Daughter of the White Rose

by Diane Zahler

Overview

Can a common girl save a prince trapped in the Tower of London?

April. England. 1483. The king is dead. Long live the king.

Nell Gould is the daughter of the royal butcher, a commoner, but she has been raised as the playmate of King Edward and Queen Elizabeth's royal children: Princess Cecily, Princess Bess, Prince Dickon, and Prince Ned, heir apparent and Nell's best and closest friend. They think alike, her and Ned, preferring books and jousts to finery and gossip and the sparkle of the court. But when King Edward dies, Prince Ned is imprisoned in the Tower of London by his scheming uncle, the evil Richard III—and Nell with him. Can they escape? Is Nell the key?

Based on the real royal scandal of the Princes in the Tower, Daughter of the White Rose covers a shocking episode in medieval history that has captured the imagination for 530 years. A story of murder, betrayal, resilience, and growing up, this girl-led medieval middle-grade novel will make a perfect companion to Catherine, Called Birdy and The Mad Wolf's Daughter. 

A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823448975
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	02/16/2021
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Diane Zahler is the author of over ten books for young readers, both fiction and nonfiction, including the very well-reviewed middle-grade fantasy novels THE THIRTEENTH PRINCESS and PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS. She lives in Riverdale, NY, with her husband, a professor at Fordham.

Editorial Reviews

A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
 
"Characters both real and imaginary inhabit this multilayered, dramatic interpretation of royal intrigue. . . . A quick-paced foray into English history and one girl’s self-discovery."—Kirkus Reviews

"Interesting, engaging, and well-written. . . . Nell spends her childhood as a friend of the young prince, and then grows up quickly as a companion of an exiled king. . . . Well described."—The Historical Novel Society
 
"Zahler skillfully weaves historical facts and period rumors into a fabric richly embroidered with imaginative storytelling."—Booklist
 
"Nell is a fiercely determined girl who faces loss and disappointment but is stronger for it. . . . Readers who love historical fiction featuring strong female characters and suspenseful court intrigue will enjoy this story that’s perfect for fans of Karen Cushman, Tamora Pierce, and Diane Magras."—School Library Journal
 
"In an accessible, uncluttered style, [Zahler] delicately balances historical fact with our own contemporary values. It’s especially refreshing that Nell’s literacy. . .  leads her to the works of medieval women writers for consolation and inspiration for her own future."—The Horn Book
 
"[Readers] will appreciate Zahler’s handling of the claustrophobic setting. . . . A timeline anchoring plot to real history will also guide interested readers in their own investigations."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
 
"Nell’s first-person narration paints a clear picture of life in the late Middle Ages. . . . Fast-paced and exciting, Daughter of the White Rose brims with the promise of romance and the threat of violence without ever leaving middle-grade territory.  The author weaves fact and fiction into a seamless tapestry, so that readers unfamiliar with the true story won’t know what is real and what isn’t, until they read the helpful afterword, author’s note, and timeline. . . . Fans of historical fiction of similar time periods by Avi or Karen Cushman would enjoy it very much."—Youth Services Book Review
 
"Good for those seeking examples of… resilience and courage."—School Library Connection
 
"[Nell]’s smart and determined, and won’t allow herself to be pressed into a mold based on anyone else’s expectations for her. . . . Readers who liked Clifton Chase and the Arrow of Light by Jaimie Engle should give this one a read."—The Story Sanctuary

From the Publisher

02/01/2021

Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Nell Gould narrates this engrossing medieval tale that reimagines the fate of royal princes Edward "Ned" and Richard "Dickon," imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1483 by their ruthless uncle Richard III. Nell's father is a butcher for the royal family, and Nell grows up happily playing with the royal children. Nell's mother dies after giving birth to Nell's brother Toby, born the same day as the Queen's son Richard. Nell's life changes when nine-year-old Ned goes away to learn his kingly duties and Nell realizes the princesses have outgrown her. Since she's a commoner and can never marry Ned, Nell wants to become educated. Her father hires a printer to teach her to read and write English, and young Jacob, a printer's inker, offers to teach her Latin. Edward IV dies and Ned becomes king at age 12. When ambitious Richard imprisons Ned and Dickon in the Tower, Nell must figure out how to save them. The story starts a little slowly but picks up steam and intensity toward the end. Nell is a fiercely determined girl who faces loss and disappointment but is stronger for it. She's empowered to learn to read and write and even imagines she might become a writer one day. An author's note provides additional information about the real royal princes. All characters present as white. VERDICT Readers who love historical fiction featuring strong female characters and suspenseful court intrigue will enjoy this story that's perfect for fans of Karen Cushman, Tamora Pierce, and Diane Magras.—Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Lib., Trenton

School Library Journal

2020-12-24
The life of a butcher’s daughter is intertwined with those of the princes in the Tower of London.

Born during the tumultuous years of England’s Wars of the Roses, Nell, fictional daughter of John Gould, an actual historical royal butcher, grows up as a companion and dear friend to Prince Edward. Ned is the firstborn son of King Edward IV, but his uncle is Richard, Duke of Gloucester, portrayed here as grim and suspicious. When Ned is sent to the Welsh Marches to learn kingship, he writes to Nell in Latin and awakens in her a thirst for reading and writing. In short order, the king dies, Richard seizes the throne, and Nell and her little brother are given permission to visit Ned and his brother, who are being held in the Tower of London. The visit becomes a sojourn, and Nell acknowledges her love for Ned. Escaping to a nunnery after the royal murders, Nell finds sanctuary, witnesses the death of Richard in Bosworth Field, and finally understands that she can have a fulfilling, independent life. Characters both real and imaginary inhabit this multilayered, dramatic interpretation of royal intrigue. Nell has a keen eye for royal household details, adding depth and warmth to the tale. The afterword and timeline are essential reading for a full understanding of the story.

A quick-paced foray into English history and one girl’s self-discovery. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews