You Wouldn't Want to Be Mary, Queen of Scots!: A Ruler Who Really Lost Her Head

You Wouldn't Want to Be ...

by Fiona Macdonald

Traces the life of the Scottish queen, who came into her title at the age of one week and was eventually beheaded for plotting against her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Historical, British Literature, Royalty

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Fiona Macdonald studied history at Cambridge University and at the University of East Anglia. She has taught in schools, adult education and university, and is the author of numerous books for children on historical topics.

Reviews

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great, I love to see the different routes that history could have taken and what different outcomes there would have been. For example, Edward VI, son of Henry VIII planned to marry Mary but she was instead betrothed to the French Princes François. How different could life have been for Mary? Edward also didn't live into his adult years but it makes me wonder if she would have been accepted by the English even though she was Catholic or if she would have been eliminated much sooner. The four Marys (Mary's ladies in waiting) is a very cute touch that we never see in any of the movies or series much.
It's because of this book that I found out about Mary's death mask and able to see her beautiful face.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

[Leta Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 9yo says, "Poor Mary. Life was hard for her."

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good grief, she had a rough life, even if she was Queen of 2 countries for a hot minute! 20 years in prison. It shows a teenage girl who made all of the wrong choices politically and romantically....let's just say she lost her head.

[Steffanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did a good job of giving an over view of Mary, Queen of Scots life but I feel like they lacked on describing what a bit of a badass Mary was!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

She had the world on her shoulders.

[Laura The Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love all the "You Wouldn't Want to Be..." books

[Barbara Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview, bright and attractively laid out. I would have liked a little more lesser known facts - the book focuses on the main narrative that is already widely known.

[Chrysti Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this series, You Wouldn't Want To Be. Full of fun facts done in a colorful way.

[Ubalstecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another excellent entry in the You Wouldn't Want to Be series, this time looking at one of the most romantic figures and overwrought figures in history, Mary Queen of Scots. Author MacDonald of interpreting the historical facts for an elementary school audience. And she also manages not to get caught up in over romanticizing Mary, something many other authors do. The text is written in short bursts, which is good for the struggling reader, and is illustrated by humourous, cartoon-like illustrations.

This is an excellent addition to any classroom or home that is studying Elizabethan England.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "You Wouldn't Want to Be..." series offers a glimpse of persons and occupations of the past. The format is clever and appealing to young people (and older folks like me, too), using word bubbles, illustrated asides, and sneak peek "handy hints".

Mary, Queen of Scots life, for instance, was very complicated but was deftly handled in this slim volume of twenty-nine pages. The cartoon illustrations alone would engage the younger audience, but all is fleshed out with a plethora of facts and details.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Mary Queen of Scots. So many court intrigues. Right, I wouldn't want to be her.

Book was hilarious and, as usual, FABulous illustrations. It's a very tall order to write about someone in "30 pages or less, including great illustrations," but they've definitely touched on all the high points. Very nicely done.

[carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended Ages: grades 4 - 6

Get ready...you're only a few days old, and already you're queen of an unruly country, threatened by enemies at home and abroad. Your father is dead, and there are very few people you can rely on. You are the one and only Mary, Queen of Scots.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the humor in history it gives

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cool. I liked how the hints were there. I liked all the pictures and it was a really fun book.

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my daughter. We both really liked it. I would like to read more about her in a grown-up book, and no, you would not want to be Mary, Queen of Scots.

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is silly!!

['jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. I think the cartoon illustrations are a good way to hold a child's interest and to hopefully make historical figures more realistic and understandable.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very busy layout. Lots of text and side text boxes to read.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book portrays Mary as more of a naive and innocent young girl. Other historians believe that she was a schemer who plotted behind Queen Elizabeth's back.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asher (8yo) read.

[Julie Jacoway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute.