Carolyn Meyer: Historical Fiction for Young Adults

I have now read three of the Young Royal series, written by the talented Carolyn Meyer. While I spend most of my beloved research time ( I'm a closet researcher-at least when it comes to history, European that is.), I have yet to find a young adult historical fiction writer that does the time period and the people that live in it. Several adult writers are highly successful, such as Phillipa Gregory, Jean Plaidy, but none have approached the young adult genre. That's why I was surprised to find these in the local library, virtually unnoticed by anyone. In my reading years, from the time I was five until now, I read at a much further level then my age group. When most were reading Sweet Valley High and The Babysitter's Club, I devoured V.C. Andrews, Stephen King, etc. It's safe to say that I veered directly out of the young adult genres and into adult literature. For accelerated readers, this is often the case.
I spent some time reading the first in the series focusing on Anne Boleyn, the elusive woman Henry VII tore England apart with to discard after only three years of marriage. Meyer's take on Anne, her struggle to create a sympathetic character in an, otherwise, vilified woman, worked wonders for my first time venturing into historical fiction for young adults. I'm not sure, however, that she painted an accurate depiction of Anne; but then again, who can? Most of what Meyer focused was the same as any other, revenge against Wolsey for the jilted Lord Percy. While this is always a logic direction to go with her character and is supported by what little evidence we can find through documentation and second hand testimony, it is not the most original. The balance Meyer strikes between revenge and cunning, as well as a hint of romance that young adult literature thrives on, makes the read much more interesting to myself and to others that might choose this as the next adventure.
The books that following, concentrating on Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Tudor through their rises to power after the death of their brother, Edward, attempt to follow historical evidence as closely as possible. I found them to be just as interesting, yet distracting. Perhaps the character of Anne is just too captivating?

Young Adult Suggestions

     I took the last week in order to poll my Facebook friends (Remember when you would actually have to call someone or ask them in person? Now I just post a status and let the answers come in) and find out what their top suggestions were for reading. Surprisingly, a lot of them were Young Adult, which got me to thinking: How much Young Adult do I really read? How much do I own?
     I took their list, dug through my bookshelves, and came to what I'm posting now. I read a lot more Young Adult then I ever realised.

Here's what they suggested and my thoughts on them:

1)The Mortal Instrument Series: Cassandra Clare:

First Novel's Cover

     From what I understand, this series is a blend of science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk rolled into one. I have not read the series yet. I've been hesitant to do so since I was around during the "drama" of fanfiction plagarism back in "dark ages" of the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter fandoms. Suffice to say, I believe that a writer's work can be exceptional, even when the writer themselves are not. Every writer should have a professional approach to themselves, their work, and to their colleagues. I did not see this behavior in the past. Hopefully, because of the fame her series has attracted, she has developed a professional nature. I've decided that, eventually, I will attempt to read the series.



 2) The Harry Potter Series: J.K. Rowling:

First Novel: Introduces the Classic Cover Art, at least in the USA printing.

   
Who hasn't read these? I'm certain that if you are a fantasy fan, you have read these. I do have a few reviews, however, that I will try out here in the future. The last novel in the series broke my heart and not in a good way.


3) Ann Rinaldi and her collection of short, historical novels:

Industrial Revolution: A young girl finding her way.

I'm a huge historical fiction fan. I've read everything from Philippa Gregory to the above mentioned author and nothing compares to Rinaldi's connection with her audience through her heart-felt characters. Lyddie, for example, turns to the factories as a way to pay her family's debt and soon finds the family falling apart and drifting away; the salvation that the young girl desires seems to never come to past. During the Industrial Revolution, the family as a nuclear unit fell apart in the wake of survival and poverty. Many young girls, such as Lyddie, resorted to living their lives under the factories' control, only escaping in times of poor health and extraordinary luck. Rinaldi's spot on descriptions and meticulous accuracy makes any of her novels a brilliant way to show young readers a first hand account of the past, all be it a fictionalized point of view.

                                                        
 4) Generation Dead: Daniel Waters:

First Novel. Caught my attention a store but never picked it up.
 

I always find myself attracted to the revamping of the zombie genre. With the advent of television shows like the Walking Dead, it goes without precedence that the Young Adult genre would shortly have a zombie revival, particularly with the sparkling vampires and shape shifting werewolves. I remember when the only horror I could get was a weekly episode of Buffy; and thankfully, Charmed, once the show began on the WB. Now teens have novels such as Twilight, Forbidden, etc. that offers up the perfect opportunity for a quick, horror thrill. I have not read this series but I am intrigued by it. I'm hoping to start reading it soon. In a world were zombies are called the differently biotic, what could go wrong?

5) Carolyn Meyer's historical young adult series:




Part of the Young Royals Series

 

The Tudor dynasty is one of my favorite to follow. I have yet to see a successful transition of this history, however, into the young adult genre. In my usually wandering through the young adult section at the public library I did pull this author's novel off the shelf. It was well worth it. Casting Anne Boleyn as both a sympathetic protagonist and as a conniving women that will stop at nothing to grasp the power that is just out of reach is a difficult path. Even Gregory, who I've mention before, casts Anne in a much darker light, pushing her forward as a women driven by jealousy and greed; Meyer breaks into the mold, forcing the reader to see Anne as a young women desperate to be noticed and adored, placed as an outcast in her own family until catching the eye of a king that would love her "above all the rest". Meyer has several other novels in this particular series, each producing a lighter, easily accessible view of the women behind the throne.

I believe I'm going to try several of these. I, at the very least, have a list created for upcoming young adult writers. You'll be seeing the reviews soon.

First Prescription

Screenplays, Thesis, Coffee. The Usual.

     As a former graduate student and assistant for the Dos Passos Review, I found myself among those caught between the days of libraries and card catalogs versus Google and Kindle. After graduation, several of my colleagues and I moved on to our new positions, either as writers, teachers, bloggers. You get the picture. But it never failed to astound me that the world has moved further and further away from the tangible world and onto the screen.
      I cannot find myself attracted to the world on the Internet. Or, at least, I hadn't. But that Kindle had the newest Games of Thrones for half the price? And I can read it right now? I don't have to wait the two weeks (No way can I afford priority, I still eat ramen. Not by choice.) for the book to arrive in the mail. Kindle's on my Android now? (If you haven't noticed, I speak in a lot of questions. I'm famous for having a lot of questions and very few answers. I think that's way I'm one of the few that actually loves research.)
     I'm realized further, after giving into the Kindle uprising of 2012, that my future as a writer may just detour down the path of a laptop, a "faux" office, a la Dilbert, and office hours that my students avoid like the plague (Unless, of course, I'm heading out the door for the hour long trek home. Then there is a line of thirty students, itching for answers. All of which I gave in class. Twice. Not that I'm becoming bitter or anything.). I decided that a blog, conveniently linked to my gmail account and impossible to lose. Even for one that just might have a habit of losing wallets, keys, gloves, cigarettes, lighters (Which I also seem to borrow and never return.), cars (I'm not kidding.), and all the other things normal, absent-minded, easily distracted teachers seem to lose. I've started a blog.
     Look, it followed me home, Ma, and now I'm going to keep it.

     As for what I'm blogging about, well. Let's just say that ninety percent of the time, when I should be, I don't know, grading, cleaning, washing the cat (Who acts more like a spoiled toddler then feline.), cleaning my abismal car, I can be caught with a book, a notebook (For Notes, captilized for importance.), coffee, lighter, and cigs. On my back porch. Surrounded by trees and a squirrel that I call Spastic (He has this perpetual twitch in his tail. I'm thinking epilepsy.). I'm here and I'm gonna stay.
     But yes, off topic again. I'm thinking that all of these wonderful ideas about the literature I read daily that only the cat, boyfriend, and the occasional stranger who is unfortunate enough to use the adjacent washing machine at the laundry mat hear can now be placed here. I can stretch my writing muscles, prepare for the GRE, and possibly teach/learn from the audience at large. The great, wide, web.
      So I'm going to try, web.  Someone might even read this.