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121st out of 378 books
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Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de' Medici (Young Royals #5)
Young Catherine de' Medici is the sole heiress to the entire fortune of the wealthy Medici family. But her life is far from luxurious. After a childhoodpowerful queens.Includes a family tree.
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
June 1st 2007
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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Duchessina was a fairly good young adult take on Catherine de' Medici. The historical details are flawlessly added, and while it's too sympathic towards Catherine, I understand the need for the heroine to be that way in this type of book. My only major complaint is the end, where there was too much left in the book to wrap up so quickly. I thought the whole book was just going to be the first twenty or so years of her life, which would have made the book more cohesive. Instead the last thirty pa...more
A very easy read because of course it is a kid's book.
First off I want to say "great job" to Ms. Meyer for making history books for kids!! I wish more had been around when I was a kid. It can be very very annoying when your 12 and you can't find any historical fiction books you can actually read besides the Royal Diaries series. (which where very good also) On this part alone I give five stars.
The story was interesting, but I personally found the characters flat. ...more
First off I want to say "great job" to Ms. Meyer for making history books for kids!! I wish more had been around when I was a kid. It can be very very annoying when your 12 and you can't find any historical fiction books you can actually read besides the Royal Diaries series. (which where very good also) On this part alone I give five stars.
The story was interesting, but I personally found the characters flat. ...more
This read like a first-person text book. So it was sort of informative, as long as you felt like you could trust a "historical fiction". Which I didn't since it is a YA book and therefore HIGHLY edited - casting Catherine d'Medici in a very favorable light. In the book she was cast as some innocent bystander to her fate - whereas in real life she was a pretty bad lady.
Duchessina was a likable book at most. There was nothing spectacular about the characters or plot. The details were sparse so I don't believe the story was painted out as well as it could have been. I believe if the author had put a little more time into making the story longer and more detailed I would have enjoyed it more. The character development was slow and I wasn't really fond of any particular character. I believed them all to be uninteresting, especially, Catherine. I did, however, feel...more
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I pre-read this to see if it was appropriate for my daughter to read. For the benefit of other parents, here's the low-down:
1 'damn'
multiple references to sex, mistresses, bastards, and rape (this is about the young Catherine, who grows up in Renaissance Italy, marries at age 14, and is under pressure to produce an heir) - nothing is gratuitous or explicit, though.
some minor references to violence (poisoning, drawing and quartering, etc.)
The movie version woul...more
1 'damn'
multiple references to sex, mistresses, bastards, and rape (this is about the young Catherine, who grows up in Renaissance Italy, marries at age 14, and is under pressure to produce an heir) - nothing is gratuitous or explicit, though.
some minor references to violence (poisoning, drawing and quartering, etc.)
The movie version woul...more
I didn't care for this book as much as I thought I would. The novel skipped along, at a fast enough pace to keep the reader pretty interested, but it moved along in an erratic way. One thing I'd hoped to find in this book was a little bit of romance, but I only got a tiny hint at it, which was rather disappointing, as it seemed that there were some good places to slip some in. The other main disappointing aspect of the novel was the ending. It was kind of rushed, and rather unhappy. I didn't rea...more
I try to classify books in this shelf as ones that I would review, edit, or think twice about before handing them to a teenager. The end of this book is very much in that category. Meyer's descriptions of the Duchessina's marital problems are sad in their truth, but potentially a little strong if you try to monitor this kind of content in your YA fiction. Still, Meyer has proven to be good at handling historical fiction about royalty and this book fits her style nicely. There are plenty of beaut...more
I really like historical fiction so this YA novel was right up my alley. I didn't know much about this period in history (Europe in the 1500's) so it was VERY eye opening. After reading the book I had to google search for a more factual biography of Catherine de' Medici and found the book showed her to be more of a heroine than the (sometimes) ruthless ruler that she turned out to be. I do think the book did show that she was a product of her times as well as of her upbringing. Definitely a ...more
Orphaned at a young age and heir to a vast fortune, Catherine de' Medici was one of the wealthiest young women in 16th century Europe. But that did not make her childhood happy. For her own protection, she was kept locked in her home or secluded in a convent for most of her early years. After three years at the convent, she is finally set free, only to learn she is to be married to Henri II, prince of France, in a political union.
Married at the young age of fourteen, Catherine’s marr...more
Married at the young age of fourteen, Catherine’s marr...more
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Catherine de'Medici, Duchessina, grows up in a palace in Florence where her family rules the city. When her family falls out of power, she must flee. She becomes imprisoned within the walls of convents for her protection against the angry mob that calls for her death. At the first convent, the nuns make their hatred of her family no secret.
The Duchessina lives in misery, enduring the pain as best she can under the circumsta...more
Catherine de'Medici, Duchessina, grows up in a palace in Florence where her family rules the city. When her family falls out of power, she must flee. She becomes imprisoned within the walls of convents for her protection against the angry mob that calls for her death. At the first convent, the nuns make their hatred of her family no secret.
The Duchessina lives in misery, enduring the pain as best she can under the circumsta...more
It's possible that this book is good. It's just that I have no clue.
I started reading this on the plane ride back from Vegas on Tuesday. I got about half-way, and it held my interest. (But then again, what else would I have done on the plane? All my gossip magazines were already read, heh.)
I fully intended to finish once I was home, but every time I picked it back up, my mind just started wandering. All I could think about was all the other books I have checked out from ...more
I started reading this on the plane ride back from Vegas on Tuesday. I got about half-way, and it held my interest. (But then again, what else would I have done on the plane? All my gossip magazines were already read, heh.)
I fully intended to finish once I was home, but every time I picked it back up, my mind just started wandering. All I could think about was all the other books I have checked out from ...more
This was surprisingly good. Carolyn Meyer's books about the Tudors were all marred with superfluous descriptions of people's clothing and characters that were not characters so much as plot devices. Duchessina is much better written than that. Caterina's story was intriguing and I found myself wanting to know more about her; I knew almost nothing of her childhood when the story started. I might check out a few biographies of her; she sounds like a fascinating woman.
My only complaint ...more
My only complaint ...more
I like history and this book was insightful on what Caterina dei Medici must have gone through during her childhood, but I wasn't sure of the accuracy so I had to do other research to see if certain things happened the way the author portrayed them. Overall, it was a sad and depressing book, but, it was a historical novel.
Caterina de Medici's life should be full of magnificant palaces, rich dresses, and servants. Instead, she is imprisoned in two convents and faces loneliness and isolation as she is used as a political pawn. Now she must face a new life in a strange land, France, when she is betrothed to Prince Henri.
I've been studying the lives of the Medici family and naturally I had to start with a YA, because they are the easiest and funnest to read.
The book shocased the childhood and teen age years of Catherine de Medici as she struggles to survive amid a time of great hatred toward the infamous family.
The book shocased the childhood and teen age years of Catherine de Medici as she struggles to survive amid a time of great hatred toward the infamous family.
At first I enjoyed this book very much. But then I realized that I recognized Catherine de'Medici's name. I looked in my history book and found the truth and was very sad and put out. I had thougth Catherine to be good and sweet but alas she was nothing more than a cruel woman. I felt decieved and unhappy.
I am obviously in a 16th-century rut, but at least this isn't about anything Tudor-related! This was good, quick and very readable - but the ending tries to sum up too much too fast. It should have just stopped earlier, and left the rest to a historical note.
Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides
marked it as decided-not-to-read
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
children-ya
I felt like this was pretty darn faithful to the historical record, but I had trouble connecting the Catherine depicted here with her later life. Or even really seeing her as someone with a personality, if that makes any sense? It probably doesn't.
Tori
added it
2008- Liked the fact that the majority of the book focused on Catherine de Medici's early life. It gave the reader an idea of how her childhood experiences shaped the woman she became. I just wish that the second half of the book wasn't so rushed.
Tenny
rated it
Recommends it for:
historical fiction obsessed young adults (like me)
Recommended to Tenny by:
i found it randomely at either borders or barnes and noble...can
i love this book so much! i learned so much from it and it got me, a twelve year old, completely obsesed with the renaissance and especially the medicis. i'm actualy writing a research paper on them, but thats not why i read this book. :)
I really enjoy these glimpses into history. Makes me want to research the "real history" of the person. Also makes me glad I didn't grow up during that time period! It's amazing to me what was/wasn't accepted from women.
i actually found this book pretty pleasurable for being about a time period and class i have no interest in. the family tree in the front doesn't have everyone i'm intersted in on it, though. and the dates give everything away!
In Duchessina, an eight year old girl named Catherine De' Medici was a princess. But her world falls apart when royalty dissapear's and she is sent to live with some horrible and mean nuns. She doesn't know what to do.
This book did not fail to delight me. Ms. Meyer DEFINITELY knows what she's talking about.
Duchessina, or Catherine, lived a very hard childhood. It was pretty upsetting how bad people could treat someone because of their family history. Anyhow, she definitely persevered, with lots of bumps in her tracks. The ending SEEMED rushed, but I think I collected a good enough picture of the rest of her life, though I wish more justice could have been done about her husband.
This is...more
Duchessina, or Catherine, lived a very hard childhood. It was pretty upsetting how bad people could treat someone because of their family history. Anyhow, she definitely persevered, with lots of bumps in her tracks. The ending SEEMED rushed, but I think I collected a good enough picture of the rest of her life, though I wish more justice could have been done about her husband.
This is...more
I've really liked the other books by Carolyn Meyer so I picked this one up last time I was at the library. It turns out to maybe have been a bit too juvenile for me, but still an interesting read. Meyer is able to create a personality for a person who lived hundreds of years ago, in a time where records of one's childhood and earlier years were not kept. before reading this book I didn't know much about Catherine de' Medici, but after reading Duchessina, I have learned a ton!
It was a good look into the Renaissance in Florence for Middle School-ers. The story was a nice blend of intrigue, conflict between characters and good historical facts. Well written and quick.
I thought I'd try a historical novel, but the problem with historical novels is they have to somewhat follow history. This book was interesting, but tragic (in my mind) and not uplifting.
This book sparked my curiosity. I am curious to know more about Catherine. Especially if she ever found love. As far as the book goes, it was ok. It was pitiful, all of her misfortune. I didn't feel too emotionally involved in the book. I did feel sympathetic to her and her situation, but I didn't feel her devastation. The fact that Catherine was 4 and planning a future with a boy was unbelievable. It was unbelievable that a 9yr old had any comprehension of romantic love...and a desir...more
Despite knowing the harshness of Catherine de Medici as an adult, after reading this book you can't help but feel sympathy for her and all that she endured as a child.
I have been looking for this book for a couple of months, so when I found it as I was shelving today, I immediately ran and checked it out. :)
I liked the view of the other side of Catherine de'Medici; all of the other books I've read about her have only shown her in her later, nastier years, and it was very interesting to read a book about her younger, nicer years, and that also showed her perspective on things.
I know that this is a novel, so I'm not taking everything as gold, but I...more
I liked the view of the other side of Catherine de'Medici; all of the other books I've read about her have only shown her in her later, nastier years, and it was very interesting to read a book about her younger, nicer years, and that also showed her perspective on things.
I know that this is a novel, so I'm not taking everything as gold, but I...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolyn Meyer | 2 | 7 | Sep 26, 2011 09:38am |
Carolyn Meyer is as versatile a writer as you will find. Along with historical fiction and realistic novels for young adults she has written nonfiction for young adults and books for younger readers on topics as diverse as the Amish, the Irish, Japanese, Yup'ik Eskimos, a rock band, rock tumbling, bread baking, and coconuts. And ten of her books have been chosen as Best Books for Young Adults by t...more
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