Reviews

Diver's Daughter: A Tudor Story by Patrice Lawrence

alimonaghan's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I read this with my sons. The plot was fast paced and very interesting--we enjoyed the vivid snapshot into Tudor life, and I appreciated the inclusion of black main characters and the message that black people have been an important part of British society for hundreds of years, not just as slaves, and long before the arrival of the HMS Windrush. I liked that the story included historical events and figures like Jaques Fancis and the sinking and salvaging of the Marie Rose. For my sons, I think they felt that too many disasters and misfortunes struck the main character, Eve, who couldn't ever seem to catch a break until the very end. Almost every character was not to be trusted and had their own agenda and designs on Eve and her mother, but it all turned out well in the end. Eve was a very self-aware young woman who had to grow up very fast! A page turner that we enjoyed as a family. 

slinkmalink's review

challenging emotional informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Not a history that comes up a whole lot, people kind of forget Black people existed in Britain pre-slavery and this was a pretty good story to introduce more of a multicultural concept of British history to primary kids

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Content Warnings

Minor: Slavery

mat_tobin's review

4.0

At the close of the 16th century, Eve Cartright and her mother both work hard in order to have a roof over their heads and, if they're lucky, food to eat. When Eve nearly drowns one night, crossing the Thames, a chance encounter puts them in touch with George Symons who seeing Eve's mother, spies a potential diver for an endeavour that could make them all rich: searching for gold off the sunken Mary Rose.

Although the story is face-based and full of twists and turns, it makes for tense reading as Eve and her mother constantly find themselves labelled and victimised because of being black. Eve's mother is right, for the most part, to tell her daughter to not trust anyone but when they run into a very real historical figure, Jacque Francis (look him up), their fortunes could change for the better.

The whole Voices series is excellent and doing something that should have been done centuries ago; providing a platform for a range of voices and histories that have been left in the dark. Lawrence has a sharp, focused style with deep, wholly real characters throughout.

mekeisha's review

adventurous challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

emmagray13's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

2.0

bluewithstars's review

5.0

I loved this, a brilliant story but also a great classroom addition. I am currently working my way thourgh Patrice Lawrence's books and enjoying every single one. I wish I had read them sooner.

I have ordered others in the VOICES series too.