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delladahlia's review against another edition
4.0
I read this in middle school and loved it. Sometimes it still comes to my mind. Especially noe with the release of Outlaw King.
UPDATE: I re-read the book and was reminded of why I loved it so much when I was young.
UPDATE: I re-read the book and was reminded of why I loved it so much when I was young.
lemon_drop's review against another edition
3.0
Watch Braveheart...
Read this...
Picks up Scotland's tale from the point of view of the new young princess Marjorie Bruce, prisoner to King Edward of England. The chapters alternate between her current situation in a cage outside a priory in one of the border towns with chapters covering the previous months explaining how she got captured. I loved the pyschological game played between 12 year old Marjorie (who is as snarky as a 12 year old should be) and the conviving King who is trying to break her will.
Read this...
Picks up Scotland's tale from the point of view of the new young princess Marjorie Bruce, prisoner to King Edward of England. The chapters alternate between her current situation in a cage outside a priory in one of the border towns with chapters covering the previous months explaining how she got captured. I loved the pyschological game played between 12 year old Marjorie (who is as snarky as a 12 year old should be) and the conviving King who is trying to break her will.
nairam1173's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of those that after getting about thirty pages in I realized I would be finishing out of duty to understanding my genre, not because I was particularly interested.
This is sad, because technically there were a number of things that were very interesting--the characterizations of Elizabeth and Isabel in particular were more nuanced than one usually sees with those "molds" of characters, and I liked how Marjorie's perception of them shifted as the story continued. Neil was also a character I enjoyed. Marjorie herself was not that interesting, although she is sympathetic.
Unfortunately, the novelty of Marjorie's situation wears off fairly quickly, and shifting between past and present only thinly disguises first that the past is boring and then that the present is rapidly becoming boring. The villain was drawn along very traditional lines and not really that scary to me. The relationships with all but one of Marjorie's "court" seemed too underdeveloped for their significance in the end.
note: This was shelved in the juvenile section of my library, so it surprised me when some of the more gruesome things were described and there was some language. At the same time I can see why it wasn't shelved in YA, so...
This is sad, because technically there were a number of things that were very interesting--the characterizations of Elizabeth and Isabel in particular were more nuanced than one usually sees with those "molds" of characters, and I liked how Marjorie's perception of them shifted as the story continued. Neil was also a character I enjoyed. Marjorie herself was not that interesting, although she is sympathetic.
Unfortunately, the novelty of Marjorie's situation wears off fairly quickly, and shifting between past and present only thinly disguises first that the past is boring and then that the present is rapidly becoming boring. The villain was drawn along very traditional lines and not really that scary to me. The relationships with all but one of Marjorie's "court" seemed too underdeveloped for their significance in the end.
note: This was shelved in the juvenile section of my library, so it surprised me when some of the more gruesome things were described and there was some language. At the same time I can see why it wasn't shelved in YA, so...
librarydanielle's review against another edition
4.0
Jane Yolen knows how to write. She takes history (which aside from my romance novels I don't care for) and makes it come alive.
Girl in a Cage tells the story of 11 year old Marjorie de Brus who is a prisoner of King Edward of England. Marjorie's crime? To be the daughter of Robert de Brus, declared king of Scotland.
I pretty much hated Edward here. What kind of bastard puts a small child (or anyone really) in a cage? Out in the open for people to torment?
Girl in a Cage tells the story of 11 year old Marjorie de Brus who is a prisoner of King Edward of England. Marjorie's crime? To be the daughter of Robert de Brus, declared king of Scotland.
I pretty much hated Edward here. What kind of bastard puts a small child (or anyone really) in a cage? Out in the open for people to torment?
joannal7's review against another edition
3.0
Quick and easy read that really gives you a lot of information about medieval Scotland and England. Even though this is written for young readers, Yolen is able to hold the attention of adult readers through her colorful descriptions of not only the environment, but also Marjorie's emotions. This book would be a great read for readers interested in history from third grade and up.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
5.0
Book two in the Stuart quartet.
Robert Bruce, the new king of Scotland, is on the run from the powerful British king, Edward I (Longshanks). When Longshanks kidnaps the Scottish king's daughter, Marjorie, he locks her in an iron cage. The cage sits in the center of town and Marjorie has no pivacy nor dignity as she is constantly watched and ridiculed. Marjorie narrates her story, which is based on real historical events. A time line and an afterward help readers understand how Marjorie's story fits into world history.
Robert Bruce, the new king of Scotland, is on the run from the powerful British king, Edward I (Longshanks). When Longshanks kidnaps the Scottish king's daughter, Marjorie, he locks her in an iron cage. The cage sits in the center of town and Marjorie has no pivacy nor dignity as she is constantly watched and ridiculed. Marjorie narrates her story, which is based on real historical events. A time line and an afterward help readers understand how Marjorie's story fits into world history.
beccah85's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent piece of historical fiction about Robert Bruce's daughter. It was engaging & believable, not veering off too far from actual historic events in Scotland during early 14th century. Jane Yolen is a fantastic author so I'll definitely be checking out more of her young adult books.
hopegirl0727's review against another edition
3.0
Another interesting little medieval book. This time about Marjorie, the daughter of Robert Bruce, a Scottish rebel who eventually captures the throne and produces the Stewart line. I enjoyed the character of Marjorie (although, again, a titch preachy) and the fun of the Scottish rebellion. I also learned one or two things. Perfect for those middle grades.
dinoreader84's review against another edition
4.0
Big kid really liked this book and wanted to read it again on his own. Overall it kept my interest though it was a bit hard to read the Scottish bits aloud. That's my issue though, not the book's.
evalynex's review against another edition
5.0
This one had much more of an impact on me than Queen's Own Fool. Harsher, grittier, it was an interesting read. I really enjoyed it, and although I might re-home Queen's Own Fool, I think I'm going to keep a space on my shelf for this one.