A review by plattin
Queen's Own Fool: A Novel of Mary Queen of Scots by Jane Yolen

3.0

This is a young adult novel telling the story of le Jardiniere, the fool of Mary Queen of Scots. Le Jardiniere was a real person, but virtually nothing is known about her, save her position and name. Yolen and Harris have created an Italian girl of unusual candor and humor to fill this role. Yolen is a veteran YA writer and I would recommend pretty much anything by her. Fool begins in France where may was also queen by virtue of marriage, it follows Mary and her entourage through political intrigue to Scotland and eventually through Mary's imprisonment in the tower. I would recommend this to any of your students who might be interested in the time period. The language is pretty easy, but the book itself is not low level, so it would especially be appropriate for a struggling reader interested in historical fiction.