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13th out of 34 books
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The Diamond of Drury Lane (Cat Royal #1)
MYSTERY, TREASURE, AND A LIFE ON THE STAGE. The first episode of the adventures of Cat Royal is a big, fat juicy read. She’s Cat Royal – four foot four, with long red hair, green eyes and not a penny she can call her own. But she does know a secret – where a treasure is hidden in the theater that is her home. The problem is, she isn’t the only one looking for it. One...more
Hardcover, 424 pages
Published
May 27th 2008
by Roaring Brook Press
(first published 2006)
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This story is part of a series which includes: "Cat Amoung the Pigeons", "Den of Thieves", "Cat O'Nine Tails" and "Black Heart of Jamaica".
An orphaned 12-year-old girl named Catherine 'Cat' Royal lives in the Theatre Royal in late 18th Century London. She was found by the owner of the theatre (Mr Sheridan) who took her in and named her Cat Royal (the royal coming from the name of the theatre) and since lived there. She is a sort of mascot, maid-cum-r...more
An orphaned 12-year-old girl named Catherine 'Cat' Royal lives in the Theatre Royal in late 18th Century London. She was found by the owner of the theatre (Mr Sheridan) who took her in and named her Cat Royal (the royal coming from the name of the theatre) and since lived there. She is a sort of mascot, maid-cum-r...more
Title: The Diamond of Drury Lane
Author: Julia Golding
Year: 2006
ISBN: (ISBN13: 9781405221498)
Type: book
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length/Pages & Reading Level: 421 pages; 9 and up.
Publisher/Studio name: Egmont Books (UK)
Plot: This story takes place in the late 18th century England and centers on a young girl raised in a theater. She is named after the theater. The performers, workers and owners are her family. She learns of a Diamond in the theater an...more
Author: Julia Golding
Year: 2006
ISBN: (ISBN13: 9781405221498)
Type: book
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length/Pages & Reading Level: 421 pages; 9 and up.
Publisher/Studio name: Egmont Books (UK)
Plot: This story takes place in the late 18th century England and centers on a young girl raised in a theater. She is named after the theater. The performers, workers and owners are her family. She learns of a Diamond in the theater an...more
I read this as a favour to my Mum, who is a teacher. It is intended for 9-12 year olds, and I think it probably suites the lower end of this age range. It read as a book that was written for teaching, in that there are so many themes you could pull out of it to base lessons or discussions around.
Cat is an orphan in 18th century London - raised in a theatre by the owner and staff. As orphan's go she is a fairly lucky one - although she has been exposed to the rougher side of London, ...more
Cat is an orphan in 18th century London - raised in a theatre by the owner and staff. As orphan's go she is a fairly lucky one - although she has been exposed to the rougher side of London, ...more
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OK, I'm going to attempt to duplicate the layout of the blurb for this book as well as I can here.
AT THE THEATRE ROYAL IN DRURY LANE, COVENT GARDEN, THIS PRESENT DAY, BEING 1SI JANUARY, 1790,
Will be presented
The Diamond of Drury Lane
(Written by Miss Cat Royal)
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
MISS CAT ROYAL - orphan and ward of the theatre
MR. JOHNNY SMITH - prompt with a secret
MR. SYD FLETCHER - leader of the Butcher's boys
MR. BILLY 'BOIL...more
AT THE THEATRE ROYAL IN DRURY LANE, COVENT GARDEN, THIS PRESENT DAY, BEING 1SI JANUARY, 1790,
Will be presented
The Diamond of Drury Lane
(Written by Miss Cat Royal)
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
MISS CAT ROYAL - orphan and ward of the theatre
MR. JOHNNY SMITH - prompt with a secret
MR. SYD FLETCHER - leader of the Butcher's boys
MR. BILLY 'BOIL...more
Ann
rated it
Shelves:
18th-century,
bow-street-runners,
england,
georgian,
high-society,
historical-fiction,
london,
mystery,
poverty,
rebellion,
tween,
theater
I found this book while browsing at the library, which is surprisingly rare for me. I'm not really sure if it should be considered a children's book or YA, since the main characters are mostly around ten years old, and the style of the plot reads more juvenile to me, but the descriptions of the streets of eighteen-century London are pretty explicit, and the author doesn't really try to sugarcoat how harsh life would have been for the poor and homeless. In contrast, she gives glittering descripti...more
Cat is an orphan and lives in Drury Lane theatre at the end of the 18th century under the protection of Mr Sheridan the owner. Mix in a couple of gangs, gang rivalry, newspaper censorship and little snippets of the the French Revolution, this all sets the stage for Cat's adventures. When I bought this I didn't realise it was a children's book. I'm not sure what age group it was aimed at but I'd have thought older children as it covers some pretty heavy subjects, and some of the language may ...more
I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts about this book into words. Not that the book was bad or not worth reading - it passed those tests for me. I just want to give it an honest critique.
Personally, I think I'm just spoiled by Harry Potter. Written as kids books, she really raised the bar for what they could be and this one, although the premise is a great one and the characters have soooo much potential, just doesn't quite get up to that level. For me.
I love...more
Personally, I think I'm just spoiled by Harry Potter. Written as kids books, she really raised the bar for what they could be and this one, although the premise is a great one and the characters have soooo much potential, just doesn't quite get up to that level. For me.
I love...more
Oh, my! This book (& series) is amazing! I'm obsessed.
When Catherine Royal (Cat) was a baby, she was left on the steps of the Royal Theatre in London. The theatre people adopted her, giving her a roof over her head and letting them be part of their lives. But Cat also has a tendency to attract trouble. When she overhears the theatre owner talking about the diamond he's hidden in the theatre, he enlists her help to keep his secret hidden. She doesn't know where the diamond is or what ...more
When Catherine Royal (Cat) was a baby, she was left on the steps of the Royal Theatre in London. The theatre people adopted her, giving her a roof over her head and letting them be part of their lives. But Cat also has a tendency to attract trouble. When she overhears the theatre owner talking about the diamond he's hidden in the theatre, he enlists her help to keep his secret hidden. She doesn't know where the diamond is or what ...more
I will admit it, the cover is what first caught my eye and made me read on, but in this case, judging a book by it's cover proved to be a good thing, as this is a little gem of a novel. The story follows Cat Royal, an orphan living behind the scenes of the famous Theatre Royal in London, and the secrets she uncovers amongst the props and costumes. 'The Diamond of Drury Lane' is not just a fun romp. It also casts the reader back to the late Eighteenth Century, from the mean streets of London, to ...more
Melanie
rated it
I really like this book and will most likely read the rest of the series. However there is one thing that bothers me. In the 21st century, why do we have books that depict young girls in weak positions?
In this story, Cat Royal is a ward of a London theatre. She finds herself in the middle of an exciting adventure. But the only people she can call on for help are boys and grown men. With the exception of Ms. Elizabeth (who herself has issues with a non-existent backbone), there is Ped...more
In this story, Cat Royal is a ward of a London theatre. She finds herself in the middle of an exciting adventure. But the only people she can call on for help are boys and grown men. With the exception of Ms. Elizabeth (who herself has issues with a non-existent backbone), there is Ped...more
Golding, Julia. The Diamond of Drury Lane (2008)
The Diamond of Drury Lane is a mystery story set in London in the1790s. The main character, Cat Royal, is an orphan who was abandoned on the doorstep of the Drury Lane Theater, and raised by the theater manager, Mr. Sheridan and his crew. One night she overhears him talking to a mysterious stranger about hiding a diamond in the theater. She promises to keep this newly acquired knowledge a secret, but accidently lets the cat out of the bag...more
The Diamond of Drury Lane is a mystery story set in London in the1790s. The main character, Cat Royal, is an orphan who was abandoned on the doorstep of the Drury Lane Theater, and raised by the theater manager, Mr. Sheridan and his crew. One night she overhears him talking to a mysterious stranger about hiding a diamond in the theater. She promises to keep this newly acquired knowledge a secret, but accidently lets the cat out of the bag...more
Cat is an orphan, but she considers herself to be one of the luckiest people alive. You see, when her parents abandoned her she was left on the steps of the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, and that's where she has lived ever since. Life in the theatre is never boring, but it becomes even more exciting with the arrival of a diamond and two new friends--all of which seem to bring nothing but trouble into her life. With dodging gang members on the street and nearly dying on wayward set pieces nowher...more
I really want to give this one 4.5 stars because I really liked it and am especially impressed because I'm not usually one for mysteries or historical fiction. However the characters in this book were so well-developd, and the heroine so winning I could not put down the story of the orphan girl who lives in a theatre, is freinds with royalty and street urchins alike, and fiercly loyal to them all. This is a book with broad appeal.
Part mystery, part adventure, part historical fiction the...more
Part mystery, part adventure, part historical fiction the...more
1st Book in the series
5 stars
I enjoyed this book, it's dynamic , fun, entertaining and well written. I wish it had a much more bigger marketing campaign, it could have been almost famous like Harry Potter or Series of Unfortunate Events.
I love Cat, she is clever, cunning and most of the time she manages to get herself into trouble but makes a great escape every time. Pedro is a likable character, Syd too, I have an affinity for Billy :) the rest of her friends are great to i...more
5 stars
I enjoyed this book, it's dynamic , fun, entertaining and well written. I wish it had a much more bigger marketing campaign, it could have been almost famous like Harry Potter or Series of Unfortunate Events.
I love Cat, she is clever, cunning and most of the time she manages to get herself into trouble but makes a great escape every time. Pedro is a likable character, Syd too, I have an affinity for Billy :) the rest of her friends are great to i...more
Claire
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Those who like the old English setting, dialog and street characters.
I read this last year, and I liked it alot- set in old England- Kat is an orphan taken in by the theatre on Drury Lane. She is feisty and appealing to all, including a nemesis- an unpleasant gang leader who is sweet on her. She unfortunately spurns him in a public and humiliating way, not understanding the ways of the heart and how vulnerable this boy is to her. She kicks off a chain of events that entangle lords, ladies, urchins and judges who are trying to find the Diamond of Drury Lane. An al...more
Recommended by AJ's friend that is a children's librarian. She said: Yes, this tale of the intrepid spitfire Cat Royal — a foundling who inhabits the Drury Lane Theatre, circa the 1780s, is one humdinger of a mystery tale. But what makes it superb are all the secondary characters: London street thugs, aristocrats who sneak off to boxing matches, a political cartoonist known as Captain Sparkle, and — I kid you not — a former African slave who is also a violin prodigy. Bonus points: a glossary o...more
The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding
Roaring Book Press, 2006
419 pages
YA; Historical
4/5 stars
Source: Library
Read for YA Book Battle and also because the sequels looked really intriguing.
Cat Royal is an orphan living in the Theater Royal in 1790 London. She has been unofficially adopted by the theater folk and has lived there as long as she can remember. Living among the actors, writers, and designers as well as the gangs that control the s...more
Roaring Book Press, 2006
419 pages
YA; Historical
4/5 stars
Source: Library
Read for YA Book Battle and also because the sequels looked really intriguing.
Cat Royal is an orphan living in the Theater Royal in 1790 London. She has been unofficially adopted by the theater folk and has lived there as long as she can remember. Living among the actors, writers, and designers as well as the gangs that control the s...more
Young Cat Royal has lived in the Royal Theatre ever since she was found abandoned on its doorstep, and acts as the theatre's "Jill of all trades" and mascot, although she has ambitions to become a writer of fiction and plays. When Cat accidentally discovers (well, she WAS evesdropping...) that the theatre's owner, Mr. Sheridan, is hiding a treasure somewhere in the theatre, she knows she must guard the secret closely. But of course, she can't resist conducting her own search for the ...more
Ah, so satisfying in so many ways!
Catherine "Cat" Royal is a foundling adopted by London's Drury Lane theater, circa the late 1700s. It's a position that lets her mingle with cast, crew, and audience members both high and low. When she overhears theater manager Mr. Sheridan saying how he is hiding a diamond in Drury Lane, her curiosity is piqued, although her discovery and subsequent protection of this diamond isn't exactly what anybody suspects.
Add to this so...more
Catherine "Cat" Royal is a foundling adopted by London's Drury Lane theater, circa the late 1700s. It's a position that lets her mingle with cast, crew, and audience members both high and low. When she overhears theater manager Mr. Sheridan saying how he is hiding a diamond in Drury Lane, her curiosity is piqued, although her discovery and subsequent protection of this diamond isn't exactly what anybody suspects.
Add to this so...more
Roxanne Hsu Feldman
rated it
This is a winner! (Literally, too, since it did win the Smarties prize.)
Cat (Catherine) Royal is a charming, vivid, endearing, and plucky heroine. Readers really care about what happens to her and her friends. The host of friends are also drawn with details and depth. One can practically hear them speak and see them act and react to Cat's adventures. The clever device of having Cat being immersed and specially educated in the backstage of a theater gives credit to Cat's deft han...more
Cat (Catherine) Royal is a charming, vivid, endearing, and plucky heroine. Readers really care about what happens to her and her friends. The host of friends are also drawn with details and depth. One can practically hear them speak and see them act and react to Cat's adventures. The clever device of having Cat being immersed and specially educated in the backstage of a theater gives credit to Cat's deft han...more
The Diamond of Drury Lane is a young adult novel, but it’s a very good one. It’s dramatic, exciting and atmospheric – it really captures the flavour of life backstage which may have changed a little since the Regency period during which this novel has set, but from my own experiences, both front and backstage, I can tell you, I don’t think things have changed all that much, and all the grease paint and sweat and relationships forged there are present and correct here.
Cat is certainly a girl that I would have envied when I was younger. A strong, brave, clever girl with lots of spunk! Not to mention that she lives in a theatre and has daily adventures! Her witty narration definitely had me mesmerized, as she took me on those adventures! The places we went, the people we met, and all the beatings were just a small taste of her lifestyle! My only complaint is that it was surprisingly slow at the beginning. It took me about 40 pages into the book to capture my fu...more
Catherine "Cat" Royal is an orphan who has taken up residence at a Drury Lane theater. When she overhears two men talking about a diamond hidden away in the theater, the mystery begins.
Enter Pedro, a former slave and musical child prodigy, who embarks on the grand adventure that takes place on the streets of 19th century London. There are gang fights, boxing matches, scurrilous cartoonists and other characters, as well as slumming nobles and idiot adults.
All in ...more
Enter Pedro, a former slave and musical child prodigy, who embarks on the grand adventure that takes place on the streets of 19th century London. There are gang fights, boxing matches, scurrilous cartoonists and other characters, as well as slumming nobles and idiot adults.
All in ...more
First book in the Cat Royal Series
Catherine "Cat" Royal, aged 12 or 13, is an orphan living in the theater on Drury Lane. Small and petite at only four feet, but with more than enough wit, spirit and brash independence to make up for her small stature. A hidden diamond. A freed slave. Two warring gangs in Coventry Gardens. A political cartoonist on the lam. This is plenty to keep Cat busy as she tries to protect the diamond and keep herself from getting hung.
Goo...more
Catherine "Cat" Royal, aged 12 or 13, is an orphan living in the theater on Drury Lane. Small and petite at only four feet, but with more than enough wit, spirit and brash independence to make up for her small stature. A hidden diamond. A freed slave. Two warring gangs in Coventry Gardens. A political cartoonist on the lam. This is plenty to keep Cat busy as she tries to protect the diamond and keep herself from getting hung.
Goo...more
Great voice, great characters, but the writing was a bit uneven – sometimes very appropriate to the time, sometimes WAY too modern for 18th century (she actually used a term like up-to-the-minute). Even the London 'cant' seemed a bit too modern – not that I know what London vernacular was like in those days, but it felt a bit like it was lifted out of Eastenders. So I'm knocking a star off for that!
But apart from that, a really enjoyable book.
But apart from that, a really enjoyable book.
Fun book about a 12is year old girl who has been raised backstage in a famous London theater in about 1790.
The author did a good job of making her plucking, appropriately-naive and fun. Some of the other characters were a bit unrealistic in their behavior, but keeping in mind that the target audeince is probably younger kids that did bother me very much. I enjoyed the read and will probably get the next in the series.
The author did a good job of making her plucking, appropriately-naive and fun. Some of the other characters were a bit unrealistic in their behavior, but keeping in mind that the target audeince is probably younger kids that did bother me very much. I enjoyed the read and will probably get the next in the series.
Set in the late 1700s, the main character Cat Royal lives in a theater. She was left there as a baby and the cast and crew of the theater took her in and became her family. She is a clever narrator and a spunky character. She always gets herself into trouble, but always has good friends nearby to help her out, but not after putting up a good fight herself. I really liked all the books in this series.
I really loved this novel. Category young adult, but lots to like about it at any age. It is a mystery set in London, 1790. An interesting cast of characters, great vocabulary, and a little information on the politics of the era make it great for tweens on up. I imagine Golding plans a series for these Drury Lane characters, and I am looking forward to it.
Tried to buy this one for Harper but had trouble finding anyone else besides me who liked it to same irrational degree that I did. Thoroughly enjoyable and great good fun--Eighteenth Century Britain! Thieves and dastardly men! Sinister doings backstage at a theater! a freed slave coping with defining who he is in a world that is trying to define him as something very narrow indeed! If not quite exceptional, the Cat Royal books are sort of "Sally Lockhart Lite," and pretty much perfect ...more
Marisa
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Marisa by:
kirkus starred review
Shelves:
ya
Highly entertaining book! Cat Royal has lived at the Royal Theatre on Drury Lane since she was found wandering around outside as a toddler. The stage owner took her in, named her, and has provided for her ever since.
This story of secret identities, villians, and sometimes questionable sometime loyal friends, mixes the social classes of 1790 seamlessly.
The characters are so well written -- Cat has a distinct and witty voice from the very beginning, the bad guys are t...more
This story of secret identities, villians, and sometimes questionable sometime loyal friends, mixes the social classes of 1790 seamlessly.
The characters are so well written -- Cat has a distinct and witty voice from the very beginning, the bad guys are t...more
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Julia Golding grew up on the edge of Epping Forest. After reading English at Cambridge, she joined the Foreign Office and served in Poland.
On leaving Poland, she exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. She then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the...more
More about Julia Golding...
On leaving Poland, she exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. She then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the...more
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