Namesake

by Sue MacLeod

Overview

It started with a history project. Mr. Gregor assigned a research paper on a figure from the Tudor era, and of course Jane Grey had to pick her namesake - Lady Jane Grey, the fifteen-year-old girl whose parents schemed to place her on the throne of England, then abandoned her to face the executioner. The project is engrossing from the start, but when Jane opens a mysterious prayer book and finds herself in the Tower of London in 1553, she finds herself literally drawn into her namesake's story. Soon, Jane is slipping into the past whenever the present becomes too unbearable, avoiding her mother's demands, her best friend's fickleness, her crush's indifference. In the Tower she plays chess with the imprisoned Lady Jane, awed by her new friend's strength and courage. And it is in the Tower, keeping vigil as the day of the execution draws near, that Jane learns that she, too, must have the courage to fight for her own happiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781927485293
Publisher:	Pajama Press Inc.
Publication date:	08/01/2013
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	HL570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 15 Years

About the Author

Sue MacLeod has filled her career with the written word, working as a writer, an editor, and a library assistant. Born to a military family, Sue moved many times throughout her childhood but always felt rooted in Nova Scotia, where her family returned each summer. That rootedness is apparent in her two books of poetry and in her novel Namesake, which received a starred review from Quill & Quire and was shortlisted for the IODE Violet Downey Book Award. Sue now lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

Without a misstep, Namesake proceeds from a tantalizing prologue to the satisfying conclusion. Perfectly constructed, this book is a gem.

Canadian Children's Book News

In every way, this novel is a triumph. MacLeod deftly weaves the modern Jane's contemporary story with the true-life tale of Lady Jane Grey. Both storylines are fully developed and vividly rendered, with the time-travel element simply and elegantly incorporated into the fabric of Jane's present-day life. . . . **Highly Recommended**

CM Magazine

The historical details of the Tudor monarchy and everyday life in the 1500s are impressive. Kudos to MacLeod for bringing this fascinating slice of British history to Canadian teens.

Resource Links

In her debut novel, Sue MacLeod successfully accomplishes a feat many more experienced writers struggle with: weaving an historical narrative smoothly into a contemporary storyline . . . It sounds like a lot of ground to cover in one slim volume, and it is, but with sensitivity and some well-placed humour, MacLeod pulls it off. **Starred Review**

Quill & Quire

[A] must read for lovers of historical fiction.

Amy's Marathon of Reads

The history is true, the twists unique and the touches of humour and romance are heart-warming.

CanLit for LittleCanadians

"A story of two teenagers, uncertain in their own lives, who find comfort and strength in one another. The fact that they come from different times heightens this, allowing for both to recognize the universality of the human condition...MacLeod doesn’t shy away from deeper topics, like loss, alcoholism, and their effects on a family."

Historical Novel Society

10/01/2013
Gr 6–9—Strange things happen when Jane Grey, a high school student in Halifax, begins an assignment researching Lady Jane Grey, the "nine days queen." Upon examining her cache of library books, she finds one she hadn't checked out: Booke of Prayre. As Jane opens it, she is mysteriously transported to the 16th century and meets her namesake. MacLeod dexterously handles the intricacies of the time travel central to the story, and a fascinating, powerful bond develops between the two Jane Greys. It is during their encounters that this first novel is most riveting and successful. Both characters are wonderfully fleshed out. Their mutual confusion heightens the mystery about the impact they might have on each other. Both Janes have their problems with family. Historical Jane struggles to continue following her Protestantism while her Catholic cousin Mary assumes the throne of England. Modern Jane has difficulty coping with what she perceives as the three sides of her mother's personality. The author's skill is most pronounced when the two Janes are getting to know each other and to understand the milieu in which each lives. The writing about contemporary Jane and her friends is somewhat forced, but MacLeod's evocative prose makes friendship across time seem possible. Though Lady Jane's tragic life is known, readers hope for a happier outcome. This enjoyable read offers a window into an intriguing aspect of British history. It is likely to appeal to fans of Susan Cooper's King of Shadows (S & S, 1999) and books by Margaret Peterson Haddix.—Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ

School Library Journal

A modern-day Canadian girl named Jane Grey travels back in time to meet the Lady Jane Grey, imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1553. Bookish Jane is doing research for a paper about her namesake Lady Jane Grey, the 15-year-old who was queen of England for nine days and later executed by Queen Mary. Finding an old prayer book, she reads a prayer out loud and is transported to the Tower of London, where only Lady Jane, who calls her "Namesake," can see her. Using the prayer book to time travel at will, she becomes friends with Lady Jane and tries to think of a way to save the brilliant and innocent teenager. Meanwhile, in the present, Jane tries to escape her alcoholic mother's increasingly aggressive and bizarre behavior. When the two stories collide just before Lady Jane's scheduled execution, Jane struggles to save herself and her friend. MacLeod writes the modern sections in a heightened style that almost feels more like poetry than prose. She writes Lady Jane's dialogue in Tudor English, modifying it only slightly for modern readers. Her vivid descriptions of the filthy turmoil of 1553 London, when even the nobility often had lice, should open some eyes. Most importantly, she strives to get the history right. Suspenseful, emotional and powerful. (Time-travel fantasy/historical fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews