it’s the lesser-known wives who make the biggest impact. In her last days, Jennifer Donnelly’s Anna of Cleves reflects on Henry, her short time as his fourth wife, and his other wives, all of whom she outlived. Linda Sue Park’s Catherine Howard is young, vivacious, and charming—qualities that made her a queen, and then damned her. And Deborah Hopkinson’s clever, careful Kateryn Parr understands how to keep herself alive in a dangerous world. For history buffs, this feminist examination of a volatile time in England is unmissable. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2018 Gr 9 Up—All too often, teenagers learn history through a sanitized account written in a textbook, or through decontextualized primary source documents that do not provide the flavor of a time and place. This volume is neither sanitized nor decontextualized, as six well-known authors of historical fiction take on the first-person persona of each of Henry VIII's six wives in chronological order. Candace Fleming's Katherine of Aragon is resolute in her attempts to live up to the model of the warrior queen manifested by her mother, Queen Isabella of Spain. Stephanie Hemphill's Anne Boleyn is a seductress, loving mother, and political victim. Lisa Sandell's Jane Seymour, who dies soon after giving birth to Henry's much-longed-for son, is penitent and introspective, while Jennifer Donnelly's Anna of Cleves, in sharp contrast, is outspoken and independent. Linda Sue Park's teenaged Catherine Howard is lusty, impulsive, and naïve. Deborah Hopkinson's Kateryn Parr is measured, academic, and patient. We see glimpses of each queen in the other queens' stories, punctuated by M.T. Anderson's musings as an aging Henry VIII. A "Who's Who in the Court" helps readers navigate the ever-changing power dynamics, and an extensive bibliography will send them off to do their own research and interpretation of the queens. VERDICT Tudor fans eager to know more about Henry's court, and historical fiction lovers searching for multiple perspectives on complex moments in history are certain to enjoy. A strong choice.—Mary Ann Cappiello, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.