The Queen's Own Fool: A Novel of Mary Queen of Scots (Stuart Quartet Series #1)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

"La Jardini re," one of the court jesters to Mary Queen of Scots, is the subject of this collaborative offering from veteran Yolen (Off We Go! and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, reviewed above) and Scottish debut author Harris. The resulting lengthy first-person novel will appeal to fans of historical sagas, but it lacks the emotional punch that would seem to accompany its interesting subject. A member of a slovenly traveling troupe, young Nicola performs for Queen Mary, wife of the newly crowned King Francis, in Rheims while the royal family mourns the death of Francis's father. Nicola's clever and fearless observations soon win the queen's favor as well as a place at her side: "I am sure it befits a nobleman of France to be to be grand in every sense," she quips, punning on their girth. Nicola remains loyal to the royal through the latter's two subsequent husbands (both nefarious), persecution for her Catholicism in a Protestant Scotland and the queen's being falsely accused of murder. While Nicola's wit sparkles, Mary remains an elusive character. At times the authors seem confined by the facts: several prolonged illness and escape sequences have very little effect on the story's outcome, and the numerous members of court may well blur together for readers. Unfortunately, the curious position of court jesters--intimates with royalty, yet never equals--is only hinted at and never fully explored. Ages 10-14. (May) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

KLIATT

To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, November 2000: To be frank, most of my knowledge of the historical period this book covers comes from two films: Elizabeth and Queen Margot. The same scheming royal families are featured in Queen's Own Fool and the two films: there are murders galore, sexual scandals, religious wars, bloody executions, gorgeous and powerful women, loyal courtiers. The length—almost 400 pages of this drama—is unusual in a YA book, but welcome. The narrator is a little-known historical figure: Nicola, Queen Mary's own fool. The story begins as Nicola, an orphan, is part of a troupe of entertainers who perform at the French chateau where the Queen lives with her husband, the King of France. When the Queen takes to her (Mary is about 18 years old at the time) she invites her to stay as her own fool, obligated to always tell the Queen the truth. Nicola then relates the dramatic events of the next ten years of their lives: wars with the Huguenots, the death of King Francis, Mary's decision to go to Scotland to claim her throne there, Mary's second and third marriages, the endless scrambling for power among the Scottish noblemen, alliances with English noblemen, Mary's imprisonment in Scotland and her decision to seek refuge with her cousin Elizabeth, Queen of England—the readers are expected to follow this convoluted history; they are not given a watered-down version, and the authors are to be congratulated for having such faith in their readers. Mary is certainly a major character, but she is seen only through the eyes of her devoted Nicola. Nicola does acknowledge Mary's weaknesses and abhors many ofher choices, but she loves her Queen and remains loyal throughout. Yolen is a familiar writer for YAs, someone who knows how to appeal to young people and keep a story moving swiftly; Harris is a Scot, the creator of the fantasy board game Talisman, someone who must have provided knowledge of Scotland and its history as well as his own gifts of plotting and characterizations. Category: Paperback Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2000, Penguin, Puffin, 390p., $7.99. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Claire Rosser; KLIATT SOURCE: KLIATT, March 2002 (Vol. 36, No. 2)

VOYA

Prolific fantasy author Yolen teams up with Scottish author Harris to present an exciting and thoughtprovoking look into the doomed life of Mary, Queen of Scots. Court jester Nicola Ambruzzi, called La Jardiniére because of her fondness for gardens, tells the story. Orphaned at an early age, Nicola is raised by her uncle and his family of traveling entertainers. When Troupe Brufort is commanded to perform for the French court, the teenaged queen notices Nicola's quick wit, beauty, and agility. Asked to become the queen's personal fool, Nicola gladly leaves her uncertain, transient world for the luxury of the court. Nicola is educated in religion, social graces, and the politics of court life. Fearing reprisals after the courtsanctioned murders of several Huguenots, Queen Mary's entourage moves from one castle to another seeking safety. When her husband, King Francis, dies in 1560, Mary leaves France for Scotland to reign as queen. As one of the young queen's closest friends, Nicola witnesses the shift of loyalties and the threats from those wishing to usurp Mary's power. The queen's marriage to Lord Darnley prevents Nicola from carrying out her mission of always speaking the truth to her beloved majesty. She can only watch while the queen is threatened and eventually imprisoned by Elizabeth I in England, never to return home. It is difficult to believe that Nicola is only ten years old as the story begins because she appears wiser than her age. In spite of this flaw, the authors seamlessly weave fiction and fact together to tell Mary's sad story. This easytoread but lengthy book might be useful for middle school researchers but will surely appeal to fans of historical fiction.VOYACODES: 3Q 2P M J (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2000, Philomel, Ages 12 to 15, 448p, $19.99. Reviewer: Brenda MosesAllen

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

Shortly after performing for the young Queen Mary of France Nicola Ambruzzi finds herself no longer working as part of her uncle's troupe of traveling minstrels but rather in the Queen's employ. The queen asks only that Nicola will always tell her the truth. That is easy for Nicola to do in France, but after the untimely death of King Francis, Mary returns to her homeland of Scotland. Power, politics and court intrigue test the degree of Nicola's honesty but never her loyalty. The reign of Mary Queen of Scots comes alive with distinctively drawn characters. It is cleverly told from Nicola's perspective. Descriptions of hangings and bloody decapitations, the punishments for treason used in the sixteenth century, are here. But so are clever wordplay and a clear vision of the entanglements. The authors immerse the reader in the time period with a powerful tale. This is top-notch historical fiction. 2000, Philomel Books, Ages 14 up, $19.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-This rich and involving novel of Mary Queen of Scots and her court will have readers clamoring to know more about this dramatic period in French and Scottish history. Readers are treated to a fascinating look at royal politics through the eyes of Nicola Ambruzzi, an orphaned performer to whom the queen takes a fancy. Queen Mary appreciates Nicola's wise wit and decides to keep her in the court as a "fool," believing that the girl will always tell her the truth rather than flatter her. After King Francis dies, his mother seizes the throne, and Mary is stripped of her French royalty. She returns to Scotland where she is queen by birth. Two thirds of this novel takes place in Scotland between the years 1560-68 when Queen Mary faced almost constant troubles from the Protestants, her own lords, and her womanizing husband. Yolen and Harris do an excellent job of weaving historical information into the story. The use of Le Jardini re, the queen's nickname for Nicola and an actual figure, personalizes the narrative even more and the girl's spiritual and emotional growth make her a flesh-and-blood character. Readers will laugh at Nicola's way with words and forthright manner, and delight in her skill of almost always being able to say the right thing to comfort the Queen or squelch the pompous advisors who surround her. The play of language is another major highlight in the novel. Read this along with E. L. Konigsburg's A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver (Atheneum, 1973) for a compelling look at two doomed queens.-Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day School Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Kirkus Reviews

With a handful of historical facts and a great deal of research, the prolific and marvelous Yolen has teamed with a Scottish maker of a fantasy board game to spin a historical tale of great immediacy and impact. In Rheims, in 1559, a troupe of street performers captures the eye of the radiant young Queen Mary. Before she knows it, Nicola, an Italian orphan much put upon by her uncle, the leader of the troupe, is taken to be Mary's own fool, and nicknamed Jardiniere. The rest of the recounting sees Mary through Nicola's fond but perceptive eye: when the sallow young French king dies and Mary goes back to Scotland, a veritable vipers' nest of intrigue begins. Mary marries, and marries again; nobles rise up against her and are banished or return, craven, to her service; she bears one son and loses twins. Through it all, Nicola loves and supports her queen, finds humor amidst danger and deception, and in the end, returns to France, and to love, while Mary becomes her cousin Elizabeth's prisoner. Based deeply in fact and full of detail both luscious and sordid, the story's length will not discourage any reader who picks it up and begins to be enthralled. (Historical fiction. YA)