Cate of the Lost Colony

Oct 19, 2010 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 3 of 5 stars

In a Sentence: Cate of the Lost Colony is a masterful coming-of-age tale that takes place in a vivid historical setting.

My Thoughts

When I was in high school, I picked up Lisa Klein's first novel, Ophelia, and absolutely loved it. As such, I was really excited to read Cate of the Lost Colony. Klein has written a few books between Ophelia and Cate, but this is only the second one that I've read.

Cate of the Lost Colony definitely lived up to the high standard set by Ophelia. The characters were...more

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 20, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, historical-fiction, for-review

Catherine Archer, an orphan has been selected for the chance to be one of Queen Elizabeth’s maids in waiting. It is the chance of a lifetime, as working for the Queen reflects a potential positive change in fortune. Catherine finds love with one of the Queen’s favorites, Sir Walter Raleigh. However, this draws the Queen’s ire. I am sure you can infer from the title what will happen. Think Roanoke, the lost colony! When in Roanoke, Cate finds herself attracted to a native, Manteo. With her heart...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 13, 2010 Sab H. (YA Bliss) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, own-arc, historical-fiction

I'm stunned! This was ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID!!!! I normally quite enjoy Historical Fiction but this time... I mean, come on! This is probably the single one thing in history that I would die to read about, and Lisa Klein does a marvelous job with it. It will always be one of the greatest historical mystery, but now I have an alternate ending that completely satisfied me. I was truly amazed by the way the story flows naturally and provides the reader such vivid insight with the several POVs and lett...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 24, 2012 Anne Broyles rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed seeing Klein’s author choices as she delved into the historical mystery of what happened to the colonists on Roanoke Island. We meet protagonist, Lady Catherine just before she goes to serve in Queen Elizabeth I’s court and eventually travel with her across the seas to the New World. Klein proposes a romance with Sir Walter Raleigh that drives much of the story, and is told not only in Cate’s voice, but through the poetry and diaries of Raleigh, and some chapters from the viewpoint of...more

like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Cate has the unfortunate honor of falling for Sir Walter Ralegh - the Queen's favorite - which gets her exiled to the New World. A land of so-called 'savages', war, and hard living. Cate now has to put England and Ralegh behind her and make her life work in the colony of Virginia - Roanoke, in fact. Cate's part of the "Lost Colony".

Here's a bit of history about the Lost Colony: "In 1587, Raleigh dispatched a group of 117 colonists. They were led by John White, an artist and friend of Raleigh who...more Cate has the unfortunate honor of falling for Sir Walter Ralegh - the Queen's favorite - which gets her exiled to the New World. A land of so-called 'savages', war, and hard living. Cate now has to put England and Ralegh behind her and make her life work in the colony of Virginia - Roanoke, in fact. Cate's part of the "Lost Colony".

Here's a bit of history about the Lost Colony: "In 1587, Raleigh dispatched a group of 117 colonists. They were led by John White, an artist and friend of Raleigh who had accompanied the previous expeditions to Roanoke. The settlers landed on Roanoke Island on July 22, 1587. On August 18, White's daughter Eleanor gave birth to the first English child born in the Americas, Virginia Dare. Before her birth, White re-established relations with the neighboring Croatans and tried to re-establish relations with the tribes that Ralph Lane had attacked a year previously. The aggrieved tribes refused to meet the new colonists. Shortly thereafter, a colonist named George Howe was killed by natives while searching for crabs alone in Albemarle Sound. Knowing what had happened during Ralph Lane's tenure in the area and fearing for their lives, the colonists persuaded Governor White to return to England to explain the colony's situation and ask for help. There were approximately 115 colonists — the 114 remaining men and women who had made the trans-Atlantic passage and the newborn baby, Virginia Dare — when White returned to England.

Crossing the Atlantic as late in the year as White did was a considerable risk, as evidenced by the claim of pilot Simon Fernandez that their vessel barely made it back to England. Plans for a relief fleet were initially delayed by the captain's refusal to sail back during the winter. Then, the coming of the Spanish Armada led to every able ship in England being commandeered to fight, which left White with no seaworthy vessels available to return to Roanoke. He did manage, however, to hire two smaller vessels deemed unnecessary for the defence and set out for Roanoke in the spring of 1588. This time, White's attempt to return to Roanoke was foiled by human nature and circumstance; the two vessels were small, and their captains greedy. They attempted to capture several Spanish ships on the outward-bound voyage to improve the profitability of their venture, but were captured themselves and their cargo taken. With nothing left to deliver to the colonists, the captains returned to England.

Because of the continuing war with Spain (Anglo-Spanish War), White was not able to mount another resupply attempt for three more years. He finally gained passage on a privateering expedition that agreed to stop off at Roanoke on the way back from the Caribbean. White landed on August 18, 1590, on his granddaughter's third birthday, but found the settlement deserted. His men could not find any trace of the ninety men, seventeen women, and eleven children, nor was there any sign of a struggle or battle. The only clue was the word "Croatoan" carved into a post of the fort and "Cro" carved into a nearby tree. All the houses and fortifications had been dismantled, which meant their departure had not been hurried. Before he had left the colony, White had instructed them that if anything happened to them, they should carve a Maltese cross on a tree nearby, indicating that their disappearance had been forced. As there was no cross, White took this to mean they had moved to Croatoan Island, but he was unable to conduct a search. A massive storm was brewing and his men refused to go any farther. The next day, they left."

'Cate of the Lost Colony' is the story of those settlers and what could have really happened to them told through Cate, Manteo, and Ralegh's eyes. It is a great story and I enjoyed every word. If you like historical fiction, you'll love this book!(less)

like · see review

Apr 06, 2011 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a big fan of historical fiction, I had high expectations of this book. And I wasn't let down at all. The characters, plot, and the setting were all so well done and I enjoyed the conclusion very much.
The characters in this novel were amazing. It was a different characterization of Elizabeth I than I have ever seen before. While her role was fairly minimal, it was reminiscent of the way her father, Henry VIII, was portrayed. I also really liked Cate. I thought she was a strong young woman, ad...more

like · see review

Jan 13, 2011 Arya rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Catherine Archer's father dies and despair descends on the orphaned girl a surprising letter arrives from the queen, asking her to become one of her ladies in waiting. Catherine is thrilled, but when she arrives at court she realizes how little she knows about what goes on within their walls. As courtly intrigue threatens to drown her the dashing Walter Ralegh--a favorite of the queen--may just be the one who pushes her head under water for good.

Catherine is banished to Virginia when the qu...more When Catherine Archer's father dies and despair descends on the orphaned girl a surprising letter arrives from the queen, asking her to become one of her ladies in waiting. Catherine is thrilled, but when she arrives at court she realizes how little she knows about what goes on within their walls. As courtly intrigue threatens to drown her the dashing Walter Ralegh--a favorite of the queen--may just be the one who pushes her head under water for good.

Catherine is banished to Virginia when the queen discovers Ralegh's affection for her, and Catherine couldn't be more thrilled. Entering a New World as Cate, she doesn't find the Eden she dreamed so often of. As the colonists are increasingly pushed to desperate circumstances it is the Indian ambassador Manteo who proves to be Cate's greatest ally.

Cate of the Lost Colony is a beautifully told story of the "lost colony" of Roanoke Island. The story doesn't rush through, but takes its time lingering on the facts that are recognized by historians and building upon them to create something totally unique. The most intriguing thing about Cate of the Lost Colony is the fact that its story is so possible, describing a possibility that has very little proof against it.

I greatly enjoyed this novel and hated to put it down. Lisa Klein did a wonderful job, obviously pouring a great deal of time, research, and thought into its pages. The pace is a bit slow and may not be the greatest book for those of you who like headlong action, but it is very interesting. If there was anything I would have changed about it, it would be not taking the time to pen in Walter Ralegh's point of view. These sections were often full of information that the reader was tempted to skip over.

The thing about this novel is, to me, it would look better on film. This would definitely be a good idea. For people who are good at conjuring a strong mental picture while reading will see why. The lack of interaction but growing affection between Manteo and Cate would have been much easier to spot in a movie then they are in a book. The same goes for the trials of the colonists. They just don't pack as much of a punch in the novel.

Overall, Cate of the Lost Colony was a wonderful read, but is mostly recommended to people specifically interested in the subject matter and time period.

A special thanks to BloomsburyUSA for sending me a copy to review!

~Review by Arya @ A Sea of Pages
http://seaofpages.blogspot.com <---Check it out!!(less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 21, 2010 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, britishy, good-for-girls, good-book-for-dudes, young-adult-books, historical-fiction

I always forget about the lost colony of Roanoke. So much so that I didn't realize until the end of the book that that's what I was reading about. This book has a lot going for it -- it's set during the reign of QE1, it tells the story of forbidden romance, it deals with colonialism, and all its various good, if misguided, intentions and disastrous outcomes. And it tells the story of a strong girl whose life was never going to be easily changed, just based on her time and place. But somehow she...more

like · see review

Sep 01, 2010 Margo Tanenbaum rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

Lisa Klein's absorbing fourth novel plunges the reader head-first into the mystery of the lost Roanoke Colony of Virginia. As Klein writes in an afterword, the fate of the 117 men, women, and children who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587 is "perhaps the greatest unsolved mystery in American history."

This new novel represents historical fiction at its best; Klein creates an appealing fictional character, young Cate Archer, and inserts her into the actual events of the time in a historically beli...more Lisa Klein's absorbing fourth novel plunges the reader head-first into the mystery of the lost Roanoke Colony of Virginia. As Klein writes in an afterword, the fate of the 117 men, women, and children who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587 is "perhaps the greatest unsolved mystery in American history."

This new novel represents historical fiction at its best; Klein creates an appealing fictional character, young Cate Archer, and inserts her into the actual events of the time in a historically believable way, and in so doing illuminates a fascinating but little-studied mystery of American history.

Our heroine, young Cate, seems to be blessed in her position as a favorite attendant to Queen Elizabeth; but the Queen's favor is fickle, and when she discovers that her current favorite, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Cate share a mutual romantic attraction, she arrests Cate in a fit of jealousy and then exiles her to Raleigh's new colony in the New World. Unbeknownst to the Queen, Cate craves adventure, and dreams of escaping to a new life. She is fascinated by tales of the New World and the Native Americans who are brought across the ocean to the court as curiosities. These include the handsome young Manteo, a Croatoan Indian who quickly learns English, and narrates parts of the story, alternating with Cate herself and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Klein uses the actual passengers who sailed to Roanoke to populate the rest of her novel, including little Virginia Dare, considered to be the first English baby to be born on American soil. The colonists arrive too late in the summer to successfully plant crops to sustain them through the winter, and Governor White sails back to England to beg for supplies. But life does not go well on Roanoke; the colonists clash with the local Indians, and fight among themselves as well. Cate, in her courageous efforts to make the colony succeed, begins to learn the local language and befriend the native women. Help from England does not arrive...will the colonists survive? Will Sir Walter himself come to save Cate, or should she allow herself to experience a new love in the New World, with Manteo and his tribe?

Since no one knows what really happened to the Roanoke colonists, Klein is free to imagine her own version of events, one which I found perfectly believable and fitting (and which I will not discuss since I don't want to spoil the suspense for any readers!) The author's afterword gives details on her research and her treatment of some of the historical figures in the story, particularly Sir Walter Raleigh.

One element of the novel I particularly enjoyed was the contrast between the wealth and intrigues of life at Queen Elizabeth's court and the hardships of life at the new colony. Klein handles depiction of the native culture in a sensitive way, although she emphasizes that nothing is known about the particulars of Manteo's people. Instead, Klein incorporates Algonkian legends and history to imagine Manteo's personality and mindset. Also, there is a great romantic triangle at work here between Cate, Sir Walter, and Manteo that should have great teen appeal (sorry, better than Bella, Edward, and Jacob!)
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 10, 2013 Monique rated it 3 of 5 stars

What romance! Some lewd content (maybe a paragraph or two- when I can't tell you, I skipped over it- when what's-his-name wrote his letters) and that affected the rating. Loved the history written in this; I can just imagine living in the wild (hopefully clothed fully) living off the bountiful land. Nevermind the starvation that actually happened. I wasn't too fond of the heroine, just more interested in the whole story and what happens to each person introduced, some that just faded away. Unlik...more

like · see review

Aug 30, 2010 Proud Book Nerd rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: around-the-world-tours, do-not-have, historical-fiction, ya

The lost colony of Roanoke was something that I always found quite interesting when studying history. What happened to those people? Where did they go? Cate of the Lost Colony provides an intriguing –and quite plausible – explanation: The people were absorbed into the Native American tribes nearby. I know that's not something that ever would have crossed my mind before reading this book, but I'm sure historians and/or scholars have considered this possible outcome. I loved that this story presen...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 16, 2013 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

This caught my attention even though it was a historical. It seems lately I haven't really been reading historicals, yet they are one of my favourites types of reads. This is an example of a good historical. It seriously made me want to know more about this particular piece of history.

Plot
I quite liked the plot overall. It is well paced and well plotted, there is drama and at the same time (which I thought was a winner) the character's feelings reason out the dramatic events. So I didn't get ang...more

like · see review

Nov 24, 2011 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cate of the Lost Colony was a fascinating read. Despite being only (fillin the blank) pages, the story covers a lot of ground. The slower pacing and attention to detail meant that readers get a very full and well rounded story. Everything was very even and flowed nicely. Keeping a chunk of the story in England, especially in the Queen’s court served to give background and depth to the characters.

Cate was a perfect character. She was strong and adventurous, but not oblivious to the reality of th...more

like · see review

Apr 01, 2013 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-love-the-sale-bin

I really enjoyed this book and adored the amount of research the author put in to it. I only know a little about Queen Elizabeth I's reign and her relationship with Sir Walter Ralegh, but I am very familiar with Roanoke and the mystery surrounding the lost colony. I believe that Klein did a fantastic job weaving her fictional characters in with the historic figures, and, without giving any spoilers, I loved the ending. Catherine/Cat/Cate/Ladi-cate is a wonderfully strong female character, someth...more

like · see review

Jun 04, 2012 Annika Paxman rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cate, a young woman orphaned by the recent death of her father, finds herself a maid to Queen Elizabeth. At first thrilled at the amazing opportunity, Cate is disappointed to discover the politics and games played even amongst the servants to win the Queen's favor. When the Queen discovers Cates forbidden romance with another at court she is punished, by being sent to the America's to help settle a new colony. But to Cate, this is the freedom she has wanted.

I really enjoyed this historical tale...more

like · see review

Jan 07, 2011 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Cheryl, Phoebe, Melissa, Dulcie

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

Strong-willed Catherine is a ward of Queen Elizabeth. Cate meets Elizabeth's new pet, Sir Walter Ralegh, and falls in love with him. When Elizabeth catches wind of the romantic feelings between the two, she imprisons Cate in the Tower. Ralegh talks Elizabeth into sending Cate to his colony Virginia because he knows Cate wants to visit the New World and find adventure. When Cate and other colonists arrive on Roanoke Island with Manteo, an "Indian" escort who has become a liege of the Queen, they...more

like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Kay Mcgriff rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lady Catherine may be an entirely fictional character, but her story weaves through life at court as one of Queen Elizabeth’s ladies in waiting. I would not have wanted to find my way through the political intrigue at court, but Lady Catherine manages quite well. At least she does until she falls for the dashing Sir Walter Raleigh. When their forbidden romance is discovered, Cate is thrown into the Tower of London until the queen banishes her across the ocean as a member of the new colony on Roa...more

like · see review

Mar 20, 2011 Tami Daniel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 21-30

So I did like this book, it was a simple and easy read. I would recommend this book to history readers and those girls who like to see woman rise to thier great potential. I do warn that some references in this book may be a bit much for some. It's got great characters and has multiple point of views.

Cate is a girl who looses her father while serving the queen, so queen Elizabeth invites Cate to be her lady in waiting. Cate soon falls in love with sir Ralegh, an explorer of the new world and the...more

like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Becky Moe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, historical

Having visited Roanoke Island on a family trip many years ago, I've always been fascinated by the story of the "lost" colony. I was very excited to see that Lisa Klein, a historical fiction author I've read and enjoyed in the past, had decided to put her own spin on the tale.

Klein tells her story from three very differnt points of view. Acting as the main narrator, Lady Catherine Archer is a young handmaiden to Queen Elizabeth. She angers Elizabeth by flirting with Sir Walter Raleigh, one of th...more

like · see review

Aug 03, 2010 Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, read2010, romance, ya

I have been fascinated by the story of the lost colony of Roanoke since I was a teen so I was excited when I heard about this novel. The story starts out at the court of Queen Elizabeth but I felt that this part of the story moved much more slowly than the part that takes place in Roanoke. Once Cate is banished, the story became more interesting to me even though I enjoy Tudor history. Cate's life in Roanoke is vastly different from the life she enjoyed as a courtier even with all the gossip and...more I have been fascinated by the story of the lost colony of Roanoke since I was a teen so I was excited when I heard about this novel. The story starts out at the court of Queen Elizabeth but I felt that this part of the story moved much more slowly than the part that takes place in Roanoke. Once Cate is banished, the story became more interesting to me even though I enjoy Tudor history. Cate's life in Roanoke is vastly different from the life she enjoyed as a courtier even with all the gossip and backstabbing. The colonists are not really prepared for how hard life will be but Cate adapts pretty quickly. She becomes a leader and a voice of reason even though she is one of the youngest members of the colony. I admired Cate's attitude and the way she wasn't afraid to stand up to some really unpleasant people. The Cate we meet in England and the Cate who lives in Virginia are two very different people but the changes are believable. Cate was already displaying her intelligence and understanding while at court although she wasn't careful enough in her relationship with Ralegh.

The other main characters are Sir Walter Ralegh and Manteo, a Croatoan leader who is also Cate's other love interest. The chapters alternate between their point of view and Cate's. We hear from Sir Walter Ralegh through letters and poems. I did not always like this device because I found Ralegh's poetry annoying. I would rather have read the story from Cate's point of view alone although it was nice to see what was going on in England while the colonists were struggling. It explained the difficulties involved in obtaining supplies and funds to keep the colony going. The fates of courtiers depended on the whims of the monarch and it was very costly for Ralegh to found his colony and then to maintain it. His poems also showed that he still cared for Cate. Manteo's chapters showed the perspective of someone who was trying to avoid war and to bring about peace between the English and the Indians.

There are a lot of real historical figures and although we don't know much about the colonists I think the author did a good job in giving them imagined personalities. I think that Cate was a fantastic character and I was interested in reading about the colonists and the challenges they faced. No one knows what really happens to the lost members of the Roanoke Colony but Lisa Klein has imaginatively created her own version of their story.

Readalikes: Roanoke: The Lost Colony by Angela Elwell Hunt, Jamestown by Angela Elwell Hunt, The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley, The King's Rose by Alisa Libby, A Sweet Disorder by Jacqueline Kolosov (less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 16, 2011 Nielson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Nov 17, 2011 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. For whatever reason, this time of the year, I find myself wanting to read books that deal with the early colonization of America. Plymouth, Jamestown, Roanoke -- you're all on my radar. This book definitely scratched that colonial 'itch' for this year.

While I was a little less than pleased about the ending (we'll come back to that in just a moment), I loved how the characters were so bold and 3 dimensional. Even Cate, who was fictional and entirely a creation of the author, felt like a real per...more For whatever reason, this time of the year, I find myself wanting to read books that deal with the early colonization of America. Plymouth, Jamestown, Roanoke -- you're all on my radar. This book definitely scratched that colonial 'itch' for this year.

While I was a little less than pleased about the ending (we'll come back to that in just a moment), I loved how the characters were so bold and 3 dimensional. Even Cate, who was fictional and entirely a creation of the author, felt like a real person struggling to find her way in a male dominated and then, entirely foreign, world.

I think Ms. Klein did a stellar job in depicting the historical characters as well. Rather than the regal Queen Elizabeth we've come to know thanks in part to modern movies and other books, the Queen Elizabeth in this book was a flawed and petulant character. It made her appear very human beneath the regalia she's usually associated with.

However, the character I loved to hate the most had to be Sir Walter Raleigh (spelled Ralegh in the book). What a rake! All pretenses of him being this noble explorer had been all but exploded out of the realm of possibility. You normally don't see authors try and re-paint historical characters in such a revisionist way. But Ms. Klein excelled in making me want to head back to my college history texts and see how much of what I learned about Ralegh/Raleigh was nothing more than a direct result of "the winners writing the history books".

As mentioned earlier, my only beef with this book is how it tried to wrap everything up in a nice, pretty bow. Being that this is a work of fiction, I get that there needs to be resolution. However, making it so the Lost Colonists are actually found - but reported as 'lost' so as not to draw the wrath and ire of the Crown for treason - doesn't sit well with me. Could it have happened? You bet. However, I tend to like the idea that the colonists were, in fact, never found. Granted, Ms. Klein does offer this up in her Author's Note, but, hey. It's called the Lost Colony for a reason.

Overall, I would give this book more like 3.5 stars instead of merely 3. This is a great book for Junior High and High School readers who show an interest in history. I know had this book been around when I was that age, I would have enjoyed it immensely. (less)

like · see review

Nov 21, 2012 Beth Martin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Cate of the Lost Colony is a historically accurate but meandering story that never seems to know quite where it is headed. Alas, because I had high hopes for this tale. After all, I adore historical fiction. Furthermore, I truly adore interracial romantic historical fiction. How rare to find such things, especially in the young adult category. I was so excited that I finally agreed to give Amazon eight dollars for the ebook. Yet I was disappointed.

The Story: Despite what the back cover might lea...more Cate of the Lost Colony is a historically accurate but meandering story that never seems to know quite where it is headed. Alas, because I had high hopes for this tale. After all, I adore historical fiction. Furthermore, I truly adore interracial romantic historical fiction. How rare to find such things, especially in the young adult category. I was so excited that I finally agreed to give Amazon eight dollars for the ebook. Yet I was disappointed.

The Story: Despite what the back cover might lead one to believe, the book is split into thirds. Roughly a third of the book takes place in England, with only fleeting mentions of the Americas, which seems to serve little more than background for what everyone knows is coming. Overall, things merely follow Cate as she bobs along with the winds of fate, from England to Virginia, from Ralegh/Raleigh to Manteo, never really having a hand in her own destiny, pretty little bird to be tossed about.

The Narrator(s): The story is told in the first person format, yet the narration is split into thirds along with the timeline itself. The majority responsibility for this falls on Cate, but entire chapters are left dedicated to the thoughts of Manteo and Lord Walter Ralegh/Raleigh. This might work, were it not for the fact that Cate will spend four chapters going over a time period of months, which Manteo and Ralegh/Raleigh then recap in a single chapter from their point of view. Silly me, I assumed that they were at least running parallel to where Cate left off, but no, they went back in time to recap everything that they saw, even if Cate herself had hinted at their actions. Manteo especially (view spoiler)

The Characters: Cate seems to never knew where she is heading, tripping from one "dream" to another without any clear sense of purpose, attaching herself and detaching herself to people seemingly at will. There is no sense of solidness to Cate, nor sense of growth. She is bland and boring and really quite annoying in how wishy washy she is. Manteo and Ralegh/Raleigh are different breeds of self important ass, concerned only with their own sense of heroism and grandeur. They flop about being mildly useful and entertaining, but it's never clear what is attractive about them in a serious way. Cate's original infatuation with Ralegh/Raleigh is understandable as her being young, but somehow she didn't learn enough from that to notice (view spoiler)

All in all, poorly executed and not up to par. Michelle Moran's The Heretic Queen is an example of romantic historical fiction spanning many years that a) still manages to have a clear purpose, and b) manages to make a hero who do to culture does somewhat squirmy to modern audiences (view spoiler) while still making it enjoyable and romantic. This is cheap compared to that. I would recommend it for: people who don't particularly need much in the way of believable characterization or romantic development, and just want a passable drama about the "Lost Colony."(less)

like · see review

Aug 26, 2012 Katrien rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, especially the connection between England of the 1580s and 1590s and the attempted settlement at Roanoke. For that reason, I think my 8th graders will like it--we're studying American history this year, and we spent a good bit of time with Elizabeth last year. I like the way she creates an explanation of what happened to the Lost Colony, and I think her history is pretty accurate. I'm confident my students will understand that this is fiction, one person's attempt to imagine...more

like · see review

Feb 23, 2011 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: early American historical fiction readers

Shelves: tudor-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Oct 05, 2010 Megan (the rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cate of the Lost Colony is a rare jewel in the historical fiction world. With fresh prose, an intriguing historical mystery and a sprinkle of romance, this novel can do no wrong. The story takes off at a clip from the very first page, and the pace only increases as Cate navigates her way through the stormy waters of Queen Elizabeth's court. Never fear, before all the noble's mind games become too tiresome, Cate sets sail for Virginia with a heart full of courage and hope.
Catherine Archer is on...more Cate of the Lost Colony is a rare jewel in the historical fiction world. With fresh prose, an intriguing historical mystery and a sprinkle of romance, this novel can do no wrong. The story takes off at a clip from the very first page, and the pace only increases as Cate navigates her way through the stormy waters of Queen Elizabeth's court. Never fear, before all the noble's mind games become too tiresome, Cate sets sail for Virginia with a heart full of courage and hope.
Catherine Archer is one of my favorite heroines of 2010. She has such spirit, generosity, courage, and open-mindedness. Cate narrates the story perfectly. Her ability to see the truth sets her apart from the others in both Queen Elizabeth's court and Roanoke colony. Cate really goes against the grain with her beliefs. She doesn't go along with the crowd, and she isn't afraid to speak out, and that is saying something for a women in the 1500s. I feel like Cate and I would be really good friends if we lived in the same world, and I hope she would feel the same about me.
Joining Cate is a caste of unforgettable characters, including one Native American named Manteo. Manteo, along with many of the other Croatoan Indians, make the difference between life and death for the colonists. As the Colonists become more and more dependent on the Croatoan, England seems to drift farther and farther away, until their old home is almost forgotten. Cate even begins to forget Sir Walter Ralegh, the man whom she loved and who's apparent affection triggered her banishment. New affections and old become mixed, and Cate must make a choice between England and Virginia and all they hold.
Cate's foray into the world of Queen Elizabeth's court was intriguing, but I have to say that it was her life in Roanoke that really captured my imagination. At first it was quite the opposite, I was so interested and caught up in court life that I didn't want Cate to fall out of favor with the Queen. I would find myself with thoughts like: Please just burn Sir Walter's letters Cate! After all that worrying, I actually enjoyed the story more after Queen Elizabeth banished Cate. I immediately became wrapped up in the lives of the colonists. Their triumphs were my triumphs, their losses and foolishness (which presented itself in abundance) were mine as well.
Lisa Klein has a remarkable ability to weave fiction and history together. I have never read a book quite so satisfying. It has lovely descriptive passages and a plot that moves at a good pace. I have already enthusiastically recommended this book to all of my friends, and I recommended it to all of you as well!(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow, what an interesting book. I knew next to nothing about the lost colony of Roanoke island (the colony sent to settle what is now an island off of North Carolina by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587) but this story, told in a fascinating way through three different characters, gives a theory of what might have happened to the settlers. Though much of it is fictional (obviously, as no one knows what happened to the colonists who disappeared within three years of living there) a great deal of it is ba...more

like · see review

Apr 08, 2011 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was absolutely wonderful and one of the best I've read so far this year! Cate is such a wonderfully relatable and fiercely abiding heroine that no matter what she did, I loved her always. I loved the romance, adventure, mystery and history attached to this book. It was very well-written and Lisa Klein's explanation for what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke is very plausible and interesting. I especially enjoyed Cate's acceptance of Manteo before she had even met him. To her he wa...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Kailia rated it 2 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction so when I heard about this book, I decided to pick it up. I’m glad I did because I really, liked this book but I didn’t really love it. Lisa Klein’s Cate of the Lost Colony is the story of Lady Cate and how she ends up at Roanoke Island and what happened to the people of that colony.

The historical time was great. What really happened to the people on Roanoke Island is a mystery that has yet to be solved in American History. I really liked that Klien wanted to go into th...more I love historical fiction so when I heard about this book, I decided to pick it up. I’m glad I did because I really, liked this book but I didn’t really love it. Lisa Klein’s Cate of the Lost Colony is the story of Lady Cate and how she ends up at Roanoke Island and what happened to the people of that colony.

The historical time was great. What really happened to the people on Roanoke Island is a mystery that has yet to be solved in American History. I really liked that Klien wanted to go into this story but with a topic like this, I was worried at how she would pull it off. The plot, in my opinion, could have been better because it moved around everywhere! Since there were three POV from which we heard this story, it could become increasingly confusing. This part of the plot really didn’t help much in the continuation of the story. That said, I thought that the summary gave most of the book away and it was really predictable. Also, the plot moved way to fast and was really everywhere.

I liked Klien’s writing even though the book itself wasn’t satisfactory. She had this way writing the character’s actions and words in a way that made it sound poetic. Sure, some things were over the top cliché, but others were really nice. Her descriptions really gave the reader a sense of where they were. She wrote the details so I could know what it was like in London at that time. I really liked that aspect of this novel. Overall, it was good writing that I wish would have gone with a better plot.

The story is told through Cate, Walter Raleigh, and Manteo’s point of views. Lets begin with Cate, shall we? In the beginning she was the weak, shall, delicate girl who couldn’t really do anything. She really annoyed me in the beginning but she got better as the story progressed. I liked how she finally took control of her life in the end, but throughout the beginning and middle, she just did whatever she was told to do. Walter Raleigh was a sweet guy and though he was romantic, he got on my nerves. He loved his money and success and titles and he really care more about that then about Cate. Manteo, I was indifferent about because he came in too quickly and I really had no idea who he was and what was happening. I liked the secondary characters who helped move the story forward and gave an interesting perspective to England of that time.

I really wanted to like this book, I really did. While the secondary characters kept the story alive, it just wasn’t enough for me. I’m not sure who to recommend this book to but if you like historical fiction, I hope you will give this book a try. As said before, books that necessarily don’t work for one person might work for someone else! (less)

like · see review

Feb 28, 2011 Lisa Delaine Youngblood rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-tayshas

This fast-moving story that is indeed hard to put down. The spunky heroine Lady Catherine faces multiple changes of fortune as she grows from a much pampered child of a court favorite, to the unwelcome orphan living with an overworked aunt, to a Lady of Queen Elizabeth's court, to the outcast struggling to survive in the mysterious New World town of Roanoke.

Though Cate and much of her specific adventures are fictionalized, a large amount of the details in the book are historically accurate. Most...more

like · see review

title link	preview: Cate of the Lost Colony
avg rating	preview: Cate of the Lost Colony Goodreads rating: 3.65 (847 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7936035-cate-of-the-lost-colony?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312033871l/7936035.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7936035-cate-of-the-lost-colony?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein[/url]

Cate of the Lost Colony

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (4)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Lisa M. Klein

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Cate of the Lost ...

Cate of the Lost Colony

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (4)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Lisa M. Klein

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Cate of the Lost ...

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (4)