I should preface my review by saying Ann Rinaldi wrote this book for teens, and I read it when I was 35, after reading several other books on the Tudors.
Rinaldi's novel tells the story of Jane Gray, who was the victim of a plot to place her on England's throne in order to keep the Catholic Queen Mary I off of it. After the scheme failed, Jane was beheaded at age 16.
The first and last third of the book were great, but it sagged in the middle. I may know too much about Tudor history to have enjoyed it thoroughly. In simplifying the story, Rinaldi omitted some things I thought were essential to understanding Jane's short, tragic life. For example, Rinaldi barely mentioned the role religion played in politics at the time. And she let Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral, off the hook for his treasonous activities. In the book, Jane believes he is executed for nothing more than rumors. In fact, Thomas tried to kidnap Edward VI and displace the Lord Protector, Edward Seymour, his own brother.
In the middle of the book, Jane became annoying, wringing her hands and acting helpless far too much. In the beginning, she was a bewildered child who just wanted a peaceful life. In the end, she showed dignity and strength as the nobles who placed her on the throne turned their coats and left her to her unhappy fate.