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?
