Author: Jane Yolen and co-author Robert J. Harris
Title: Girl in a Cage
Rating: 4
Reviewer: Caroline H. Grade: 7
Review:
The book Girl in a Cage is a story of reality for royalty of the medieval times. Authors Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris show how the life of a princess is actually a curse and a hardship to even survive, while trying to stand up for her kingdom by showing no mercy. Even though she is locked in a cage.
In the year 1306 B.C., 11 year-old Marjorie, only daughter of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland became princess. Though Marjorie thought being a princess was a gift, her stepmother and father were regretted it and were afraid of the dangers that would come to them.
In time, the dangers that her parents feared had come. Marjorie was taken prisoner and separated from her family by the dying, old man King Edward the first of England, for he wanted to take over Scotland. Marjorie was kept locked in a cage in the town square of somewhere in England, where people through rotten food and waste at her. They also called her names she had never even heard of. She was given little food and no one could communicate with her for they would be sentenced to death.
Young Marjorie had lots of spunk and determination, which led her through torture. King Edward tried to talk to her at every night, but Marjorie sat in silence wanting to defeat the sickly man by showing no merciful signs. This made him weaker. She could not understand why someone would treat little girls like this, when she had done nothing wrong. Eventually, the king died, but what will happen to Marjorie now and will she ever see her loved ones again or did they die of being tortured in a cage.
The writing form of this book, which I happened to like, is very unique. Almost every chapter alternates from present to past. The authors clearly describe what she is doing in the cage during the present time and the character tells the story of a few weeks before she was captured in the past.
The way the authors describe the setting is very descriptive. If you close your eyes you can imagine yourself there and you can picture the surroundings. Also you can imagine what the people looked liked.
I had only given the book 4 out of 5 stars because the book was tragic and sad, but it held my interest. If you like books that are historical fiction stories with tragedy and triumph I advise you to read this book!
9/6/04
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