Robert J. Harris

Jane Yolen

When twelve-year-old Nicola leaves Troupe Brufort and serves as the fool for Mary, Queen of Scots, she experiences the political and religious upheavals in both France and Scotland.

A Novel of Mary Queen of Scots

Queen's Own Fool

Jeni Enjaian

This took way too long to read. Even though it was the longest book that I have read while my students are also reading, this took much longer because I simply did not feel motivated to read. The story of Mary, Queen of Scots has been told so. many. times and from all different angles. Yolen added nothing new to the story. Instead, she fell into familiar tropes of painting Mary as completely innocent, just naive in love. (Most writers of historical fiction in this genre paint Mary as either irredeemable or innocent. It drives me nuts because no human is ever.)
I do not recommend this book at all. Most middle schoolers likely would not enjoy this book either.

Queen's Own Fool A Novel of Mary Queen of Scots

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