Most Popular Books by Carolyn Meyer

Carolyn Meyer, author of best-selling ROYAL DIARIES Isabel and Anastasia, now brings to the series this compelling story of Kristina, The Girl King, from 17th-century Sweden. Upon discovering that their newborn infant was, in fact, female and not male as first thought, Queen Marie Eleonore wailed inconsolably and King Gustavus Adolphus declared, nevertheless, that the child be raised as a prince. At age six, upon the death of her father, the child Kristina, was proclaimed King of Sweden, with regents assigned to council until she assumes the throne at age eighteen. And indeed, her life followed her father''s plan. We meet Kristina when she''s almost twelve years old and eschewing feminine practices but reveling in the study of military tactics,

A " gripping historical drama" that tells the story of young Elizabeth Tudor''s journey to the throne—and her fierce rivalry with her half sister ( School Library Journal). Imprisonment. Betrayal. Lost love. Murder. What more must a princess endure? Elizabeth Tudor''s teenage and young adult years during the turbulent reigns of Edward and then Mary Tudor are hardly those of a fairy-tale princess. Her mother has been beheaded by Elizabeth''s own father, Henry VIII. Her jealous half sister, Mary, has her locked away in the Tower of London. And her only love interest betrays her in his own quest for the throne... Told in the voice of the young Elizabeth and ending when she is crowned queen, this novel in the exciting Young Royals series explores the relationship between two sisters who became mortal enemies. New York Times-bestselling author Carolyn Meyer has written an intriguing historical tale that reveals the deep-seated rivalry between a determined girl who became Elizabeth I, one of England''s most powerful monarchs—and the sister who tried everything to stop her.

In 1501, fifteen-year-old Catharine of Aragon arrives in England and marries Arthur, the eldest son of King Henry VII, but when Arthur unexpectedly dies, her future becomes the subject of a bitter dispute between England and Spain.

In 1921 in Dillon, Texas, 12-year-old Rose Lee Jefferson sees trouble threatening her black community when the whites decide to take the land there for a park and forcibly relocate the black families to an ugly stretch of territory outside the town. Includes a reader''s guide.

In 1914 Grand Duchess Anastasia, youngest daughter of the Tsar, leads a privileged life in the grand palaces of Russia. The First World War and the Bolshevik revolution are just about to erupt. With the royal family arrested and exiled to Siberia, the life Anastasia knows is swept away forever.

A complicated and much-hated Tudor queen tells her side of the story in this engaging novel of Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn was born without great beauty, wealth, or title, but she has blossomed into a captivating young woman—and she knows it. Determined to rise to the top, she uses her wiles to win the heart of England''s most powerful man, King Henry VIII. Not satisfied with the king''s heart, however, she persuades Henry to defy everyone—including his own wife—to make her his new queen. But Anne''s ambition would prove to be her fatal flaw. Named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, among other honors, Doomed Queen Anne is part of the historical fiction Young Royals series that has illuminated the youthful lives of Europe''s most compelling—and sometimes, infamous—queens and princesses.

While waiting anxiously for others to choose a husband for her, Isabella, the future Queen of Spain, keeps a diary account of her life as a member of the royal family.

The dizzying rise and horrific downfall of the last queen of France from the New York Times bestselling author of Duchessina. From the moment she was betrothed to the dauphin of France at age fourteen, perfection was demanded of Marie-Antoinette. Desperate for affection and subjected to constant scrutiny, this spirited young woman can’t help but want to let loose with elaborate parties, scandalous fashions, and even a forbidden love affair. Meanwhile, the peasants of France are suffering from increasing poverty and becoming outraged. They want to make the queen pay for her reckless extravagance—with her life. Includes historical notes, an author’s note, and bibliography “Historical-fiction fans will be swept up in the cruel fates of the monarchs and political forces, particularly as the drama escalates into horror.”—Booklist “Beautifully written from the point of view of Marie-Antoinette, and then from the point of view of her daughter, this is fascinating book that fans of historical fiction will find captivating.”—Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews “This novel about the ill-fated queen covers her life from age 13 when, as an Austrian princess, she prepares to marry the French dauphin to her death by guillotine in 1793 . . . Meyer writes in a lighthearted, casual style, vividly portraying the historical era and aptly defining unfamiliar vocabulary.”—School Library Journal

In Stratford-upon-Avon in the sixteenth century, Anne Hathaway suffers her stepmother''s cruelty and yearns for love and escape, finally finding it in the arms of a boy she has grown up with, William Shakespeare.

From the New York Times-bestselling author:She is the wealthiest and most envied girl in all of Italy—but she yearns for freedom… 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 childhood spent locked away behind the walls of a convent, she joins the household of the pope, where at last she can be united with her true love. But, all too soon, that love is replaced with an engagement to a boy who is cold and aloof. It soon becomes clear that Catherine will need all the cunning she can muster to command the respect she deserves as one of sixteenth-century France''s most powerful queens, in this riveting historical novel in the Young Royals series. “This captivating tale of the rise of this Italian merchant family is seldom portrayed, and it plays out delightfully in this well-written novel.”—School Library Journal “A sympathetic, engrossing portrait of a noble girl who, later in life, became a feared queen…With meticulous historical detail, sensitive characterizations, and Catherine''s strong narration, Meyer''s memorable story of a fascinating young woman who relies on her intelligence, rather than her beauty, will hit home with many teens.”—Booklist Includes a family tree

The acclaimed author of "Mary, Bloody Mary" has penned a powerful historical novel about a little-known but gifted musician who becomes lost in the shadow of her younger brother.

From a master of historical fiction Carolyn Meyer comes the moving tale, based on a true story, of a white woman who lived her life among the Comanche Indians, married the chief, and in 1861 was captured along with her daughter and returned against her will to a white settlement.

A tender story of mother-daughter relationships over three generations unfolds amid secrets and revelations.

Convicted of plotting against her cousin Queen Elizabeth I of England and awaiting execution in 1587, Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland, recounts her life story, including becoming a widow at age eighteen and her brutal campaign to regain her sovereignty after being stripped of her throne.

A novel in diary form in which the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II describes the privileged life her family led up until the time of World War I and the tragic events that befell them.

A young working girl comes of age in the American West in this “fast and interesting” historical novel for fans of the Dear America and American Girl series (School Library Journal) In 1926, droves of Americans traveled by train across the United States to visit the West. They ate at Harvey Houses, where thousands of well-trained waitresses provided first-class service. The Waitresses: The Journal of a Harvey Girl tells the first-person story of one spunky girl, Kitty Evans, as she faces the often funny and painful experiences she and fellow waitresses Cordelia and Emmy endure. As Kitty writes about her escapades, a loveable teenager emerges; she embraces adventure, independence, her position as a Harvey Girl, and a freelance writing career. In this fast-paced novel, best-selling author Carolyn Meyer, who has visited and researched several Harvey Hotels, brings together an unforgettable heroine with the universal themes of friendship, identity, and young love.

The bestselling author of the Young Royals books "delves into Greek mythology with a retelling of the Trojan War from the point of view of Hermione" ( Booklist). What is it like to be the daughter of the most beautiful woman in the world? Hermione knows . . . her mother is Helen of Troy, the famed beauty of Greek myth. Helen is not only beautiful but also impulsive, and when she falls in love with charming Prince Paris, she runs off with him to Troy, abandoning her distraught daughter. Determined to reclaim their enchanting queen, the Greek army sails for Troy. Hermione stows away in one of the thousand ships in the fleet and witnesses the start of the legendary Trojan War. In the rough Greek encampment outside the walls of Troy, Hermione''s life is far from that of a pampered princess. Meanwhile, her mother basks in luxury in the royal palace inside the city. Hermione desperately wishes for the gods and goddesses to intervene and end the brutal war—and to bring her love. Will she end up with the handsome archer Orestes, or the formidable Pyrrhus, leader of a tribe of fierce warriors? And will she ever forgive her mother for bringing such chaos to her life and the lives of so many others? " Beauty''s Daughter burrows into the recent interest in Greek mythology and builds a fictional account of the young woman''s quest to find her lost love." — VOYA "This title would make a great pairing for students studying Greek mythology or reading the Iliad or Odyssey and will appeal particularly to students interested in ancient history." — School Library Journal

"A charming introduction to the thrill of creating something with fabric and thread . . . Great for aspiring sewists of all ages!" (Gretchen Hirsch, author of Gertie''s New Book for Better Sewing) Sewing is a skill that''s both fun and functional, and there''s no better way to get started than with jolly Miss Patch! She learns how to thread a needle, cut patterns, and sew a fine seam by hand. With the help of Miss Patch, and the book''s many diagrams and amusing drawings, beginning sewists can learn to make a pillow, a bag, a patchwork quilt, an apron, and even simple clothes. Originally published in 1969, this is a timeless introduction to the pleasures of sewing. "Overall, this book was nicely put together and included an introduction to sewing which was perfect for young girls and boys . . . It was creative and fun to look through." — Sweetly Made (Just for You)

Meyer crafts a gripping rags-to-riches account of the tumultuous childhood of Mary Tudor, the eldest daughter of King Henry VIII, whose life turns from riches to rags after Henry divorces her mother, Catherine of Aragon.