Just a Girl

Elizabeth I #1

by Jane Caro

I do not remember when I discovered how my mother died, it seems to be something I always knew, a horror I absorbed through my skin.

Determined, passionate and headstrong, Elizabeth I shaped the destiny of a kingdom.

Her mother; Anne Boleyn, was executed by her father Henry VIII. From that moment on, Elizabeth competed with her two half-siblings for love and for Britain’s throne. In the gilded corridors of the royal palace, enemies she couldn’t see – as well as those bound to her by blood – plotted to destroy her.

Using her courage to survive and her wits to confound those who despised her, this young woman became one of the greatest monarchs the world has ever seen.

Even though she was just a girl, she had already lived a lifetime.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Fiction, Tudor Period, British Literature, Royalty

271 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2011

About the author

Jane Caro wears many hats; including author, lecturer, mentor, social commentator, columnist, workshop facilitator, speaker, broadcaster and award-winning advertising writer. Jane runs her own communications consultancy and lectures in Advertising Creative at The School of Communication Arts at UWS. She has published three books: The Stupid Country: How Australia is dismantling public education co-authored with Chris Bonnor (2007), The F Word. How we learned to swear by feminism co-authored with Catherine Fox (2008), and Just a Girl (UQP, 2011). She has also appeared on Channel 7’s Sunrise, ABC’s Q&A and ABC’s The Gruen Transfer.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Caro creates a believable personality for Queen Elizabeth the first. Told in the first person Elizabeth muses about her past, her childhood, people she has known and her experiences as she drifts in and out of royal favour.

Elizabeth is given a very human personality with doubts and insecurities as well as a natural strength.

I enjoyed this portrayal of an interesting period of history.

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the historical fiction trope / genre is not my normal go-to, I figured why not give it a go right?

The author did a GREAT job at world-building and character development through the entire book. I found myself genuinely interested and intrigued in many of the character's stories.
I don't reach for this genre often, because it never seems to catch or keep my interest.... but that all changed with this book! The author's writing style was engaging.

Just A Girl follows Elizabeth I before her coronation. The author did an amazing job at showing the real sides of royalty.. not just the glamour and riches. I just may finish off this series!

[Deborah Abela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel begins on the eve of Queen Elizabeth the first’s coronation. She sits in the same room where she once awaited death. As the daughter of King Henry VIII, she has seen many betrayals, murderous plots and beheadings, including that of her mother, Anne Boleyn. Hers was a reign that was long and successful, despite being ‘just a girl’, at a time when girls were considered very much the inferior species. Jane Caro creates so perfectly what the thoughts and recollections the young Elizabeth could have been. Her fears, sadness and determination, after what she has seen from her father’s life, never to marry. Elizabeth reigned for 44 years and Caro believes this even lead to the emergence of feminism in Britain. This is a fascinating, well-told glimpse into an historical period that was fascinating in its detail and remarkable in it’s unfolding impact on Britain and the countries in its orbit.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone that barely raises an eyebrow to a royal wedding, i was surprised by my enthusiasm to this story. Elizabeth 1 seems like a royal worth celebrating. Obvious that the church and the royals had a lot more sway and say in 1500s but the most interesting part of the story was the Catholic/Protestant tug o war happening in England during that time. Also loved the thread of half sisters asserting their power. It is the first in 3 part series, so i keep reading...

[Kirsty Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Queen Anne Boleyn was the first of King Henry VIII’s to be beheaded. This story followed the life of their daughter, Elizabeth I from her childhood to her reign as Queen.
As a history teacher, I love that such historical stories are making their way to Young Adult fiction. A fairly easy read, enjoyable, and I learnt a lot. Keen to read the sequel to just follow Elizabeth’s story.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Caro uses poetic license as well as historical research to develop the character of Elizabeth I before her coronation. She beautifully recreated Elizabeth's life of uncertainty, fear and loneliness so as to present the realities of being a Princess. This is the book that will make you stop wishing you were royalty.

Caro delicately expressed the scene of sex, violence and death in a manner that present the facts without the excessive shock value. However, following so closely to the events of history resulting in an unoriginal story line. It is a great read for anyone wanted to learn about Tudor England but not for the learned historian.

[Kirsti · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dry, emotionless book that I felt was more intent of telling me the history of Elizabeth, rather than showing it. Extremely well researched, I felt like this was actually a bad thing, because it didn't feel like fiction, just a rehash of the history books. There was a lot of potential, but without the emotional connection I cannot rate this book any higher, nor make any other objections except for this ever so important fact. Two stars.

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Tudors? Love court intrigue, witty banter and the swish of ballgowns? Then the tale of Elizabeth I, daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, will have you entranced as she recounts her life as an unwanted child and the perils she faced as heir to an unstable throne.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

I love historical fiction. I will admit I know NOTHING of the Tudors or that era, so it was a little confusing at times to follow all the politics and people involved, but thoroughly engrossing all the while. I liked Lady Elizabeth's voice, and I think Caro did well to maintain a healthy balance to allow the reader to engage emotionally with her whilst still holding true to the language of that time. I adored the writing style. Certainly I will read anything that she writes in the future!

It seems that this book has been well researched and at times it feels like a grand recount of historical events, but there were so many little details and inner dialogue with Elizabeth herself that I never felt that it was a heavy read by any means. I'm sure if you're not much of a historical fiction fan yourself it may be a bit of a struggle...?

I learnt a lot, in a way I could not help but draw comparisons with Game of Thrones! I loved learning about Queen Mary I's terrible reign, all the plots and spies.

Onwards to Just A Queen. :D

[Rosalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Caro is an ardent admirer of Elizabeth 1 and has fictionalised aspects of the early years of her life before her coronation. Elizabeth 1 was the second daughter of Henry V111 and was preceded to the throne by her brother Edward V1 and her older sister Mary 1. She ruled England from 1558 to 1603.
In her author's note, Caro writes that there is a lot of information about Elizabeth 1 so there is little point in changing history however she chose to create her story around a personality who must survive in a tumultuous period of history during and immediately after her father’s reign. She shows Elizabeth to be an intelligent survivor who has to mature very quickly and believe in her own ability to outwit the men (and women like her sister Mary) who would like to take and/or use her for her position and future power.
For those interested in history this is a good and entertaining read

[Chloe Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a prize giveaway that I won, I loved reading this book!
As I love reading up on the history of the royal family and historical fiction like Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl that was turned into a BBC tv series & film (2003 & 2008) the series The Tudors (2007-2010) and Reign (2013-2017).
This story starts off of a young Elizabeth growing up with her siblings Edward and Mary and after Edwards’s short reign, Mary’s faith in Catholism divides the sisters and England and so her reign is ultimately short too. This story is a blend of The Tudors and Reign but told from Elizabeth’s point of view.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Noam McLeish · Rating 4 out of 5]

My third read of this book, and one of my favourite pieces on Elizabeth 1st. Brutal, not shying away from unfavorable thoughts and moments, and while pieces are more speculation than fact, they make for a great story. The author certainly owns up to this as well, so it's easier to remain entranced rather than being pushed out of the fantasy by doubts.

[Jacinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoy this story. it was easily to follow along. thou it did jump from different years the way the author did it was excellent and i never got lost with it.

im lookimng forward to reading the next book for this.

[Pru Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable.

[juLiA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives good background information!

[maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!

this helped me understand Elizabeth the first so much more!

one of the best days of my life was meeting Jane Caro

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical fiction that really got me into Queen Elizabeth’s story, I can’t wait to read the next ones.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written about Elisabeth's journey throughout her life.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, and liked learning about queen Elizabeth with a twist

[Rhiannan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book sitting on my shelf for like, three years and I'm very glad I read it. As a frequent hyper-fixator of the Tudors, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking at my AWW list, I have at least five other books (beyond this one) that I want to review before I finally wrap up and say goodbye to the challenge for 2012 (and get stuck into the 2013 challenge). But I'm going to start at the end with the book I finished this afternoon: Jane Caro's book about Princess Elizabeth, Just a Girl.

Disclaimer number 1: While I really like Jane Caro's public stance on a lot of things, I got into a twitter tiff with her earlier in December, and there were things in the book that reminded me of other attitudes of hers I have issues with. Except where I mention these issues, I've tried very hard to keep my discomfort with the author away from my review of the book.

Disclaimer number 2: I read a fair amount of Historical Fiction, and am pretty much over Princess and Queen Elizabeth I.

It strikes me as a bold move to write ones first novel about a woman so often written about as Princess Elizabeth Tudor. I'll say at the outset that I think this book was better than Alison Weir's travesty of a novel, but not as good as Philippa Gregory's "The Virgin Queen". I haven't yet read Jean Plaidy's Tudor books, so I can't give a comparison there. As I said above, I'm kind of over Elizabeth. She gets written about so often, both in non-fiction and fictional treatments. She has plays and films and I keep reading them (watching them), but to be honest, if this one hadn't been by Jane Caro (who we saw at this year's Write Around the Murray) and if I hadn't needed a quick-ish read to finish off the AWW 2012 challenge, I might not have picked this one up for a lot longer.

It's an interesting structure, all this thinking on the night before Elizabeth's Coronation as Queen. Except for the one element that Caro made up, I know my Elizabeth well enough that nothing is all that new. It just seemed to me that none of the characters lived in the way that they do in Gregory's books - neither Thomas Seymour nor Philip of Spain really seemed all that threatening or skeevey, whereas in Gregory they're that little bit oily. Elizabeth's insecurity next to Jane Grey was an interesting element, and yet Jane was a complete shadow, as was Robin Dudley, sadly. Overall, I wanted it to be better than I felt it was.

One thing kept throwing me out of the story: each time one of Caro's characters - particularly Elizabeth herself - preached religious tolerance. I found it sad that Caro's characters could manage what she has not been able to herself (she's fond of insulting the mere concept of being a person of faith, or certainly it seemed that way at Write Around the Murray and on Twitter,) particularly when I think her depiction of Elizabeth's tolerance was a little broader than it was in reality.

As with another recent read, if Goodreads had half stars, I'd be making use of them here. It would be 3 1/5 stars if it could be, but I just couldn't bring myself to up the level to four.

[Opal Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was twelve; now looking back, it is at the age of my pre-teen years that I read most books.
As a girl (with English as my second tongue), I sought direly to receive the appraisal and approval of my parents. To do this, I had to achieve high marks in numerous subjects.
Soon, reading came to be a chore, instead of a leisure activity; for I felt as if I was forced to do it, forced to do read something for the benefit of my own brain and my parent's pleasure.
Though glad I am now, that I slaved away to finish book after book.
Though I only distinctively remember small snippets of this book; I do however know that this book alone (in 200 or so pages) taught me more about Elizabeth I and the other royalties that surrounded her at that time period than any other boring history and geography teacher.
Whether I was an advance twelve year old reader or merely a normal child, this book wasn't complicated nor difficult for me to understand and follow.
I highly recommend it.

[Bronwyn Mcloughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot about Elizabeth I, and so was reluctant to take in another, but this one was different. Elizabeth is telling the story; she is asking the reader to contemplate events from her perspective. About to undergo her formal coronation to become Queen of England, she hovers on this cusp and is revisiting the dire path that has brought her, almost unbelievably, to this place. It seems she can't quite believe that she has survived to be in this position that she has increasingly felt is truly, rightly hers. This dawning sense of purpose, of treading so carefully to keep herself alive, of losing those she loves, of being virtually and actually imprisoned, unable to trust her servants, of doubting the motives of those she should be able to rely on, of having her mother reviled and despised....the recounting of events tallies with other works I have read, but considering it all from Elizabeth's perspective, and attempting to understand why she became the ruler she did, is a bit unique. It is well and clearly written with entirely appropriate accents of the past

[Wendy Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the trickiest things with historical fiction is balancing the tone and dialogue to give a flavour of the period and make it feel authentic, while keeping it accessible and natural. Jane Caro manages it beautifully. This story of Elizabeth i's girlhood, up to the morning of her coronation, deftly fills in the complex background to the period, while concentrating on Elizabeth's own story. After all, no matter how extraordinary her family history and cirumstances, and probably her determination and intellect as well, she was still 'just a girl'. Best of all, it's simply a great read - I couldn't put it down, feeling that despite my knowledge of this era of history, I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the end.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As an Australian I am very familiar with Jane Caro as she is often in the media in one form or another . This is my first book of hers and I bought it after listening to an interview with her about it on our local ABC. I could sense the author through the book in the style of the writing but I also got a real feel for Elizabeth as a young girl and leading up to her taking the throne. I found myself picking up my iPad constantly to learn more of characters that I had not really thought about since high school. What a journey. Again, it is what you make it and I felt compelled to keep reading about this period in history. I have now picked up the sequel and looking forward to the dramas in long years of her reign.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well written historical fiction. Told from the perspective of Lady/Queen Elizabeth in the lead up to her coronation. Filled in some gaps for me on the political scene in Tudor England! An obvious choice for a female reader, as you get right into the head of a young Elizabeth and see her struggles as a female coming into rule. However, I think boys would also be interested in the gory details and danger of this story. As someone who had just come from reading a book in the 'Game of Thrones' series, I was glad to slip into another historical story and found the transition very comfortable. Good stuff!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Retelling of the early life of Elizabeth I. As she is about to ascend the throne, Elizabeth remembers the important events of her life. Jane Caro has vividly recreated life in Elizabethan England and her portrayal of Elizabeth and the dilemma of being heir to the throne through the reigns of Henry, Edward and Mary is masterly. A minor quibble; I didn't think that the mechanics of the plot worked quite as well in the early chapters, but as the story progressed, the character of Elizabeth takes over and the strength of the narrative prevails.

[Sue Bursztynski]

This was very readable historical fiction, though it might be better to describe it as docudrama. The story is told from the viewpoint of the young Elizabeth on the night before her coronation. It's easy reading for children new to history who might then want to go and look up the story in non-fiction form. I won't rate it officially due to some strange things happening with my Twitter feed when two books I'd given four and five stars came up as one star on Twitter! But it would get a solid three and a half stars from me.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, a bit like historical fiction without being a period drama. Events are real but the characters have been fleshed out and the author, Jane Caro has drawn on previous experiences and life at the time to provide the reader with plausible and believable explanations of the actions and people of the time.

The story flows nicely with just the right amount of detail and is well written.

It does seem unfinished, as we know that Elizabeth came to the throne and the next book, Just a Queen may fill in the whole story.

[aswang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just A Girl
JANE CARO
YA - 12+ (imo)
“Marriage is the most dangerous of estates.”
The story of a girl who insists her strength of character be the measure of her person, in a world where women are valued by their childbearing hips. Jane Caro’s retelling of Elizabeth I depicts a headstrong and intelligent girl who quickly learns the repressive systems that pervade her life, and uses her wits in order to maintain a firm stake over in her own agency despite them. Also a good primer for a history lesson in England’s Tudor period!