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Summary: A Wonfderful Read
Review: Mary I is commonly known as Bloody Mary, murderer of hundreds of Protestants and Queen of England during the mid-16th century. However, the book, Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer, looks into her childhood and recounts the events that tore her life apart. From princess to pauper this book follows a confused young Mary and sees her develop into a young woman, who trusts no one. The book allows the reader to understand Mary's insecurity and why she made the decisions that she did when she became Queen.
Mary, Bloody Mary is a fabulous book that teaches children about Mary I's childhood. It begins when Mary is ten years old and betrothed to King Francis of France, who is many years her elder. Fortunately, Mary has a faithful governess Lady Margaret of Salisbury, who sooths and helps Mary through her troubles. Mary's parents are King Henry VIII of England and his first wife, Catharine of Aragon. Mary is Princess of Wales and potentially future queen. However, Henry is determined to have a son and heir. Unfortunately, Catharine has failed to provide him with one and as she ages he becomes restless.
Throughout her visits to her parents' castle in London young Mary begins to notice her father's keen eye on one of her mother's ladies in waiting, Anne Boleyn. Mary slowly realizes Anne is his mistress, and he will do anything to marry her. Henry pays less attention to Mary, and she never sees her mother, who is growing extremely frail. Finally, when Mary is seventeen, after years of unsuccessfully trying to obtain a divorce within the Catholic Church, Henry forms the Church of England. Henry divorces Catharine and declares Mary a bastard, unfit to inherit the throne. Mary is forced into poverty, unable to see her mother, or even write to her. Mary believes Anne, now Queen, is a witch and has bewitched her father. She loathes Anne and wishes she were dead. Mary's luck worsens and she is ordered to go to Greenwich Palace and witness the birth of the new heir to the throne. However, the heir turns out to be a girl, Elizabeth. Henry is infuriated that Anne hasn't provided a son, but he still praises Elizabeth, giving her Mary's title of Princess of Wales.
Mary is forced to leave her impoverished home, including loving Lady Margaret, who has acted like a mother throughout her life, and be a servant to Elizabeth. Mary is forced to take care of Elizabeth and change her soiled diapers. Mary is depressed but still strong. She refuses to obey her father's order to sign a document recognizing the Church of England even though Henry promises to restore her wealth and lifestyle if she does so. This act puts Mary's life in grave danger and Henry places spies in the household. However, Mary has spies of her own, one of them a jester in Henry's court. One of her spies devises a plan for her to escape poverty by fleeing to the Netherlands. However, Henry discovers it and her life seems to come to an end when her mother dies. Mary is left all alone in a very dangerous world with nowhere to go.
My favorite character in the book is Mary. I am fascinated with her childhood and I admire her strength during the events that changed her life. Mary reminds me of my brother because they are strong and stubborn, but sensible. Mary shows her strength and stubbornness when she refuses to sign the document recognizing the Church of England. She knows refusing could cause her death, but she sticks to what she believes in and refuses to sign. This act shows great strength with a little bit of stubbornness. Mary is sensible throughout the entire book. An example of this is when Henry had spies who watched her every move; she counter-attacked by sending spies of her own to his court. I also find the character of Anne Boleyn very interesting. Anne is devious and manipulative. Which is one of the reasons she became queen. Mary thought Anne was a witch and bewitched Henry to marry her. I don't agree with Mary. I believe Henry was becoming frustrated with Catharine, Mary's mother, because she wasn't producing a healthy son and Anne capitalized on this by promising Henry a son and heir
Carolyn Meyer goes into great detail during this book. Which makes the story exciting. The reader also learns many facts about Tudor times and allows the reader to picture what life was like in the 16th century. One of my favorite events was when Anne Boleyn was giving birth to Elizabeth, and Mary was forced to witness it. I learned a tremendous amount about childbirth during Tudor times. This event was written in such great detail that I had a clear mental image and could feel what Mary and other characters were feeling during that extremely vexing time.
I think this book is perfect for children who, like myself, enjoy history. It is also a story that will boost the reader's confidence because it is about a young girl who perseveres and doesn't give up in what she believes in. It has an amazing plot, which is all fact. This book will leave the reader with a new perspective of Bloody Mary, and it will make them want to find out more about her and Tudor times. Mary, Bloody Mary is one of my favorite books
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Summary: Thoughts from a history teacher
Review: Mary, Bloody Mary is a wonderful find for a history teacher. It is historical fiction that is exciting and full of vivid detail. Kids will not have to be nagged to read this riveting story of Henry VIII's eldest daughter whose life was a rags-to-riches story in reverse. From being her father's precious jewel to living in worn-out clothes, forbidden to see her mother, and pressured to sign documents stating that her own birth and birthright were illegitimate, Mary's story is told in a compelling and sympathetic manner by author Carolyn Meyer. This meticulously researched book adds detail that brings the era to life. We are pulled into Mary's universe: her studies, her daily life, her friendships, and, of course, the intrigue of court life under Henry VIII all are vividly recounted in this book. Mary emerges as a complex character who kids will find fascinating and relatable. I'm so pleased to see such high quality writing targetted for young adults. I plan to use it in my seventh grade history classes and know the kids will love reading and discussing it.
Rating:
Summary: Mary, Blody, Mary
Review: Mary, bloody Mary is a great book about Mary Queen of Scots, and I liked it because it does a great job of blending what could have and really did happen. It tells about Mary's tortured childhood: how she was disowned and not allowed to talk to her mother, then made a slave to her half sister and daughter of Ann Bolin, the meanest person in the book. It also tells about Mary's betrothal to an ugly man, but he treats her with love and respect. They become the cruelest ruling couple to ever reign over the kingdom. In conclusion, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a juicy book that can hold your attention and keep you wanting to know what happens next.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrific truths, but accurately entertaining.
Review: If you have read the Royal Diaries series you would know how cruel Mary was to Elizabeth. Everything has a reason. Mary's life was royal, but cruel, cold, and without comfort. Maybe this is what led her to her horrible ruling later on. Mary Tudor was the daughter of King Henry IV (the terror of his wives) and Catherine of Aragon who was daughter of Isabel and Ferdinand of Spain. The story starts out when Mary is betrothed by her father to a man she never wishes to marry. Soon afterwards, Henry the IV has a liking towards Anne Boleyn. The so called witch has plans to marry the king and give him a son. Catherine of Aragon becomes completely pushed out of Henry's life. Henry sent her away and she died with an unhappy life. Henry pays Mary and the death of her mother no mind however. He cancels the betrothal to Mary's consent.He is too bewitched by Anne and marries her immediately. She is sickingly sweet in front of her husband, but when he is gone she is as cold and hard as ice to Mary and makes her bow to her. Soon afterwards Anne is said to be pregnant. She continues on being cruel. After Anne gives birth she is in despair to know that her baby is a girl. Anne makes Mary take care of her baby and change her diaper. Henry however goes mad and if I continue I will give the story away so I will stop right here....................
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Summary: It makes sense-15yr old reviewer
Review: This book was one of the best books I have read. I love historical fiction and this book portrays a lot of real facts and still makes it interesting. Everybody always refers to her as horrible bloody mary, but she had a reason that she turned out like that. She was mad at her father, and at the people who harmed her and her loved ones, so she got back at them. They took everything away from her until she was left with nothing. She was hurt and psychologically messed up and that is the reason that she behaved the way she did later on in life. I mean look at all the other kings and queens! There are lots more worse than she was and they never got a title like 'bloody mary'. I've also read Elizabeth 1 from the Royal Diaries series and I can't come to a conclusion which one I like better, but I'll keep pondering it until I do! Read this BOOK!!!
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Summary: Absolutely Amazing
Review: "Mary Bloody Mary" is one of the best books I have ever read! This book is full of adventure and suspence!I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good book on history. This book is definitely one of a kind!!!!
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Summary: Refreshing change
Review: I was so pleased to find a book that actually tells the good side of Mary Tudor, because most novels and history books like to elaborate on how cruel she was and how many Protestants she burned. They've turned a poor, frightened young girl into a monster, some kind of Cyco-Catholic who hated everyone not of her faith.Carolyn Meyer provides a refreshing change as she goes through Mary's life from the ages of 11-20. She shows us that Mary's bitterness and eventual tyranny was not--NOT--entirely her fault, or even mostly her fault. Despised, rejected, and declared illegitimate--the king's bastard daughter--she is seperated from her beloved mother and from all her other friends and forced to be nursemaid to her half-sister, the Princess Elizabeth. The one thing I didn't like was that in the epilouge Carolyn Meyer goes on a bit about Mary's "reign of terror," when really a lot of those so-called martyrs Mary executed were theives and murderers, who would have been put to death under any ruler. It also fails to say that Elizabeth killed far more that Mary did. (I don't know why Elizabeth is called "Good Queen Bess" rather than "Bloody Elizabeth.") I haven't read the other books by the same author yet, about Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn, so I can't honestly recommend the whole trilogy, although I'm sure the other books are excellent as well. But I can definately recommend "Mary, Bloody Mary." You'll be surprised and intrigued, I promise you!
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Summary: Mary, Bloody Mary
Review: Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer was like a window to me, showing me the difficult and complex world of Mary, Princess of Wales. When you think "Bloody Mary" you may think of some cruel, heartless, and unfeeling queen who lead a bloody rein of terror and persecution. But what about when she was a child or even a teenager. What do you think of her then? Well, that's what I thought and found out. Carolyn Meyer brilliantly sets the mood and setting of the Tudor rein by writing the book in Mary's, King Henry the VIII's first daughter, point of view. Mary shares with you her deepest feelings about her father, the royal court, her mother, and even the "witch" Anne Boleyn. You travel with Mary though her life of fear, anger, betrayal, torture, and death. And as you read on, you notice that is wasn't such an easy life living as a princess at all, especially Princess Mary Tudor. You soon come to realize why she became so bitter, cold, and maybe even mad. But, like most people, she did have some soft spots. Such as her mother, whom she loved deeply and was separated from by the order of the king, and surprisingly the baby Princess Elizabeth, whom she had to change the royal linen for (Elizabeth's diapers). This book will keep you on your feet until the very end and even have you feeling for the Princess Mary and definitely change your point of view about the misunderstood Queen. It definitely changed my vision of the Queen and left me almost in tears on how her life was pushed around without her to have any say in it. I love this book and even lent it out to my friends, whom fell in love with it as well. So run to your closest library and pick it up. It's definitely worth the trip.
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Summary: Good read for pre-teens and teens
Review: Mary, Bloody Mary is the story of Mary Tudor's pre-teen and teenage years written for that age-group. Told from the first-person point of view, Mary tells of Anne Boylen's increasing power over the king, the casting-off of Mary and her mother, the birth and care of Elizabeth and Anne's eventual downfall. The book ends with the marriage of Henry to Jane Seymour, making "Mary, Bloody Mary" an inappropriate title as that nickname was not earned until many years later. On the whole, it's an fine book to give to early teens who are starting to, or maybe need to be encouraged to, develop an interest in history, the role of women throughout history, and strong female historical figures.
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Summary: Amazing! You can read it again and again!
Review: I loved this book. It is one of my favorite books. The book is written from the viewpoint of Mary, herself, and it gives you a feel for what she went through. I enjoyed this book so much that I continued on with the Young Royals Series. I want to read every book by Carolyn Meyer because she is now one of my favorite authors. Mary, Bloody Mary is easy to understand and read. I got sucked into the book's world and was sad to see the end of this book come. I would receommend this book to everyone. It actually made history fun to learn about!
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