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I had freckles.

I had sandy hair. I was too short.

Would my feet even touch the ground if I sat on the throne?

These are the words of lady Jane Grey, as imagined by celebrated author Ann Rinaldi. Jane would become Queen of England for only nine days before being beheaded at the age of sixteen.

Here is a breathtaking story of English royalty with its pageantry, privilege, and surprising cruelty. As she did in her previous novel Mutiny's Daughter, Ms. Rinaldi uses powerful, evocative writing to bring to life a teenage girl caught in the grip of stirring times.

Ages 12+

Average Customer Rating:

Ann Rinaldi has done it again...

Customer Rating:

Ann Rinaldi never disappoints--Nine Days a Queen was another excellent novel. An interesting aspect is that it was written in the first person, as if Lady Jane Grey's ghost is telling the story. This point of view makes the reader sympathize more with Lady Jane. Through this book, I learned some less-known facts about the Tudor period. I could relate to Lady Jane, and found myself in tears at many parts of the book. This is a must for Ann Rinaldi fans, and fans of the Tudor period.

Not Just For Teens!

Customer Rating:

NINE DAYS A QUEEN, perfectly reveals the compelling story of Lady Jane Grey. Her story, which is told in a first person narrative, begins at the age of nine when she is sent to the Court of Henry VIII by her manipulative and ambitious parents. Here she meets her future guardians, Katherine Parr (the sixth of Henry's wives) and Thomas Seymour; she reconnects with her cousins, the future King Edward VI, Princess Mary (later Queen Mary I) and the Princess Elizabeth (Elizabeth I). Her happiness at escaping the harsh, unpleasant world of her parents is charmingly evident though almost fleeting when one considers her short life. Soon enough upon Katherine's death, Jane is back home as her parents continue to scheme to make the most advantagous marriage and future for her. Maneuvered into accepting the crown after Edward's death in a ploy filled with both religious and political overtones, she is abandoned and left to falter by those who should be closest to her. This is a lovely and lovingly researched historical novel which I am confident will lead its readership to futher delve into the lives of its main and secondary characters. It is obvious Rinaldi, who is so brilliant in the YA genre, knows her readers and enthusiastically writes *for* them...and quite happily takes those willing adults along for an intelligent ride too.

Not bad, but less than I'd hoped for

Customer Rating:

I should preface my review by saying Ann Rinaldi wrote this book for teens, and I read it when I was 35, after reading several other books on the Tudors. Rinaldi's novel tells the story of Jane Gray, who was the victim of a plot to place her on England's throne in order to keep the Catholic Queen Mary I off of it. After the scheme failed, Jane was beheaded at age 16. The first and last third of the book were great, but it sagged in the middle. I may know too much about Tudor history to have enjoyed it thoroughly. In simplifying the story, Rinaldi omitted some things I thought were essential to understanding Jane's short, tragic life. For example, Rinaldi barely mentioned the role religion played in politics at the time. And she let Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral, off the hook for his treasonous activities. In the book, Jane believes he is executed for nothing more than rumors. In fact, Thomas tried to kidnap Edward VI and displace the Lord Protector, Edward Seymour, his own brother. In the middle of the book, Jane became annoying, wringing her hands and acting helpless far too much. In the beginning, she was a bewildered child who just wanted a peaceful life. In the end, she showed dignity and strength as the nobles who placed her on the throne turned their coats and left her to her unhappy fate.

Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi

Customer Rating:

Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi Nine Days A Queen is about the nine day reign of Lady Jane Grey over England. She was royalty through her mother, the Duchess of Suffolk and only fifteen years old when she died. Because of harsh life at home on Bradgate Manor Sir Thomas Seymour adopted Jane and took her to live with her relatives in London. Jane's life in London took drastic changes. In the time she was there King Henry VIII had died. After his death his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, married Sir Thomas Seymour and they had a child together. But sadly through childbirth Katherine died. Many rumors went around after this saying that Sir Thomas had committed murder and treason. He was later arrested and beheaded. Jane was strictly told to return home because her parents feared for her safety. On returning home Jane was to get married. Although she didn't want to it was required that she get married to success her mother. Jane got married to a man named, Guildford Dudley. Soon after she got married something amazingly wonderful happened. Lady Jane Grey became Jane Grey, Queen of England! Jane was very nervous about becoming Queen because she knew her cousin Mary would dispose of her and her kingdom. And that is exactly what happened. After nine days of Jane's rule over England, Mary came to power. She was Catholic and by her fathers laws only Protestant was acceptable. Soon Jane, Guildford, and some of her maids were led away to the tower. This was where prisoners stayed and waited until they were released or even killed. Sadly, Jane and Guildford's fate was that they were to be beheaded. But Jane strongly doubted this. Her own cousin wouldn't kill her because she was afraid of loosing power. Jane believed that right before she were to be beheaded that a reprieve would come and she would be able to go home. After about a year in prison the time came for Jane and Guildford to be executed. On the day of her execution, Jane seemed to be fairly happy but frightened. She knew her cousin loved drama and would probably send the reprieve just when the executioner was raising his axe. But she always had the thought in the back of her mind, "What if the reprieve never comes, what will become of me?" That very morning in the flicker of an eyelash Jane's husband, Guildford, was beheaded. Jane knew she was next. Jane solemnly walked outside to the execution block, still in hope of a reprieve. Jane was bound with ropes and blindfolded. Everything around her was still and quiet, except for the low beating of drums. And then on that day in 1554, Lady Jane Grey was beheaded. I really liked this book because of its historical background and the life of a simple teenage girl who becomes Queen at 15. It was also interesting to think that she was cousins with some of the most famous historical figures in history. That would be very cool. I learned a lot about history through this book because I never knew of a Lady Jane Grey or of Henry VIII last wife and how after he died was remarried and had a child. This book was very interesting.

Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi

Customer Rating:

Nine Days A Queen By: Ann Rinaldi Nine Days A Queen is about the nine day reign of Lady Jane Grey over England. She was royalty through her mother, the Duchess of Suffolk and only fifteen years old when she died. Because of harsh life at home on Bradgate Manor Sir Thomas Seymour adopted Jane and took her to live with her relatives in London. Jane's life in London took drastic changes. In the time she was there King Henry VIII had died. After his death his sixth wife, Katherine Parr, married Sir Thomas Seymour and they had a child together. But sadly through childbirth Katherine died. Many rumors went around after this saying that Sir Thomas had committed murder and treason. He was later arrested and beheaded. Jane was strictly told to return home because her parents feared for her safety. On returning home Jane was to get married. Although she didn't want to it was required that she get married to success her mother. Jane got married to a man named, Guildford Dudley. Soon after she got married something amazingly wonderful happened. Lady Jane Grey became Jane Grey, Queen of England! Jane was very nervous about becoming Queen because she knew her cousin Mary would dispose of her and her kingdom. And that is exactly what happened. After nine days of Jane's rule over England, Mary came to power. She was Catholic and by her fathers laws only Protestant was acceptable. Soon Jane, Guildford, and some of her maids were led away to the tower. This was where prisoners stayed and waited until they were released or even killed. Sadly, Jane and Guildford's fate was that they were to be beheaded. But Jane strongly doubted this. Her own cousin wouldn't kill her because she was afraid of loosing power. Jane believed that right before she were to be beheaded that a reprieve would come and she would be able to go home. After about a year in prison the time came for Jane and Guildford to be executed. On the day of her execution, Jane seemed to be fairly happy but frightened. She knew her cousin loved drama and would probably send the reprieve just when the executioner was raising his axe. But she always had the thought in the back of her mind, "What if the reprieve never comes, what will become of me?" That very morning in the flicker of an eyelash Jane's husband, Guildford, was beheaded. Jane knew she was next. Jane solemnly walked outside to the execution lock, still in hope of a reprieve. Jane was bound with ropes and blindfolded. Everything around her was still and quiet, except for the low beating of drums. And then on that day in 1554, Lady Jane Grey was beheaded. I really liked this book because of its historical background and the life of a simple teenage girl who becomes Queen at 15. It was also interesting to think that she was cousins with some of the most famous historical figures in history. That would be very cool. I learned a lot about history through this book because I never knew of a Lady Jane Grey or of Henry VIII last wife and how after he died was remarried and had a child. This book was very interesting.