Sent from her native Scotland to live in the court of her future father-in-law, King Henry II of France, young Mary, Queen of Scots, spends her time attending balls, hunting and hawking, learning Latin and fractions and music, and playing with her future husband, Francis. In Kathryn Lasky's fictionalized diary of the 11-year-old queen, readers will get a piquant taste of 16th-century life in Europe. Mary is quite aware of her role as the betrothed to France's royal family. Playing chess together one day, Francis comments to Mary, "Did it ever strike you, Mary, that we are not so much children and sons and daughters of parents as we are pieces on a gigantic chessboard called Europe? You are given to me to help checkmate England." As with the other titles in the Royal Diaries series (Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, etc.), a fact-packed historical note, epilogue, paintings, and family tree provide just enough additional information to whet the appetites of readers for more about the ill-fated queen of Scotland and France. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter


From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-Mary was only nine months old when she was crowned Queen of Scotland, succeeding her father, King James V. Because of the many political conflicts, she was separated from her mother and her country at the age of five. To forge an alliance with France, she was betrothed to Francis, the son of King Henry II of France and Queen Catherine de Medici. Mary was promptly sent to live in their care until she was old enough for the marriage to take place. That is where this story begins, as she chronicles her life throughout a one-year period. Life in France is filled with dances, playing with her future husband, and hawking, which is Mary's favorite pastime. However, the girl's life is made very difficult by the jealous queen. She finds comfort though in Henry's mistress Diane de Poitier, who is very much the lady and gives Mary strength and inspiration throughout the good and bad times. As with the other titles in the series, this diary is packed with facts that will give readers a wonderful opportunity to learn about a unique heroine from history. A historical note, epilogue, reproductions, and a family tree provide just enough additional information to whet the appetites of readers who may want to continue to explore the background of this ill-fated queen.Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NYCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. In this fictional journal in the Royal Diary series, Lasky focuses on a relatively stable period in the young queen's life--her time in France, betrothed to the Dauphin Francis. As in her previous titles about queens in the series--Elizabeth 1 (1999) and Marie Antoinette (2000)--here Lasky creates a voice that's both accessible and believable, deftly incorporating historical detail and the intricacies of court life and behavior while showing the teenage queen as a compelling, independent character who still fights with her friends, yearns for her mother, and experiments with outfits and makeup, with some near-disastrous results. A useful historical note helps separate fact from fiction, and, as in others in the series, a family tree and handsome portraits round out the back matter. A lively, well-written novel for both personal reading and curricular use. Suggest Jane Yolen and Robert Harris' Queen's Own Fool (2000) to readers who want more about Mary. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Mary is only nine months old when she is crowned Queen of Scotland succeeding her father King James V. Because of political conflicts, she is forced to be separated from her mother and her country from the age of five. For the benefit of forging an alliance with France, the youngster is betrothed to Francis, the son of King Henry ll of France and his wife, the vicious and jealous Queen Catherine de Medici. Mary is sent to France to live in their care until she is old enough for the marriage to take place. It is at their home, the beautiful Chateau St. Germaine, that we first meet the irresistibly charming Mary at 11 years old. Keenly intelligent, she excels academically, and shows a talent for dance, music and poetry. She's an expert horsewoman, skilled at archery and hawking.



Card catalog description
Mary, the young Scottish queen, is sent a diary from her mother in which she records her experiences living at the court of France's King Henry II as she awaits her marriage to Henry's son, Francis.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Mary is only nine months old when she is crowned Queen of Scotland, succeeding her father, King James V. Because of political conflicts, she is separated from her mother and her country at the age of five. For the benefit of forging an alliance with France, she is betrothed to Francis, the son of King Henry II of France, and his wife, the vicious and jealous Queen Catherine de Medici. Mary is sent to France to live in their care until she is old enough for the marriage to take place. It is at their home, the beautiful Chateau St. Germaine, that we first meet the irresistibly charming Mary at 11 years old.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Heather Robertson

Mary, Queen of Scots was a tragic figure as an adult￯﾿ﾽmarried three times and widowed twice, involved in numerous plots, imprisoned in the Tower of London for many years and eventually executed by Queen Elizabeth. But what was she like as a child? Kathryn Lasky attempts to answer that question in this edition in the "Royal Diaries" series. The story begins the day after Mary's eleventh birthday in France during the year of 1553. Mary is both a young queen raised from her birth to be treated as a royal and entrusted with the executive power any queen would have, and a young girl wishing to do nothing but play with her friends and attend beautiful parties. Lasky expertly shows both sides of Mary, mixing childish dreams and complaints, like having to participate in a ballet that she feels is stupid, with more adult worries, such as her upcoming marriage to Francis, son of King Henry II of France. The book provides a glimpse into what life was like for a royal in that era. At the end of the book, there is a section with pictures and a family tree to help readers understand the era better and to tell where the fact ends and the fiction begins. All in all, it is a fascinating read, easy enough for middle readers but still interesting enough for advanced readers. 2002, Scholastic,

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-Mary was only nine months old when she was crowned Queen of Scotland, succeeding her father, King James V. Because of the many political conflicts, she was separated from her mother and her country at the age of five. To forge an alliance with France, she was betrothed to Francis, the son of King Henry II of France and Queen Catherine de Medici. Mary was promptly sent to live in their care until she was old enough for the marriage to take place. That is where this story begins, as she chronicles her life throughout a one-year period. Life in France is filled with dances, playing with her future husband, and hawking, which is Mary's favorite pastime. However, the girl's life is made very difficult by the jealous queen. She finds comfort though in Henry's mistress Diane de Poitier, who is very much the lady and gives Mary strength and inspiration throughout the good and bad times. As with the other titles in the series, this diary is packed with facts that will give readers a wonderful opportunity to learn about a unique heroine from history. A historical note, epilogue, reproductions, and a family tree provide just enough additional information to whet the appetites of readers who may want to continue to explore the background of this ill-fated queen.-Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews