About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is beginning to notice the complexities of social circles, shifting loyalties, or the weight of keeping secrets. Through the eyes of Elinor, a young attendant in the court of King Henry VIII, readers witness the dramatic rise of Anne Boleyn and the heartbreaking displacement of Queen Catherine of Aragon. This historical diary explores the tension between personal conscience and the pressure to conform to a changing power structure. While the setting is the 16th century, the emotional core is timeless: navigating a world where the rules are suddenly rewritten and friends become rivals. It is a sophisticated choice for middle graders (ages 9 to 13) who enjoy immersive historical fiction and stories about girlhood. Parents will appreciate the way it introduces major historical events through an intimate, relatable lens, fostering discussions about fairness, religious change, and the cost of ambition.
