The Stolen One Book Review

Title: The Stolen One

Author: Suzanne Crowley

Publication Date: June 2009

Age Group: 13+

Genre: Historical fiction

Rating: 8/10

Set in 16th century England, The Stolen One follows Katherine Bab’s search for the history of her past and her through identity. After Katherine’s adopted mother dies, she goes to London to find out who her parents were. In a matter of weeks, Katherine becomes close to Queen Elizabeth I but faces danger at court. While trying to uncover her past, Katherine is romantically pursued by three men and must chose between her old country life or her new life at court.

For someone who has a mediocre knowledge of Tudor history, the ending of this book is easily predictable. For a reader who doesn’t know anything about the Tudor lineage, the sudden plot twists will come as a shock. While the romance starts off as somewhat poorly developed, it starts to expand throughout the novel and adds to Katherine's character. However, Crowley writes with suspense and power, making the reader flip the pages eagerly. Vignettes narrating Katherine’s adopted mother’s tale show up between chapters, leading to the ending. Additionally, the portrayal of the real-life characters is surprisingly accurate: Elizabeth I is shown a compassionate person but a queen first. Katherine might earn some curses from the reader, but she ultimately proves herself--at a price.While some of the plot twists are expected, Crowley does provide the reader with a memorable tale.